Yet another hypothetical situation

[indyoshi]

So let's say you are carrying and go into a gas station and it happens to have a robbery in progress. If the perp has a knife or firearm would you draw on him/her or just be ready to draw if they turn on you? I am new to LTCH and mine should arrive in the next few weeks. I haven't carried before and don't neccessarily plan to but wonder about so many possible situations.

[Joe Williams]

If I think someone is about to harmed or killed, I'll intervene. I'll not get involved to protect someone else's money.

There are very real physical and legal dangers in getting involved, and it's an issue that deserves careful consideration.

[Big John]

What Joe said!!

If it comes down to somebody losing their life I will intervene otherwise I make a very good witness.

[indyoshi]

Good point. But at what point when someone is pointing a knife or gun in someone face asking for money do you intervene? When a shot it fired? A stab is made? Or when you feel it is on the edge and close to someone getting injured or killed? If someone just asks for money I'll sit back and observe and take as many mental notes on the perp... But when do you make that call?

[Big John]

That question really can not be answered, it would be a judgment call.

You never know until it happens hopefully if it does go bad you make the right call save a life and the shoot is considered a good shoot.

[indyoshi]

This is where I am unclear on the law... Would it be good to purposely not shoot to kill but shoot to the best level of safety knowing that you can disable rather than fatally injuring someone?

[indoorsoccerfrea]

You should never shoot just to wound someone. If they are enough of a threat to warrant being shot, they are enough of a threat to be shot where they will be stopped. Simply shooting them in the knee may not do that. I personally would not gamble with my life, money, and clean criminal record by shooting to wound.

[ryant7]

If you are stopping a subject committing a felony (with a weapon) or preserving another life or your own you shoot. As for the guys saying well im not going to protect someone elses money have you not seen any hold up videos were the perp has blatant disregard for the person they are robbing and typically pull the trigger when the clerk is not moving fast enough for there taste? Then do you shoot them or is it to late the clerk is already dead so the perp has the money and you can be sure and tell the police what he looked like? IMHO im identifying myself and the perp is getting dropped. The most legal action you may see if a wrongful death lawsuit from the scumbag perps family cause they wont be able to pay to have him buried so you will more than likely when that case. As for criminal charges you were defending yourself and/or another human life and if the perp has a gun in a particular scenario you have the utmost right to use deadly force against him. Now a knife wielding perp may get drawn down on i would more than likely crack him in the back of the head with the largest item i could find at given store i would be at.

[techres]

I am breaking leather if I can do without getting shot first. I may or may not shoot depending on clarity of shot, backstop, etc. But I am not gonna get caught with a pistol still in the holster expecting a very extreme situation to not get more extreme.

I plan to survive and if I can save a live other than mine, I will do so.

[esrice]

Originally Posted by ryant7

IMHO im identifying myself and the perp is getting dropped.

Not to sidetrack, by why identify yourself? Are you a police officer?

If a BG is worthy of being shot, then I'm gonna do just that-- no identifying myself, no 'warning shot'.