[Hugin]

These words are codified in law in many states. Missouri is one of them. It's called the Missouri Defense of Justification Statute. It flatly says that an officer can use deadly force when "he or she reasonably believes" it's necessary to protect life. The operative words are "reasonably believes." Translated, that means that there is no written code, rule, or guideline for what exactly reasonable belief is or means. It's purely a judgment call by the officer at the moment he or she draws his or her pistol and opens fire.

How on earth would you "codify" all possible contingencies where the officer or someone else might be threatened? There are many, many situations in the law where "reasonable belief" (ie. common sense) has to be the determining factor.

[maro]

Of course, whether the belief is reasonable would ultimately be up to the jury. It doesn’t seem to me that the Missouri statute permits the officer to decide for himself what is reasonable.