What does it mean to have "reasonable belief" in a self-defense situation?

To have "reasonable belief" in a self-defense situation is grounded in the concept of credible evidence of an immediate threat. This means that a person perceives a situation as dangerous based on observable and concrete facts, rather than mere speculation or intuition. A reasonable belief involves a rational and objective assessment of the circumstances, which justifies the actions taken in self-defense. For instance, if an individual witnesses someone brandishing a weapon and behaves aggressively, this visible evidence can lead to a reasonable belief that they are in imminent danger, thereby justifying defensive actions.

In contrast, relying solely on a gut feeling does not provide the necessary basis for a reasonable belief; personal intuition does not typically satisfy legal standards for self-defense. Similarly, assuming danger based solely on past experiences lacks the immediacy and evidence required to justify defensive actions, as does being informed by others without firsthand evidence of an ongoing threat. Reasonable belief must be based on a clear and present danger that a rational person would recognize as threatening.