I was wondering if anyone might be able to tell me as to what the laws are relating to self defense and excessive use of force both on a Federal level and on the state level.
I live in the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico and lately I have seen an increase in the levels of crime in relation to both personal and property related crime and I am wondering as to exactly what my rights are within the law to protect both myself and my property as it is really starting to scare me.
I have thought about buying a gun and I am still thinking about that, but I am also seriously looking at the martial arts as well.
Ever since I moved to New Mexico in 2006 I have had nothing but problems in which people have tried to deceive me both online and in person, plus I have had people physically threaten me and I have had people vandalize my car on several occasions.
In the first incident my back window was broken out and my tool boxes that I had in the back of my car were stolen in March of 2007. In Feburary 2008 my car was again vandlized while I was at home reading in which someone had broken all of the windows on my car and had slashed all of my tires and in September 2008 my car was again vandalized while it was sitting at my mothers house on the opposite end of town and while I was away from it for a few hours helping my aunt move. In that incident someone had slashed my tires.
I personally am getting sick and tired of people lying to me and in people trying to either physically assault me, steal from me, or to vandalize my car and as a result I am getting to be very security conscious and am currently looking for ways in which to protect both myself and my property legally so that I can feel more safe and secure.
I would appreciate it if someone can help me to understand the laws relating to self defense and if anyone might happen to have some ideas as to what steps that I can take to protect myself without getting into trouble with the law, then I would greatly appreciate it.

