You cannot hit somebody and expect the lawyer in them to suddenly break out. He responded to getting hit and that was his response.
I understand that, but impulse control is important. I was slugged once every three months by a drunkass hideous ‘girlfriend’ and, though twice her size, never flattened her out. Not that I didn’t want to, mind you... but the ‘lawyer in me’ kept whispering “No guns... for the rest of your life... no guns... for the rest of your life....”