In this day and age, people have to have the right to defend there self and each other, i know i personally wouldn't think 2ce about putting a bat over someone head if they tried to intentionally harm myself or a loved one, i would NEVER hurt anyone who hadn't don't something to me, but its a different story when someone tries to hurt me, everyone has flight or fight, n i definitely don't have the flight lol. Up here in Scotland we do have the right to defend another person if they are not able to defend there self, but theres still that pish about "reasonable force". which personally i think is a load of rubbish, if someone jumps me i leave after they stop moving! its their fault, they came looking for a victim n found they wrong one, if i gave them a slap n run off they WILL find someone else, but if i put them in hospital i bet they'll think twice next time!
i also think females should be allowed to carry some form of CS gas. NO ONE respects the law anymore, therefore the law cannot keep your average law abiding citizen safe.