Sometimes, even if you don’t hesitate, you can still get killed. A few years ago, a young deputy in my county stopped a perp on an out-of-town country road for erratic driving. His dash camera captured the whole grizzly scene. He approached the truck with his gun drawn, but the driver emerged with a short-barreled AR. The deputy began firing first, striking the perp multiple times, but the perp managed to get off a few shots, striking the deputy. After the deputy went down, the perp still managed to get back in the truck and drive across the state line 50 miles away. He was finally caught by Louisiana state troopers after he ran off the road and tried to escape on foot. This was the first time to date that a peace officer in my county was killed on duty.
Even if you shoot first, facing an armed adversary is damned dangerous business.
Yes, it is. Far better to avoid the gun fight, if you can.