I keep hearing the “no warning shots” but I do not agree. There are times when it is appropriate. Probably should be called “attention getting shots” instead tho.
They also say it endangers others, often far away.
Imagine being prosecuted for firing warning shots, causing a stampede in which members of the mob were hurt or killed. I wouldn't care as these were all participants because they didn't stop it but the state will take a different view especially if a protected class is involved.
Warning shots are part of the show and should never be eliminated from someone’s arsenal, people have always used warning shots as an element of control and assertion.
In Houston we used to tell of a Texas Ranger who went to an Hispanic trailer park in the old days, to investigate something, as he started to walk around a large number of rough men started gathering to intimidate him into leaving, he went to his car and took a Thompson out of his car trunk and fired a burst into the ground in front of them, and they left him alone for the rest of his visit.
When you are trying to control a man and he keeps arguing and fidgeting, firing two rounds into the ground and then moving it to his face, gets him to hear your message.
Warning shots can especially be important to a female or a male that isn’t very credible looking when the bad guy is trying to figure out if they can actually shoot him.