You better read if you care, if I fear for my life I don’t concern myself with the law.
I only read about them to compare the relative insanity of many of them
As several others have already pointed out, the specific laws vary greatly from state to state, so you need to know YOUR state's laws. Here's some light reading for your home state of North Carolina:
https://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-gun-laws/north-carolina/
My foolish advice.
God forbid you should have to but
when you have to shoot
(aim for center mass)
SHOOT(2-3X) don’t talk
7
I recommend that anyone with a gun read this book:
If you have to shoot someone, first thing to do is shut up. Refuse to speak to anyone other than an attorney.
In
Defense
Of
Life
memorize that.
it will keep you in good stead
and probably and probably keep you out of jail after that
L-A-W-Y-E-R
Joe Biden told me to shoot him in the leg and I tried to do that, but somehow I hit him in the chest.
You better be sure and research this before you act.
Your local DA is your biggest threat to freedom.
When Andy Jackson was a practicing lawyer he had a favorite saying. “The law tries to be Fair”.
In general that is true.
Remember this acronym: AIM
Access
Intent
Means
Does the person have access to you?
Does the person have the intent to harm you?
Does the person have the means to harm you?
You have about 50 nanoseconds to answer those questions.
The responses above that I was in fear for my life is the essence of the AIM acronym. If you draw your weapon and the perp is coming at you... with a knife.... and is saying he is going to kill you... I would say you have a very good reason for dropping the perp.
Do not say anything to the po po until you have a lawyer present!!!
Very state specific. Don’t do anything until you KNOW YOUR LAWS!!
And in the absence remember it is better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.
The best thing that you can do is find out about all the applicable gun laws in your state. Don’t just rely on what your buddies tell you. Join a gun club. Check out organizations like Gun Owners of America. The NRA is another source for information, although I prefer GOA. Educate yourself. That and take a tactical course and get some good range time in. Your gun is your best friend.
Most of the FReepers in this thread should be ashamed.
You know who you are.
If you’re defending your family & property from violent lunatics, why would you give a flying f...what your governor or state law “allows” you to do?
Man up, dammit.
We talk about this a lot at our Saturday cookout at the gun club. The club CEO is a big time lawyer here in SC. His advice: be like George Zimmerman under attack, fearing for your life and shoot as the very last resort.
Shooting looters to protect property is a loser in court. Those bakery owners in Cleveland would have been in big trouble if they shot a rioter to protect their property/business.
In the case of a complete breakdown of civil order rules of engagement would be less stringent. However, remember the first rule of Joey:
Always look for the camera first.
If you shoot someone, unless your in the middle of the ocean or a forest, someone will catch you on camera.
Fwiw, I was a city, parish, state & federal LEO for virtually all of my working career & the ONE thing that I can tell FOR CERTAIN is to FIND OUT FOR SURE what the LAWS are in YOUR JURISDICTION & in the PLACES WHERE YOU TRAVEL. = DO NOT GUESS!!!
Laws on self-defense, defense of property & defense of other people VARIES so much that you can make NO general rule.
Yours, TMN78247
USAMPR, Retired
Learn the laws of your own state, county and city. Do not rely on internet advice. Then retain an attorney bef0re you are ever involved in a shooting incident; don’t wait until afterward.
You are in Texas? Go take a License To Carry class. You don’t have to get the license if you don’t want to, but a certified instructor will teach you the rules in Texas. It might cost as much as $50. Probably will cost less.
I am not a big fan of Ayoob but he wrote one article which I really liked.
He recounted several incidents where he would have been justified in killing someone but chose not to and he was glad he chose that way.
I am not going to shoot someone just because I might be justified in doing so. It has to be where I really had no other choice.
1. An act which causes you to fear for your life and of your family ...you shoot. NO state can have a law disallowing you to defend your life. It is unconstitutional on its face. No DA is going to drag you into court when someone is breaking into your house. With that said:
2. As long as the forensics matches reality....you are good.
3. Lastly, the one who is still breathing at the end of the encounter, is the one who articulates what happened, and that is what the cops go on as a starting point.
You have a right to defend yourself. I object to the phrase”...the right to shoot someone.”