Which statement best describes permissible resistance to unlawful entry?

• A. No resistance is ever allowed.
• B. Resistance is allowed if it is threatened with deadly force.
• C. Resistance is allowed if it threatens the officers.
• D. The occupant may offer reasonable resistance that does not rise to the level of an assault.

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is that defending yourself and your home against an unlawful entry is allowed only to a degree that is reasonable and necessary. The occupant may resist in a way that is proportionate to the threat and does not cross into outright assault. In practice, this means you can use ordinary, nonviolent or minimally forceful actions to deter or slow the intrusion—things like verbal warnings, placing yourself between the intruder and your safe areas, or using barriers or nonlethal means to create space. You should not use force that would be considered an assault; deadly force is not justified unless there is an imminent risk of death or serious harm. So the best description is that the occupant may offer reasonable resistance that does not rise to the level of an assault.