Here is a professional opinion on warning shot

[Paladin3]

Warning shots are a mistake. Never use potentially deadly force to warn someone. I'm not saying they won't work, or are impossible to do relatively safely, but they are a bad idea. You only fire a gun at someone as a very last resort.

The idea of a warning shot may appeal to some who believe that violence is never the answer. It's a tough to admit a fellow human can be evil enough to warrant nothing more than shooting, because they'd rather believe the human race is more noble that that.

I wish it were so.

 

[Paladin3]

Your argument and linked evidence fell apart, so now you argue that my statement was an absolute.

A pistol round shot into the ground is NOT going to kill someone in most cases.

We don't need to do a scientific study to prove it.
Just use a little experience and common sense...

I agree with you, but it's still a bad idea. You are firing a deadly weapon during a confrontation with someone when you don't absolutely need to. Announcing "I have a gun" will usually do close to the same thing without risking that shot doing something you don't want it to.

But if you decide you need to fire a warning shot for whatever reason, then that's up to you. I wouldn't do it if at all possible not to.

 

[Merad]

In some states you aren't justified in taking a warning shot unless you are already justified in shooting the person. And at that point you probably shouldn't be messing with warning shots.

tl;dr: Know your state laws.

 

[jlee]

Your argument and linked evidence fell apart, so now you argue that my statement was an absolute.

A pistol round shot into the ground is NOT going to kill someone in most cases.

We don't need to do a scientific study to prove it.
Just use a little experience and common sense...

Whether it kills someone or not - when your ricochet hits the toddler 100 yards away walking down the street with his mom, it's going to be a bad day for you.

 

[rudeguy]

Whether it kills someone or not - when your ricochet hits the toddler 100 yards away walking down the street with his mom, it's going to be a bad day for you.

Now Mr. jlee. What experience or training do you have to make such a statement?

 

[phucheneh]

Why do we keep having these discussions?

The people who support warning shots, cycling of weapons for 'intimidation,' or less-lethal rounds (be it rubber batons, rock salt, bird shot...) never get their minds changed. Because, you know, they're dumb.

The rest of us know the drill. Buckshot through a shotgun, or quality JHP through a handgun (I say pref 9mm +P or better*), center mass, shoot until they drop.

*standard 9mm is okay, too, as is .380 or .38. I just think a hot 9mm round is the perfect trade-off of easy-to-control and highly effective. But the key is always that whole 'keep shooting until they're incapacitated' thing.

 

[highland145]

Now Mr. jlee. What experience or training do you have to make such a statement?

He is a professional ATOT poster. What else would he need to be able to make such a statement?

 

[Kelvrick]

Now Mr. jlee. What experience or training do you have to make such a statement?

He seems to be agreeing with you that warning shots are bad. Also, I believe jlee is ex law enforcement. And everyone knows if one of your shots errantly hits someone, it is bad juju if it kills them or not.

 

[rudeguy]

He seems to be agreeing with you that warning shots are bad. Also, I believe jlee is ex law enforcement. And everyone knows if one of your shots errantly hits someone, it is bad juju if it kills them or not.

shhhhhhhh

jlee has been through more training and has more experience than any of us. I was trying to softball a brag post for him.

 

[Ronstang]

If I ever have to discharge a firearm at a person my first waring shot will be aimed at their chest.

 

[highland145]

shhhhhhhh

jlee has been through more training and has more experience than any of us. I was trying to softball a brag post for him.

Looks like you forgot your own unwritten rule.

 

[jlee]

Now Mr. jlee. What experience or training do you have to make such a statement?

 

[Kelvrick]

shhhhhhhh

jlee has been through more training and has more experience than any of us. I was trying to softball a brag post for him.

I must be working so much, that my sarcastic comments at work have overloaded my own sarcasm meter. I should have figured you've been around long enough to know jlee.