Why is it so terrible to try only to disable, as implied by the previous post?
I think it completely depends on the situation.
YMMV, but at least “shooting the legs” gives one a vast advantage without the full legal issues.
“Why is it so terrible to try only to disable, as implied by the previous post?”
Because if that person has a weapon, they can still use it.
Legs are a smaller target, and often moving. As others have said, wounds to the extremities rarely take a determined attacker out of the fight.
“Why is it so terrible to try only to disable, as implied by the previous post?
I think it completely depends on the situation.
YMMV, but at least “shooting the legs” gives one a vast advantage without the full legal issues.”
It’s a terrible idea, one borne out of ignorance of reality and ballistics. A shot to the lower extremity will disable only if it’s extremely painful, fractures a major supporting bone, or causes rapid massive bleeding. The last result will end in the bad guy’s death without treatment, so why not shoot for big blue, big red, or big grey/white in the first place? And the fracture will get you sued for major $$$ for pain and suffering and medical bills and loss of income, etc. for the rest of the bad guy’s life—better if he’s dead from the get go. If you’re not justified in shooting to kill, you’re certainly not justified in shooting to maim or to wound or to scare. And if he’s high on adrenaline, drugs, or alcohol, or just a really tough dude, muscular shots won’t even slow him down. In fact, many people who are shot don’t even know it until well after the incident. And good luck trying to hit the “sweet spot” at the thigh, calf, or foot in a moving target that will kill you if you miss, and that will still be able to attck you and shoot or knife or beat you if you don’t hit major bone or major blood vessels.
It just doesn’t work and is a Hollywood stunt, a myth, to shoot someone in the “leg” to stop an attack. Shoot to kill, or don’t shoot at all.
Leg shots can still be lethal. Especially if hit in the femoral artery.
They die in minutes instead of seconds.
Shooting the legs potentially gives you bigger legal issues.
1) Prosecutor could argue that you did not think you had justification for using lethal force.
2) Bullet could hit femoral artery, and he'll bleed to death quickly.
3) Visualize permanently crippled thug suing you in front of a jury comprised mainly of people who don't like white people.
4) In a gun fight, legs are probably moving. Torso is easier to hit than legs, and you don't have unlimited time (or bullets).
Because its much more difficult to hit a leg or an arm (especially if they are moving) than to hit center mass. ESPECIALLY UNDER STRESS.
And as others have pointed out, the point of shooting is to stop the threat. If you simply hobble them they can still shoot you.