37Suppression of riot by person acting without order in case of emergency

37 Suppression of riot by person acting without order in case of emergency

Where any person, whether subject to military law or not, believes on reasonable grounds that serious mischief will arise from a riot before there is time to procure the intervention of a sheriff or justice, it is lawful for him to use such force as he believes on reasonable grounds to be necessary for the suppression of the riot, not being disproportioned to the danger which he believes on reasonable grounds is to be apprehended from the continuance of the riot.