A friend and I have a hypothetical situation (that we've been arguing for two hours)

[SleepWalkerX]

We are presented with a situation involving mugging. A criminal is confronting an individual with the intent to rob. They have a gun. You have a gun too, but its concealed. If you made it aware to the criminal that you were armed, what would happen and why?

Oh and btw, does anyone have any educational background in criminal psychology?

 

[BigJ]

You'd be escalating the situation greatly.

At the very least, I'd expect them to take your gun. There's no telling if you'd shoot them in the back when they attempt to flee, or try to draw your weapon while they're holding you up.

 

[olds]

I "made it aware" by shooting the criminal in the head.
He would bleed and die.
Loss of blood leads to death.

 

[Auggie]

I believe that brandishing a weapon is a very effective demotivator for the criminal in this case, but it definitely ups the ante as far as possible violent outcomes is concerned.

Generally, handgun instructors, home-defense gurus, self-preservationists say the best course of action is to keep any weapon you have concealed for as long as possible. When it becomes clear that the attacker is determined to hurt you, you respond with overwhelming and sudden presentation of force. It's the best way to 1.) hopefully not have to use force against an attacker - if they just take out a knife and say give me your wallet, you can just give them your wallet and they'll most likely turn and high-tail it (compare how much that costs you with attorney's fees and a trial for self-defensive homicide) and 2.) not be reactive as far as the use of force goes. Imagine someone pulling a gun or knife on you. Then you pulls yours. Then there's hesitation as you wait to see how the criminal responds. If you wait until you're reasonably sure of a will to use violent force against you, yes it's possible that you'll be completely unable to deal with their actions, but you can unambiguously act, which is 90% of the game.

This is what I've gathered from reading about self-defense... YMMV.

 

[hiromizu]

According to red state theories, both of you will respect each other and walk away peacefully from the otherwise tense situation.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

showing you a gun he has already used deadly forced. You can retaliate without warning.

 

[her209]

Are you with said victim or are you witnessing the mugging in progress?

Assuming you are witnessing the mugging in progress, making the mugger aware that you have a gun would result in the victim becoming a hostage and end up with you relinquishing your gun to said mugger.

 

[Zenmervolt]

You're an absolute and total idiot if you think for a second that "making the criminal aware" you have a gun would stop things unless you make him aware via oldsmoboat's method.

If you are carrying a concealed weapon, you should NEVER under any circumstances, call attention to your weapon unless you intend to use it immediately. You do NOT say "I have a gun", you pull the weapon and begin firing or you do nothing at all.

ZV

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Auggie
I believe that brandishing a weapon is a very effective demotivator for the criminal in this case, but it definitely ups the ante as far as possible violent outcomes is concerned.

Generally, handgun instructors, home-defense gurus, self-preservationists say the best course of action is to keep any weapon you have concealed for as long as possible. When it becomes clear that the attacker is determined to hurt you, you respond with overwhelming and sudden presentation of force. It's the best way to 1.) hopefully not have to use force against an attacker - if they just take out a knife and say give me your wallet, you can just give them your wallet and they'll most likely turn and high-tail it (compare how much that costs you with attorney's fees and a trial for self-defensive homicide) and 2.) not be reactive as far as the use of force goes. Imagine someone pulling a gun or knife on you. Then you pulls yours. Then there's hesitation as you wait to see how the criminal responds. If you wait until you're reasonably sure of a will to use violent force against you, yes it's possible that you'll be completely unable to deal with their actions, but you can unambiguously act, which is 90% of the game.

This is what I've gathered from reading about self-defense... YMMV.

Where does it say that the gun is pointed at you?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: hiromizu
According to red state theories, both of you will respect each other and walk away peacefully from the otherwise tense situation.

Are you really that stupid?

ZV

 

[ppdes]

If you made them aware in any way other than shooting them, you'd be giving up the one advantage you have, surprise.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
You're an absolute and total idiot if you think for a second that "making the criminal aware" you have a gun would stop things unless you make him aware via oldsmoboat's method.

If you are carrying a concealed weapon, you should NEVER under any circumstances, call attention to your weapon unless you intend to use it immediately. You do NOT say "I have a gun", you pull the weapon and begin firing or you do nothing at all.

ZV

There is hope for the world.
:heart:

 

[warmodder]

Well if this guy is an amateur in his approach if you pull your gun out he'd probably freak and do something stupid like shoot you first. If you're a good shot, I guess you could just whip it out real quick. That should scare him away in more ways than one.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: warmodd
Well if this guy is an amateur in his approach if you pull your gun out he'd probably freak and do something stupid like shoot you first. If you're a good shot, I guess you could just whip it out real quick. That should scare him away in more ways than one.

How come you can post here but you can't respond to the Mod PM?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
You're an absolute and total idiot if you think for a second that "making the criminal aware" you have a gun would stop things unless you make him aware via oldsmoboat's method.

If you are carrying a concealed weapon, you should NEVER under any circumstances, call attention to your weapon unless you intend to use it immediately. You do NOT say "I have a gun", you pull the weapon and begin firing or you do nothing at all.

ZV

There is hope for the world.
:heart:

When you room with an inactive Marine for a few years, you pick up a few things. Plus, it's just common sense.

ZV

 

[gururu2]

most muggers have no intent to murder, which would be the only way of dealing with such a victim. i would guess in most cases the mugger would backoff. if i had a weapon, I am not sure if i would tell him before I acted with it.

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: gururu2
most muggers have no intent to murder, which would be the only way of dealing with such a victim. i would guess in most cases the mugger would back off. if i had a weapon, I am not sure if i would tell him before I acted with it.

Well, that's comforting.

 

[tfinch2]

The criminal would have 2 JHPs in their chest.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
The criminal would have 2 JHPs in their chest.

What caliber? I might expect exit wounds but hollow points may expand enough to stay put. Especially if contacting bone.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: tfinch2
The criminal would have 2 JHPs in their chest.

What caliber? I might expect exit wounds but hollow points may expand enough to stay put. Especially if contacting bone.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eprod...duct?saleitemid=888798

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: SleepWalkerX
We are presented with a situation involving mugging. A criminal is confronting an individual with the intent to rob. They have a gun. You have a gun too, but its concealed. If you made it aware to the criminal that you were armed, what would happen and why?

Oh and btw, does anyone have any educational background in criminal psychology?

Assuming the criminal already has the gun drawn & pointed in your face the most likely outcome is that he steals your wallet, watch AND your gun too.

If he's simply stated "I have a gun" & you say the same, the outcome depends on the individuals involved & how willing they are to risk being shot.

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
You're an absolute and total idiot if you think for a second that "making the criminal aware" you have a gun would stop things unless you make him aware via oldsmoboat's method.

If you are carrying a concealed weapon, you should NEVER under any circumstances, call attention to your weapon unless you intend to use it immediately. You do NOT say "I have a gun", you pull the weapon and begin firing or you do nothing at all.

ZV

In the real world these are the only viable options.

 

[Pacfanweb]

As mentioned before, the only time you make him aware is as you shoot him.

 

[SleepWalkerX]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
You're an absolute and total idiot if you think for a second that "making the criminal aware" you have a gun would stop things unless you make him aware via oldsmoboat's method.

If you are carrying a concealed weapon, you should NEVER under any circumstances, call attention to your weapon unless you intend to use it immediately. You do NOT say "I have a gun", you pull the weapon and begin firing or you do nothing at all.

ZV

How would you react in a situation like this? And without saying "I would take precautions to not be in that situation".

 

[SleepWalkerX]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
As mentioned before, the only time you make him aware is as you shoot him.

Are there any legal precautions from shooting someone if you believe their intention is on robbing you?

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: SleepWalkerX


How would you react in a situation like this? And without saying "I would take precautions to not be in that situation".

So is the gun drawn & pointed in my face or has the criminal only told me he has one?

Originally posted by: SleepWalkerX

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
As mentioned before, the only time you make him aware is as you shoot him.

Are there any legal precautions from shooting someone if you believe their intention is on robbing you?

I believe in most states you can't shoot somone unless threatened with violence/deadly force, however I'm not an attorney & it can be a fine line in this type of situation.