Is a verbal argument grounds to deem you as an aggressor in a self-defense shooting?

Question

This is hypothetical, however something I've always wondered. Say you're at the gas station and some guys come to you to start problems and antagonize you. You respond by arguing back opposed to walking away. They threaten violence against you, and you essentially tell them to go ahead if that's what they want to do, standing your ground yet leaving the ball in their court. One of them pulls a weapon, so you pull yours and shoot. My question is whether or not the verbal argument would constitute being an aggressor in the situation and prevent you from being able to claim self defense (assuming this is a stand your ground state opposed to duty to retreat). Or does "aggressor" only refer to initiating the physical aspect of the confrontation?

Answer 1

Thats a good question. Generally -[a] person is privileged to use such force as reasonably appears necessary to defend him or herself against an apparent threat of unlawful and immediate violence from another.

Verbal argument alone may probably not satisfy an apparent threat of unlawful and immediate violence, but verbal argument with a weapon may certainly seem so.