Isn the US-style self-defence illegal in Canada?
Not only can you defend your life with deadly force, but you may defend your home. Sections 32 and 40 of the Criminal Code (CC) allow use of deadly force 1) where you fear death or grievous bodily harm, and 2) to keep persons from illegally entering your home. Colet v Regina (CCC vol. 57, 2d, pages 105 to 113, Jan 27, 1981) is the most recent example of the latter that I have found. Briefly, the local police tried to enter Mr Colet’s home in Prince Rupert, BC, without a warrant to do so. (They had only a warrant to seize whatever weapon he might have had.) He violently denied entry, even throwing Molotov cocktails at the police. Mr Justice Ritchie wrote in the _unanimous_ Supreme Court of Canada decision: “The common law principle has been firmly engrafted in our law since Semayne’s case (1604) as reported in 5 Co. rep. 91a 77E.R. 194 where it was said [at p. 91b]: “that the house of every one is to him as his castle and fortress, as well for his defence against injury and violence, a
