Legal Definitions - vis inermis

Vis inermis

Vis inermis refers to the application of physical force without the use of weapons. It describes situations where an individual or group uses only their body, or objects not typically considered weapons, to exert power or influence an outcome.

• Example 1: Security Personnel

  A concert venue security guard physically restrains an unruly attendee by holding their arms and guiding them out of the building. The guard uses no batons, tasers, or other tools, relying solely on their own physical strength and technique to manage the situation.

  This demonstrates vis inermis because the security guard is employing physical force to control and remove the individual, but without the aid of any weapons.

• Example 2: Crowd Control

  During a public demonstration, a line of police officers forms a human barrier, linking arms and using their collective body weight to prevent protestors from advancing past a designated boundary. The officers are not equipped with riot shields, batons, or other defensive gear in this particular instance.

  Here, the officers are utilizing vis inermis by using their bodies and physical presence as a form of unarmed force to control the movement of the crowd.

• Example 3: Self-Defense

  An individual is confronted by an aggressor and responds by pushing them away and holding them at arm's length to create distance and prevent further assault. The individual does not pick up any nearby object to use as a weapon, relying purely on their own physical strength to repel the attacker.

  This scenario illustrates vis inermis because the individual is using their body and physical power to defend themselves and deter the aggressor, without employing any weapon.