If you were eating in a fairly busy restaurant, and a gunman came in, grabbed a woman and shot her (probably his wife), would it be legit for you to take him out? Since he had not bothered you or even looked at you, would it be legal or grandstanding?
Generally yes, but it would depend on whether he was still a threat to you or anyone else at the time you you shot him. Don’t forget, he just shot someone which is pretty good evidence he’s a threat. I can’t think of a locale where you can’t defend others.
If he dropped the weapon,then it’s a no shoot.
If he still has the weapon at the ready,do your best to take him out.
I think you could consider him a threat. If he’s killed one, I think its reasonable to assume he’ll kill others.
LLS
Why is it your business?
The fact you have a gun is irrelevant. You are merely a bystander
I’m sure not gonna risk letting him get the drop on me. How long do you think it will take for him to turn around, look at you and blow your butt away? I will be ready, after he is looking down the barrel at you it’s too late to draw.
There has to be a reasonable belief that the person is about to assert deadly force. The laws vary from state to state, but all are pretty easy to look up.
The gunman got in his car and started to drive off. A Texan took out his .44 magnum with scope from his car and shot the gunman trying to leave the parking lot through the door of his car and killed him. The Texan left the scene.
The gunman's car exited the parking lot and got caught in a ditch. The police did not see the hole in the door for a while and thought he may have killed himself.
The Texan eventually turned himself in. He went in front of the Grand Jury and was admitted. The issue was that the woman was dead so the Texan was not preventing a death and the gunman was not a threat to the Texan.
The gunman was leaving the scene of a crime but the crime was not against the Texan.
If he is still armed and posting a threat in general, then you can’t sit there and have a philosophical debate, he is a threat to you and everyone else.
I had the chance in Marin County to drop a guy that was holding up a C store. He had his back to me and was shaking so bad I thought he was going to have an AD and kill the clerk. I could not be sure my bullet would not go through him so I picked up a half gallon of wine in glass and beaned him as hard as I could. Still almost got arrested and charged. Moved from Kalifornia shortly after that.
Florida has a “forcible felony” provision in the statutes that allows for shooting someone in the commission of a forcible felony. I would believe that having shot someone they’ve already committed the felony and thus an open season target, but that’s just me.
Like others have said in the forum, I’ll take the 12.
Has not threatened anyone else? According to scenario, a murder has just been committed in public with other bystanders. He’s fair game. The next seconds depend on his actions, is gun still out? Is he now fleeing?