You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.
-- Colonel Jeff Cooper
Posted on 10/06/2011 7:10:04 AM PDT by blam
If SHTF, Could You and Would You Shoot Someone?
Gaye Levy
October 5th, 2011
Backdoor Survival
The following article has been graciously contributed for your reading pleasure by Gaye Levy, the Survival Woman, of Backdoor Survival.
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For most of us, our home is our refuge. There is even an old proverb: a man’s home is his castle. But what happens if there is an intruder? Or worse, an intruder whose intent is bodily harm toward you or your family members regardless of the reason? How would you defend yourself and, more specifically, would you shoot someone? Could you shoot someone?
I have struggled with the answer to these questions and more, because, if there were a collapse of society – a true SHTF situation – there is a strong likelihood that I would be placed in a position to defend myself, my homestead and my stuff. And therein lies the problem. I am not at all sure I could shoot someone. As a matter of fact, I am pretty sure I could not.
There, I said it. For in spite of the fact that we have shopped for a suitable weapon for someone of my size and gender, and in spite of the fact I have researched classes and shooting ranges where I could practice and become proficient, I personally do not think I could not do it.
And you know what? My informal poll of others – both men and women – has told me that about 50% of us – if we dig down deep – feel the same way. I could not shoot with the intent to harm.
Sure, I know that shooting someone is not the question. The question really is “Can you safely defend yourself and your family against a life threatening situation or attack?” And if the answer is “I don’t know” or even “No”, then you have a problem. I know I do.
From the way I see it, we have three basic issues:
* What are the circumstances where we should use extreme force to defend ourselves?
* Will I end up in jail or prison for exercising my right to defend myself and my family?
* How do I defend myself especially if I am uncomfortable around guns?
* What are the circumstances where we should use extreme force to defend ourselves?
In my mind, you are justified in using force – lethal or otherwise – against another human being if, and only if, there is immediate and unavoidable danger of death or grave bodily harm to an innocent person. So by my definition, someone stealing my stuff does not qualify. Neither would revenge for something that happened yesterday.
Breaking this down, this means that the threat would have to be now, not yesterday and not tomorrow. “I am going to come and get you tomorrow” would not qualify by my definition.
Will I end up in jail or prison for exercising my right to defend myself and my family?
Good question. The answer is maybe. There is something called the Castle Doctrine that dictates, on a state by state basis, the circumstances where you can legally defend yourself from bodily harm. Notice that I said bodily harm and not destruction or theft of property.
Castle doctrine derives from English Common Law, and broadly affirms that the lawful occupants of a dwelling has the right to use force, up to and including deadly force, to protect against attack. Depending on individual state law, Castle Doctrine generally applies only if you have a “reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily harm” to yourself or to others.
Like I said, Castle Doctrine varies from state to state and some states have something called “Stand Your Ground” instead. Still, as a generalization, protections offered include the following:
Reinforced right to use deadly force: You have the right to use deadly force if you have an immediate and reasonable fear of imminent death or great bodily harm. In some cases, the “reasonable fear” is presumed if someone attempts to make a forcible and unlawful entry into your residence or, in some states, vehicle.
No duty to retreat: The laws generally reinforce your right to “stand your ground” when attacked, rather than having to attempt to flee, provided you reasonably believe force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily injury and provided you are lawfully in the place you occupy.
Immunity from criminal prosecution: In cases of justifiable use of deadly force, police or other law enforcement authorities may generally investigate but not arrest you unless they find probable cause that the force used was unlawful.
Immunity from civil action: In cases of justifiable use of deadly force, a plaintiff (e.g. the family of the perpetrator) is barred from civil action and may be required to pay attorney’s fees and court costs from bringing such action against you.
How do I defend myself especially if I am uncomfortable around guns?
Okay, here are the choices that I have come up with in no particular order:
* Chemical Sprays (pepper spray , bear spray, wasp killer)
* Martial arts
* Firearms (shotgun, rifle, pistol)
* Battering devices (batons, fireplace pokers, baseball bats)
* Stun Guns
* Knives * Avoidance (hiding, running away)
I do want to note that most self defense instructors will say that avoiding, or running away or even hiding from the danger or confrontation is by far the best thing to do. Unfortunately, that may not always be a viable and safe option.
For me, having a combination of these self-defense mechanisms is best. This will allow both Survival Husband and myself to choose the very best option particular to the threat and our personal comfort lever (again “to shoot” or “not to shoot”).
Summary
Ask yourself if you are ready for the chaos created by SHTF, in whatever form it might take. Also think about putting together a “SHTF Self Defense and Intruder Safety Plan”.
Here are some tips to get started:
1. The first step is to talk to your spouse, partner and/or other family members about your individual feelings a toward guns, knives and other self defense weapons. This is not the time for BS. It is best to be honest with yourself now, before the need to defend yourself is called in to action.
2. Examine some what-if scenarios and think about what additional information you need in order to become comfortable with your plan and with a possible “shoot” or don’t shoot” decision.
3. Invest in the gear and the skills you know you will use and then learn how to use them. The gear and skills that you select for one family member may be different than those chosen for another family member. One may choose a firearm and the other may choose a combination of chemical sprays and martial arts.
4. Respect the skills and mindset of your family members or others in your household. There is no right and no wrong.
5. Educate yourself regarding the Castle Doctrine Laws in your state and use them as a guideline in formulating your plan. Keep in mind, however, that if there is a SHTF situation, there may no longer be a government so any existing laws or rules may not apply.
The Final Word
The more you think about these things in advance, the more confident you will become in your ability to make a good decision under stress when defending yourself and your loved ones is the only choice your have.
To learn more about the Castle Doctrine Laws specific to your state, visit this link: The Castle Doctrine.
Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye
Remember “It’s better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6.
Let’s see, a 110 lb. woman with a knife vs. a grizzled 250 lb. thug.
This has a lot of potential to turn out poorly for the woman.
When people ask this question I am reminded of the OC activist guy who was confronted by two perps earlier this year. He could not shoot. Does not carry anymore.
Until you have to, you do not know. Training helps, because you react with muscle memory. But if you are not prepared, the after effects can be devastating.
You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.
-- Colonel Jeff Cooper
I'm shooting people NOW, and the S *hasn't* HTF.
I could, but would rather not.
If someone came to my door hungry and I had enough food, I'd give them something to eat. If we needed the extra hands, I may even invite them to stay.
If someone came to my house to steal all the food I had, or decided our home was now theirs, I'd shoot them (or poison them if they managed to get in and make us their slaves).
If it came down to us or them, the answer is us. We worked to buy our home. We worked to raise our children. We worked to prepare. If they had done the same, they'd be just as well off. If they believe somehow they're "entitled" to what we have and we are not, their time on this planet is up.
Of course no one wants it to come to that, but hypothetically, yes. I believe in the right of self defense.
And my answer is yes, without blinking an eye, because that type of trouble usually don't come by itself.
Don’t want to, but will if required to.
I would do what I had to do, the aftermath is anyone’s guess. My wife says she absolutely would. I asked my daughter if she would (she was a cop for a while) if the situation warranted it. No ambiguity in her response.
In addition to a .38 revolver and a 9mm Kahr, she owns a Remington 1100. She was near the top of her academy class in the shotgun training. Daddy’s very glad.
Yes, thank you very much.
As they say during duck hunting season "What's the limit?"
Do you already have the poison? They're not going to let you 'go to the store.'
People who are scared and have pent up anger when TSHTF will react and violently with no quams about taking lives
As I’ve said before on FR: The first one, you pay for... the rest are free. I paid for the first one years ago... The only questions I face now days are does he have a) proximity, b)ability, and c)intent. Now, it only takes a millisecond to see what the answers are to those three questions... If all three are answered “yes” then I kill him. And if he has broken into my home or business, or is trying to enter my vehicle while I’m in it, all three are already answered yes the minute I see him. Why bother with the three questions? It keeps me out of court...
when it comes to that, and you want to survive it, you better be able to turn your conscious off for the duration
JMO
I would suspect that the author could shoot a person in the right circumstances, say, during an attempted rape of her daughter or somebody using a deadly weapon on her son.
You are free to answer no due to not being able to mentally conjure up the situation in which you actually WOULD. To praphrase George S. Patton: “When the time comes, you’ll know what to do.” Anyone will kill in the right circumstances, except for those rare persons that are utterly committed to non-violence due to religious or moral values and have the stones to stick with that committment.
The writer is overlooking an obvious layer of protection...
Dogs have historically and continue to serve multiple functions, and would be extremely valuable in a SHTF scenario, particularly if their role is incorporated into advanced preparation and planning. First, dogs serve as an intrusion detection and alert system. Even if a dog wouldn't survive an early encounter with a marauding band, they could buy their master enough time to face or evade the aggressors. They provide a visual and auditory deterrent. An individual scavenger or small group confronted by the sound or sight of a shepherd or a couple rotties behind the door may be just enough to prompt them to move onto another homestead. Finally, if a fence, a door or window is breached, even untrained 'companion' dogs will assert their territoriality and press an attack against an intruder.
I don't rely solely on my dog as my exclusive means of protection, but he is an integral layer of my self-defense "onion."
don’t call 911, send mail from post office next morning after it opens
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