. . . . If someone comes at you with intent to do harm, you cannot exceed the force to stop them with what they were going to use. . . .
Although quite similar to our law(s), there is one key difference. We can exceed the force used against
us, only enough to defend ourselves. Must be considered reasonable. And that's about all I can say without getting in trouble.
EDIT: Where many people have gotten themselves hemmed up, is when they get into a fist fight that started as self-defense. But when they get the upper hand, and the threat is over . . . . they don't stop. And I'm not talking about being nit-picky. For example: guy 1 threatens guy 2 and starts a fight. Guy 2 gets the upper hand, and guy 1 is no longer fighting, just lying on the ground. Guy 2, being justifiably pissed, starts banging guy 1's head on the ground. Literally, knocked the taste out of guy 1's mouth. Had guy 2 stopped when guy 1 was on the ground . . . . no charges. As it turned out, guy 2 was charged with aggravated assault w/deadly weapon (ground), tried, and sentenced to 10yrs prison. The Silver Back in me disagrees with this. "Don't start none, won't be none". Even the civilized part of me disagrees. "Reep what ye sow".