In common law self-defense, the use of force must be

• A. Simultaneous with the unlawful force
• B. After the threat ends
• C. Before the threat begins
• D. Immediately after the threat begins, but not simultaneously

Answer: (A)

Under common-law self-defense, you may use force only to prevent imminent unlawful harm, and the force must answer the threat as it occurs. Imminence means the danger is present now or about to occur, not something that will happen later. Because the defense hinges on stopping an immediate threat, the defensive force must be applied at the same time the unlawful force is being used or about to be used. If you wait until the threat has ended, or act before any threat exists, there’s no justification. So the best description is that the use of force is simultaneous with the unlawful force.