But that’s not what the original poster claimed. She said she would empty out the gun, period.
This is why I like shooting steel plates in competition. There’s no way of assessing a paper target. When the steel target is down, the target is neutralized. It gives that added realism to the course.
[In real life, the downed target would still have to be covered.]
Since someone discussed Massad Ayoob, there was a woman who was threatened in her trailer. They guy broke the door down and tore her phone line out. She emptied her revolver into him. Her bullets hit him in the back when he turned to run.
She was tried for first degee murder but found not guilty.
marktwain replied:
I see this as a separate issue. There is some time between making the decision to shoot and the actual shot. Violent encounters are often so fluid and dynamic that it is not uncommon for perpetrators to be legitimately shot in the back, as you so kindly point out in the above post.
I would empty my 5 shot revolver, if I ever had to use it in defense of my home. It’s a double action .38 snubbie Taurus, and takes only a few seconds to empty it. It takes less than that to empty my 12 gauge. The derringer even less.
According to MO law, I do not think this is prosecutable. If you are a mo attorney, please tell me if you think I am mistaken. Neither of my siblings who are attorneys think it is civilly or criminally responsible. The LEO who taught me to shoot recommended it.
In an emergency with a wild animal or criminal breaking into my very rural home, I WOULD empty whatever weapon was in my hand. My aim would not be to wound anyone. It would be to protect myself using deadly force which I judged necessary in the situation, or else I never would have the weapon in my hands.
Would you seriously advise me to stop after every shot, to assess the situation? Are you a trainer?
She was tried for first degee murder but found not guilty.
First degree murder in this case is ludicrous.