Killer with the right to take life, maybe? (5)
I believe the answer is:
rifle
'killer' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
'right to take life maybe?' is the wordplay.
'right' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'to take' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'maybe?' indicates an anagram (I've seen 'maybe' mean this).
'life' is an anagram of 'ifle'.
'r'+'ifle'='RIFLE'
'with the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rifle that I've seen before include "Strip - firearm" , "lock, stock and barrel" , "Gun with long_barrel" , "Steal and carry off - firearm" , "disarray" .)