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

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compnovice

Diamond Member
Jun 18, 2005
3,192
0
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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?

He has a gun pointed on your face... How do you KNOW he is not going to shoot you...

 

SleepWalkerX

Platinum Member
Jun 29, 2004
2,649
0
0
Originally posted by: compnovice
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?

He has a gun pointed on your face... How do you KNOW he is not going to shoot you...

I mean if they didn't have a gun you could see (like trying to conceal it in their jacket or something but still pointing it at you). Or maybe if they're using a knife. When is it not ok to shoot someone that's robbing you, legally?
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,340
10,859
136
Originally posted by: SleepWalkerX
Originally posted by: compnovice
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?

He has a gun pointed on your face... How do you KNOW he is not going to shoot you...

I mean if they didn't have a gun you could see (like trying to conceal it in their jacket or something but still pointing it at you). Or maybe if they're using a knife. When is it not ok to shoot someone that's robbing you, legally?


My guess is that if you can't see the gun you'ed be on some very shaky ground if you shot him, however if hes brandishing a knife that would count as being threatened with deadly force.
 

Eeezee

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2005
9,922
0
76
A logical criminal would back away at that point. There's no way to win except with retreat; no one loses or gains anything that way. Any other course of action and someone will die or at least be seriously hurt.

Most criminals aren't logical.
 
Jun 27, 2005
19,216
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Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I "made it aware" by shooting the criminal in the head.
He would bleed and die.
Loss of blood leads to death.

Exactly... Although I believe you'd have a higher probability of success if you pointed at center mass and fired repeatedly. There's nothing to aim at that way... just point and shoot. Unless of course you're just a total badass in pressure situations then by all means... headshot.
 

her209

No Lifer
Oct 11, 2000
56,336
11
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Originally posted by: Eeezee
A logical criminal would back away at that point. There's no way to win except with retreat; no one loses or gains anything that way. Any other course of action and someone will die or at least be seriously hurt.

Most criminals aren't logical.
Assuming he doesn't have his homies watching him from the getaway car.
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: Eeezee
A logical criminal would back away at that point. There's no way to win except with retreat; no one loses or gains anything that way. Any other course of action and someone will die or at least be seriously hurt.

Most criminals aren't logical.

All I can say is that if I was a criminal and had someone at gunpoint, and they started making a motion towards their coat/hip/back as if they were going for a weapon, you can bet that I'd shoot them. Jail beats death any day. And that's a logical viewpoint.

Then I'd take their money, ditch the weapon, and change states until the heat died down.

If someone has the drop on you, it makes almost no sense to go for your weapon, unless you're sure they're too chickensh!t to fire first.

As for telling them that you have a weapon...that's also a bad idea. As a criminal, I would be in a very difficult position. Once my victim has informed me that they are armed, I would be much more likely to shoot them if they make a motion as if they were going for their gun. Furthermore, I wouldn't want to back down and run away, because they could well shoot me in the back. In this case it's best to have an accomplice to relieve them of their weapon and their cash, then make them walk slowly down the block with their hands up, and you and your accomplice run towards the getaway car when the victim is a comfortable distance away and still walking.
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,704
5,824
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simply put, a would-be attacker should not know you have a gun until it is too late for them
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,081
136
Auggie had it dead on.

You dont ever pull a gun until you absolutely have to.
BUT.... If you do you better kill the guy and quickly. Anything less and it wont look like you really needed it for self-defense.
 
May 16, 2000
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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

:thumbsup:

Firearms are an all or nothing scenario. They're not an escalation, they're the end. You aren't required to intervene, but you can (in most instances). If you choose to you need to draw, acquire, and fire. Total commitment.
 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
saying "I HAVE A GUN" is stupid. But shooting the guy then telling him you had a concealed weapon as he is dead on the ground would be smart.
 

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,756
600
126
All telling him I had a gun would do would throw away my surprise advantage and potentially cause them to kill me before I drew the weapon. Saying you have a gun might make them run away, but its more likely they would either kill you since you've made it known you are a real threat or that they would demand the gun. Either way, I just fucked myself.

As oldmoboat said...you tell an attacker you have a firearm by shooting them with it.