§ 563.031 RSMo – Use of Force in Defense of Persons in Missouri

Posted by Christopher Combs on July 18, 2025

563.031. Use of force in defense of persons.

You can defend yourself or others if you reasonably believe force is necessary.

Missouri law allows you to use physical—even deadly—force to protect yourself or others from harm, but there are rules about when and how it can be used.

1. You can use physical force to defend yourself or someone else if you reasonably believe it’s needed to stop someone else’s use or threat of unlawful force. But it’s not allowed if:

You were the first aggressor—unless:
1. You clearly withdrew and told the other person, but they kept threatening or attacking you;
2. You’re a law enforcement officer acting under section 563.046; or
3. You’re otherwise legally justified.
Under the circumstances as you believe them to be, the person you’re protecting wouldn’t be allowed to use that force;
You were committing, attempting to commit, or escaping after committing a forcible felony.

2. You can only use deadly force in these situations:

You reasonably believe it’s necessary to protect yourself, your unborn child, or someone else from death, serious injury, or a forcible felony;
You use it against someone unlawfully entering, remaining after unlawful entry, or trying to unlawfully enter your dwelling, residence, or lawfully occupied vehicle;
You use it against someone unlawfully entering, remaining, or attempting to enter private property you own, lease, or occupy with the owner’s permission, and you are claiming protective force under this law.

3. You do not have to retreat:

From a dwelling, residence, or vehicle where you are not unlawfully entering or staying;
From private property that you own or lease;
From any place where you have a legal right to be.

4. You can use physical restraint as protection, but must stop it as soon as it’s reasonable to do so.

5. You must raise the issue of justification if you’re claiming self-defense. If you claim you used force as described in subsection 2(2) (like defending your home), the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that your belief was not reasonable.

View the full statute here