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.
I’m ambivalent about your post
But thanks for your job
That video was featured here. ‘Thinking the location was Brazil.
No. We don’t. There was an article recently where someone had brandished a weapon and people with little knowledge were applauding foolishly. That does not mean we “recommend it”. My rule is the moment I decide I need to show you a gun your dead. They are not two decisions but one. Gun comes out, it gets fired. Like the Samurai, I guess. If this knife comes out it has to taste blood to go back.
This article just reinforces what daddy taught me decades ago.
I’m not a cop. “Covering” a suspect is police work. It’s dangerous. They get paid to do police work. Not enough but that’s why I ain’t a cop. I have no legal reason or authority to “cover” someone. My authority to “arrest” someone is so narrow it essentially does not exist. My ability to have ANY legal authority over a stranger is limited to killing him to prevent my death. Other than that I have no authority over another and in fact, threatening him with a gun is a crime.
Harry Truman didn’t give Japan a warning shot
In fact we killed more japs with fire bombing than with nucs.
Hey, but not saying they did not have it coming.
It’s not my primary home defense weapon.
A good short barreled 8 shooter is not to be effed with.
That is how I keep my shotgun - loaded.
However, the other day I saw a video where the guy was saying that most shotguns (my one for defense is a pump) don’t have the safety features that most pistols have if it is dropped, and the shotgun might fire. So he recommends not keeping a shell in the chamber.
But - he also showed that the shell can be racked fairly quietly.
I need to look into that more.
I totally agree with the subject line. If you pull your concealed weapon, use it.
JoMa
“However, is it true that cops will in some confrontational situations will command “Freeze!” or “Show me your hands “ or even “Drop the weapon!” ?”
Sounds like that CC at the Las Vegas Costco. Four cops said four different things. He ended up dead.
One of my favorite lines of all time when it comes to a real threat.
“Thinking the location was Brazil.”
Yes, it was - 3d World shithole with some redeeming qualities as regards firearms.
“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.”
QFT - discussions about calibers, gear, tactics, etc. are all good and the best discussion is about the mindset in your quote, especially the first line. Call it what you will - situational awareness, head on a swivel, Cooper’s color codes, whatever - your brain is your most effective defensive weapon.
Best training ever (for me) was Ayoob’s MAG-40 class which is mostly about proper mindset plus the law along with some shooting. I’ve trained with Cooper disciples and Farnam disciples and learned a lot about shooting as a physical skill. Don’t overlook training the brain for mindset.
Another thing that cops are trained to do, is to KEEP shooting until you are sure the threat has been stopped (the bad guy goes down). One bullet may not be enough. If the threat was enough to shoot him once, then keep shooting until he falls.
She is on a different level. an assailant would have to climb a tree to be able to be effective.
LOL!!
Please add me to your list. Thank you. Bodega
The missing piece of this article is “identify and confirm the target.” If you draw a pistol or pick up and aim a rifle or shotgun, you better be certain that you have correctly identified and located the threat, then you can shoot center mass.
Warning shots are stupid, but proper target identification is critical. Know what you are shooting at, and know what you may hit if you miss.
I use Lawshield as my insurance for CCW and other self defense events. It's cheap, and they provide immediate legal assistance for any self defense events. And in any state.
Here's another tip I learned from the pro's. If you are involved in an event, complain of chest pains. You get transported to the hospital and put under evaluation.
A much more comfortable place for any immediate questioning.
Hope I never have to find out.
Not a fun place to be.
Besides; the first might cause the second to jam and not fire.
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