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Self Defense

ORS 161.209 and ORS 161.219 — the force reasonably believed necessary, and deadly force only in three cases

A person may use physical force to defend themselves or a third person from what they reasonably believe is the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force, in the degree they reasonably believe necessary.

  • ORS 161.209
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  • Committing or attempting a felony involving the use or threatened imminent use of physical force against a person
  • Committing or attempting a burglary in a dwelling
  • Using or about to use unlawful deadly physical force against a person
  • ORS 161.219

Deadly physical force is justified only where the person reasonably believes the other is doing one of those three things.

  • ORS 161.219
Sources for this section (2)
  1. ORS 161.209 — Use of physical force in defense of a person
  2. ORS 161.219 — Limitations on use of deadly physical force in defense of a person

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Oregon attorney.

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