I have read comments about Italy ever so slowly taking the side of the citizens rather than criminals when it comes to the law. Unfortunately, it is too common in Europe for the Government to be on the side of the criminal and harshly against the citizens (re: Tony Martin) that an actual law stating that use of force inside the home or workplace in self defense is properly legal is something momentous.

The following is browser-translated from the original article:

Law no. 36 of 26 April 2019 on “Amendments to the Criminal Code and other provisions on legitimate defence”(OJ no. 102 of 3 May 2019) was published in the Official Gazette.

Legitimate defense
A sort of presumption of “domestic” legitimate defense is introduced: in the event of a violation of domicile – and every place where commercial, professional or entrepreneurial activity is expressly equated with the domicile – the defense is considered “always” proportionate to the offense; the provision obviously aims to eliminate any residual room for discretion on the part of the judge in assessing the proportionality between the defense and offense;

Furthermore, within the walls of the home and in the workplaces indicated above, those who reject the intrusion by one or more people “put in place with violence or threat of use of weapons or other means of physical compulsion” are always considered in a condition of legitimate defense.

Legittima difesa: la riforma in Gazzetta (altalex.com)

Well done Italy!

Hat Tip Asociación Nacional del Arma de España – ANARMA