Quote Originally Posted by frankykeno View Post
From the Canadian Criminal Code (C-46):

From Defense of Person:

Every one who is unlawfully assaulted without having provoked the assault is justified in repelling force by force if the force he uses is not intended to cause death or grievous bodily harm and is no more than is necessary to enable him to defend himself.

(2) Every one who is unlawfully assaulted and who causes death or grievous bodily harm in repelling the assault is justified if

(a) he causes it under reasonable apprehension of death or grievous bodily harm from the violence with which the assault was originally made or with which the assailant pursues his purposes; and

(b) he believes, on reasonable grounds, that he cannot otherwise preserve himself from death or grievous bodily harm.

And under Preventing Assault:

(1) Every one is justified in using force to defend himself or any one under his protection from assault, if he uses no more force than is necessary to prevent the assault or the repetition of it.

As far as Defense of Property, that's a bit different:

(1) Every one who is in peaceable possession of personal property, and every one lawfully assisting him, is justified

(a) in preventing a trespasser from taking it, or

(b) in taking it from a trespasser who has taken it,

if he does not strike or cause bodily harm to the trespasser.

Assault by trespasser

(2) Where a person who is in peaceable possession of personal property lays hands on it, a trespasser who persists in attempting to keep it or take it from him or from any one lawfully assisting him shall be deemed to commit an assault without justification or provocation.
R.S., c. C-34, s. 38.

Defence with claim of right

39. (1) Every one who is in peaceable possession of personal property under a claim of right, and every one acting under his authority, is protected from criminal responsibility for defending that possession, even against a person entitled by law to possession of it, if he uses no more force than is necessary.

Defence of dwelling

40. Every one who is in peaceable possession of a dwelling-house, and every one lawfully assisting him or acting under his authority, is justified in using as much force as is necessary to prevent any person from forcibly breaking into or forcibly entering the dwelling-house without lawful authority.

R.S., c. C-34, s. 40.

Defence of house or real property

41. (1) Every one who is in peaceable possession of a dwelling-house or real property, and every one lawfully assisting him or acting under his authority, is justified in using force to prevent any person from trespassing on the dwelling-house or real property, or to remove a trespasser therefrom, if he uses no more force than is necessary.

http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showdoc...:s_3_1-gb:s_34

So my read of that is that you can use reasonable (and if needed lethal) force in defense of yourself or others if you believe there is no other course of action to preserve life. Property is another matter because the law in Canada recognizes that losing your life is not the same as losing the cash on top of your dresser. As well, of course, you have to deal with the issues of strict gun ownership and legal storage of firearms laws, especially with children in your home.

Personally I'd suggest you get a nice German Shepherd puppy from a good breeder, take it for training and enjoy a lovely pet that will warn you about strangers on your property. I grew up with a couple of huge male GSD's and they were wonderful family pets. However, I know it gave people something to think about if they wanted to break in with a 120 lb dog in the house who loved his family VERY much.

We did have one drunken and violent idiot who tried to get in once. Amazing how fast he exited the property when we turned the dog loose. Chum never put a tooth in the man, he just "escorted" him to our property line.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Doctrine The Castle Doctrine removes all the ifs ands or buts from the right to defend yourself.