[Leaning Right]

Don't shoot much do you? I could take out a perp holding a hostage with one shot up to 50 yards easily and not touch the hostage.

We're not talking about a static shooting range situation here, my FRiend. We're talking about a very fluid, stressful, combat situation. The perp could well be moving, and moving in an unpredictable way.

Perhaps you, or an extremely well-trained police officer, could hit a moving target in such a situation. But perhaps not. The discussion on this thread was whether or not the shot was worth the risk to the hostage.

By the way, why did you start your post with an insult? That sort of thing rarely contributes to a discussion.

[calex59]

I started it with an insult because you made no sense what so ever, talking about not being able to hit anything with a handgun. Besides a little sarcasm is good for you, wakes you up starts you thinking. As for shooting in a tense situation, I have been there and I tell you that anyone who has had the proper training should be able to shoot a perp in the head, with a handgun, at any reasonable range and NOT hit the hostage. I could do it and so could many, many other FReepers.

A cops first duty should be to the people he is supposedly trying to protect. If someone points a gun at him while holding a hostage and the cop can't make the shot, he shouldn't shoot. This cop is guilty of manslaughter at the very least, and IMO should be tried for 2nd degree murder.