Concur, I’ve unfortunately had to draw several times. Each time so far, it was when I was certain an attack was imminent, but before I had legal justification to fire. I was waiting for them to draw first. It worked.
Folks will argue about what “ought” to be done, but it ought not be a crime to show or draw a weapon even though it is not used, as long as the showing or drawing is for any reasonable purpose. That’s part of bearing it.
I fully support making defensive display legal. I’m not so keen on encouraging warning shots, considering the level of training I observe in many gun owners. Too many people are oblivious as to where that warning shot goes (ahem...Joe Biden). It doesn’t just disappear. You’re still responsible for that round’s final disposition.
Application of deadly force needs to be a sure and sudden surprise......forewarned is forearmed
I don’t think “warning shots” are a good idea, unless you’re absolutely sure of where that round will end-up. Many people don’t know for sure. Best not to fire unless you hit the attcker. JMO.
If the police face no legal issue when gun is drawn, or multiple rounds expended which do not strike someone, The People must enjoy the same “right”.
I do not agree with warning shots. You do not know for sure where your bullet will go.
I, however, do not believe that one should be charged with a crime if drawing a weapon and not firing in a justifiable defensive situation. It really depends on the circumstances.
I throw my hand up in the air while inside my vehicle...basically saying WTF are doing....
The guy jumps out of his car strides up to my side window asking me to roll it down...he was visually very upset and itching for trouble...
All I did was point to my glove box made a gun sign with my fingers...
Dude walked away in a flash...
Being a CCW holder in Florida I know showing my weapon was a big no-no...
Fortunately he didn't think I was buffing...I wasn't, but if he did think I was...I could see a real problem developing
Sad case from a friends experience. He was being followed, passed, followed, passed by a couple with his kids in his car. He was packing and eventually pulled over and was confronted by the male of the duo. He revealed his weapon and the male got back in the car but they continued to follow my friend. The duo called the cops and my friend was arrested and charged for brandishing and some other charge. Former Eagle Scout, brilliant engineer, good guy. Prosecuter was looking to make an example of someone and a name for herself and he was it. Eventually drove over in front of the courthouse on a Sunday morning and shotgunned himself. Guess it would have been better if my friend had called 911. Turns out the duo were known criminals with records and had decided to mess with my friend after he “brandished” his weapon. Central Florida several years back.
I have a suggestion for where the bullet from the warning shot winds up. :’)
Having to display your weapon as a warning to a perp is of no practical use. It will eventually lead to perps becoming more aggressive in an attempt to thwart legal carriers from having an element of surprise by starting the commission of their crimes armed & IN HAND. It also decreases the CCW holders opportunity to purge the gene pool greatly. Warning Shot? First shot into perp followed by LOUD STOP/HALT command. Pause. Second shot into the ground. That should satisfy all concerned.
I came very close to brandishing once on an early morning at a 24 hour gas station.
Three ‘youts’ came walking toward me with a bit of space between each of them as I was filling up.
I put my my hand on my weapon, which made it visable, and they stopped walking right then and there and left.
I told the sheriff’s deputy who trained me for the ccw about the incident and she just smiled.
This was also Florida.
My one armed encounter went as follows:
I returned from a delivery just in time to see a guy hop over the counter and point a knife at my 18 year old female manager.
I will never forget how big his eyes got when he saw that little J-Frame pointing at him from about 10 feet away. He quickly unassed the situation, but it felt like it took forever, due to Tachypsychia. That's a real thing, seeing stuff in 'slow motion'.
A couple of years later, I finally got to testify against the guy, and he's in prison for 67 years.
I think this is the first time I've talked about that incident here in detail.
Yep. This will save lives. The Left should be behind this law, but I’m betting they won’t be.
+10 whiny pantswetter powerup bonus for every response to this proposal that includes the phrases “blood in the streets” or “George Zimmerman”. For fun, make it a drinking game.
I too, have had occasion to show my gun to stop a potential attacker in his tracks. It worked amazingly well and no one got hurt.
A buddy of mine once got to a parking space before a hot-headed punk. The punk, cursing angrily and flinging gestures, parked his car elsewhere and found my buddy. He approached him and said, “I’m gonna kick your ass!”.
My buddy said, “No you’re not”.
The punk, taken aback, paused then asked, “Why not?”
My buddy said, “Because I’ll shoot your ass.”
After a pause, the punk said, “You have a gun?”
My buddy said, “Nope. I’ve got TWO guns.”
After another long, contemplative pause, the punk said, “Sorry, man” and backed away, apologizing profusely as he went.
Many anti-brandishing laws say if you don't have to shoot, you can't draw your firearm. This law would correct that and I applaud it. Wish it would come to Michigan.
That said, many times a firearm has been drawn with the intent to use it, but the threat is immediately removed, so a shot isn't taken. This is part of John Lott's 2 million defensive uses per year argument.
BTW, I own a North American Arms .22 magnum. It misfires too much to use for a carry gun.
Perhaps they should call this the Biden Law and get buy-in from the rats.
What you forget is the second you draw.
You become a threat and that escalates a situation.
Makes the other party desperate.
No.
I think it is wiser to talk a situation down rather than ratchet it up.
If you have draw, you had best shoot.
At that point words aren’t working.
2. Rules for warning shots should be the same as rules for other shots.
Be sure of your background.
3. I believe the illegality of warning shots is for the convenience of the legal bureaucracy and the gun control crowd
4. I believe most people are not like the hero of the old B Western movies, the guy who is fast enough to let the villain go for his gun first and beat the villain to the draw. Instead they are more like the bit player, the duffer who goes for his gun and gets out drawn by the villain.
5. On displaying a firearm, the police don't seem to have a problem with drawing their guns before going into a situation where they might have to use them.
This sounds like more of a clarification of stand your ground laws. There was a story recently of a FL woman that got charged with attempted murder for firing a warning shot. I’m not sure how that turned out, but I think she knew the guy and there might have been kids in the house at the time. That being said, warning shots are generally a bad idea, but you certainly should be cut some slack if it’s done on your property, is reasonably justified, and/or the public is not endangered.