Texas Law Lets You Settle Disputes the Old Fashioned Way With Fists

Long gone are the days in Texas when you could settle a dispute with a shootout in the middle of the street.  That belongs in the old west.  However, those gunfights eventually turned into fistfights outside the bar on a Saturday night.  Then that seemed to go away because everyone would get arrested and charged with assault.

Did You Know You Can Legally Fight in Texas?

We all know that Texas has some interesting laws.  The next time you and someone get riled up at each other in a bar or other place someone says, "Let's take this outside."  Do it, and you'll be safe from breaking the law.

Mutal Combat is Legal in Texas

If you get into a fight in Texas and both the parties participating in the fight agree to it, then it is legal.  Now there are some stipulations.

Texas Penal Code 22.06 - Consent as Defense to Assaultive Conduct

The law basically says that if two adults agree to a physical fight then they can fight.  However, these few things have to happen or cannot happen.

• Both people have to agree to the fight.
• If someone gets hurt, for example, broken bones or serious injuries, you can still be charged with assault.
• No weapons can be used.  The fight has to be with fists only.

If the police find you fighting they can still step in, and technically arrest both parties for assault, but if taken before the court and it is proven both parties agreed to the fight before it started, then you probably won't face charges.

Knowing this law exists doesn't give you the go-ahead to go to the bar on Saturday night and purposely start fights. Can you imagine that Fight Club. Oh wait, we can't talk about Fight Club.