As public safety concerns grow, some women are choosing to carry prohibited items like bear spray for personal protection. This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks criminal defence lawyer Kyla Lee how quickly self-protection can turn into criminal liability. What does Canadian law actually allow when it comes to self-defence, and what could happen if you’re caught?
“…But one thing that is overarching in all prosecutions in Canada is whether it’s in the public interest to prosecute somebody. And in those circumstances, if you’re a victim of an attack, you use a prohibited weapon to defend yourself. It’s not really in the public interest to prosecute the victim, when the real person, the perpetrator, who is deserving of consequences should be facing them. It’s kind of like a big grey area…”
