Self-defense is a right so fundamental that the scholarly literature regularly refers to it asthe ancient rightorthe first civil right. But despite the right’s bedrock status in criminal law, legislators, academics, and every-day citizens alike all have strongly held—and, in fact, often strongly divergent—opinions about when it is legally (and morally) appropriate to exercise self-preferential force. Some favor “tough-on-crime” approaches, according broader leeway to those defending themselves against attacks. Others advocate for a more “humanitarian” construction of the law, providing greater protections even to culpable attackers who threaten their victims with serious injury.

中文翻译：

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了解在自卫法中扮演（和应该扮演）的角色价值

自卫是一项如此基本的权利，以至于学术文献经常将其称为古代权利或第一公民权利。但是，尽管该权利在刑法中处于基石地位，立法者、学者和普通公民都对何时行使自我偏好在法律（和道德上）适当力量。一些人喜欢“严厉打击犯罪”的方法，这为保护自己免受攻击的人提供了更大的回旋余地。其他人主张对法律进行更“人道主义”的构建，甚至为威胁受害者重伤的有罪的袭击者提供更大的保护。