The Illustrated Guide to Criminal Law
Chapter 15: It Was Either Him or Me
Self-Defense pg 13: Preemptive First Strike
With the bartender off sheriffing, Badlands Britt snuck himself a mug of beer.
Badlands Britt reaches around the tap and pours one for himself. Arnold (or is it Eddie?) speaks up.
ARNOLD
Hey, you can’t do that!
Britt hauls off to hit him
BADLANDS BRITT
Mind yer own business, pipsqueak.
As Eddie and the barmaid look on, Arnold gets in a preemptive punch.
ARNOLD
Oh no you don’t!
BARMAID
Arnold hit Britt first! Ain’t he gonna get in trouble?
EDDIE
Nah, that was self-defense.