Posted on 02/01/2020 7:57:24 PM PST by PROCON
If you’ve never seen the Sergio Leone film “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” one of the characters admonishes a would-be assassin “When you have to shoot, shoot; don’t talk” after having dispatched him. Something like that exact sentiment is why warning shots, verbal warnings and other attempts to dissuade a violent attacker are a bad idea.
If the threat is real, draw from your concealed carry holster and fire – and stop the threat.
Warning Shots Will Only Land You In Jail
Warning shots sound great on paper. The gunshot will frighten the bad person enough so they give up or think better of what they’re doing and cheese it. Sounds good, right?
It’s likely to send you to jail instead.
There are two primary factors that will put you in a prison uni because of a warning shot. First is that a prosecutor will argue that since you weren’t threatened enough to actually shoot the person in the first place, you weren’t really threatened sufficiently to merit pulling a gun in the first place.
The act of drawing a pistol in the first place is an act of deadly force before the eyes of the law. Use of deadly force without the requisite reasonable belief of imminent death or dismemberment is a felony.
Second is what the bullet does after it leaves the barrel, which is part and parcel to why police officers don’t fire warning shots. If the threat is real, they tend to shoot to stop the threat and that’s exactly what you should do if confronted by a violent criminal.
Granted, a bullet into dirt will likely stay there, but pavement and other materials can cause a ricochet. Firing up into the air is equally reckless; what goes up, after all.
It Might Just Get You Killed
A recent tragic reminder about why warnings and warning shots are often fruitless is the recent case of Pedro “Pete” Cain of Norfolk, Va. Cain was visiting with some neighbors when a young woman came up to the group and asked to use a cellular phone on in late May of this year, according to the Virginia Pilot. She was told there wasn’t one available, but Cain was concerned that she was actually casing for a robbery and went back to his apartment to retrieve a handgun.
Cain’s suspicion was correct, and soon after returning with the gun, a man wearing a bandana appeared with a handgun. Cain aimed at the man and told him to drop it.
The man began to comply, but suddenly fired, hitting Cain in the abdomen. Cain was taken to the hospital but died of his wounds. Five people have been arrested for their roles in the robbery. The alleged shooter, one David Barrington, is facing a charge of 2nd degree murder as well as ancillary charges.
This isn’t to say it’s Cain’s own fault he was killed; it was the murderous criminal’s fault. However, it may well have turned out different had Cain merely fired. The shooter may have wound up on a slab, Cain’s fiance wouldn’t be mourning his loss and his son won’t be growing up without remembering his father.
Shoot To Stop The Threat
If you are confronted with a real and honest threat to you or someone else’s life or posed with a threat of serious bodily injury by a person bent on doing evil, shoot to stop the threat. Don’t try trick shots to the kneecap, don’t resort to warning shots. Verbal commands may work, but as can be gleaned from the Cain case, won’t always.
It certainly isn’t the case that you should shoot first and ask questions later. The threat has to be real and reasonable. But it is the case that if presented with a real clear and present danger, shoot until they stop.
If the danger is real, drawing and shooting will be justified. Since the best place for bullets is inside an attacker, there’s no danger of ricochets or bullets landing somewhere they shouldn’t after being fired in the air. Best of all, you’ll probably get home alive.
Dead People Tell No Lies... and they have no lawyer or a case.
What are the odds that people who are reckless with guns spend time reading articles about gun handling on firearms forums and websites?
If good advice is withheld because some people might misuse or misunderstand it then no one should ever give any advice. On anything.
I once successfully used a warning shot.
It is indeed a difficult thing in what is the almost the worst case imaginable.
However, is it true that cops will in some confrontational situations will command “Freeze!” or “Show me your hands “ or even “Drop the weapon!” ?
Glad it worked and you’re still around. Just not how I choose to deal with a threat to my life.
Not that I am at all against blowing a bad guy with a weapon to smithereens.
In our department I am a fire arms instructor, active threat teacher
We train to neutralize the threat. We are trained to double tap the threat. No warning shots are not authorized. We are taught that every bullet that leave the weapon you are responsible for. The rounds go somewhere and if you miss we call it the million dollar bullet for liability purposes. The last shooting I worked on was a male subject charged the officers who went through the door he was immediately shot four times and died right there.
I recommend reading Mossad Ayoob’s book on the use of deadly force. He’s a very good source to stay alive and free in the case of things going terribly wrong.
“However, is it true that cops will in some confrontational situations will command “Freeze!” or “Show me your hands “ or even “Drop the weapon!” ?”
Sure, but that is cops doing their job when the bad guy knows they are cops.\
Break into a cops house and see how many warnings he gives.,..NONE!
“Then keep your mouth shut till you have a lawyer there.”
Exactly, thank you.
I figured you know that, my issue is people don’t realize surviving the incident is just the beginning. You have to convince the LEO it was justified, then get past civil suits maybe, then learn to live with the event. I thank God it’s never happened to me. I work to be ready but hope for the best. Number one item, you have to survive. IMHO
It changes everything about your life. It’s an event you revisit in your head, rolling over it like a bad dream. But it’s a burden I’ll bear if it means I’ll continue to draw breath.
Agreed. Win, period. When the stakes are life or death, a fair fight stinks. Take every advantage you can get. Attack without warning. Fire repeatedly or employ whatever weapons are available until the threat is removed, even the most remote chance of a threat. Win, absolutely, or die.
Best gun fight you ever win is the one you never have. Find a way to retreat, avoid, de-escalate, or employ LEO. Make you and your people safe, then get hard if it don’t work. When it comes to family, you’re the herd dog. It’s on you.
I’ve had to pull my pistol in the USA three times in my life which was enough to stop the threat
In Sierra Leone late 80s it was a different scenario
I don’t believe the adage don’t pull it until you are for sure going to shoot them
That is simply wrong in most civilian applications
It causes cops to shoot too damn fast and to kill always
But I’m sure recon rangers life of dangers here will scold me
Now that I agree with which is why I like a revolver by my bed
No confusion for me
How many here giving advice have actually been in gun fights or been shot I wonder.....
Military applications is different
Respect to those here who’ve seen the elephant in service of our nation
First good advice post
Remember this one
daddy I’m so sorry I was just tying to scare you.”....as she died...13 or 14....makes me misty recounting it
Baton Rouge maybe 15 years ago
We had threads here on it
Daughter hid in closet to scare mom and dad when they came home from date night or something
Dad had CCW and when she jumped out he killed her but not before her last words
I could not live with that....and I’ve got two daughters ....the preemie on my homepage...she’s my heart
Next bullet would be in my own head. If I did that ....
Folks here talk a lot of shit
You got to use common sense with gun Play
There are no hard and fast rules ..except practice your aim and know your safety unless it a striker fire
Which I’m not crazy about....I know I know..Glocks are so great....to some
Anyhow people ...just contemplate and practice and keep your guns away from children and train those in your household who have access
Far more important advice than macho talk..seriously
Nobody knows how they will react when they point a loaded weapon at another persons head or chest close up...be ready but be smart
Voluntary manslaughter will carry time if you make a judgment mistake
I’ve witnessed those reckless with guns tend to be those either poorly trained
Or find their courage in their CCW
The instructors mean it when they say it’s a responsibility
I’m with you Gateur.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.