Wyoming’s “Stand Your Ground” law says you don’t have to run from a confrontation before defending yourself. That is what Rihanna Kelver and her counsel are asking a Laramie judge to consider as they seek protection from prosecution in a felony case stemming from a confrontation outside the Crowbar.
Yeah, this is a real good point. She is almost certainly going to be found at fault here. Heckling does not justify a reply with a threat of deadly force. She was not in fear of her life or grievous bodily harm, which is what you need to justify threats of deadly force.
Except the threat of deadly force was not in reply to the heckling, but the actual assault of him pushing her onto the ground. Assuming these were anti trans insults I fully understand being fearful for your life after that.
Battery*
In most jurisdictions assault is the threat of violence and battery is the actions.
But witnesses say she approached with her hand at her hip, as if ready to draw a gun. If true, that means she had already determined she was in danger by approaching.
In that case, assuming the guy who shoved her saw the hand position, it could be argued by the prosecutors that the push was in self defense. She was allegedly pushed out of the way as they were leaving, then pulled a gun.
She also lied and said she pulled a knife, which seriously danages the credibility of her version.