Quote:
Originally posted by Whit
I find it interesting that no one has brought up the possibility of shooting to wound in this situation. ...snip
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Shooting to wound is a BAD idea, and may even get you put in jail!
The only time you are justified in using deadly force is if your, or another persons life is in immediate danger (Reasonable man test). If you believe your life is in danger, you shoot to END THE THREAT, ASAP! That means shooting for center body mass. Remember, it's actually hard to shoot a person - you've been surprised, the adrenaline is going a mile a minute, your probably half awake, your SCARED - it's kinda hard to aim in that situation. This is part of the reason you hear about cops firing 5 or 10 shots and only hitting with one or 2 (The first shot amost always goes into the floor between the cop and the perp - the cop actually pulls the trigger before the gun is even up).
If you admit to shooting to wound, it means that you were not that worried, and therefore did NOT have a valid reason to shoot - or at least that's what a DA who wants you convicted is going to say
I'm a gun owner - I don't own a pistol (I don't feel the need), but I have read a bunch on this. Folks, you shoot someone, even in valid self defense, you are in for a heap of legal problems. You're probably going to have to prove it in court at least once, and probably twice (The probable is the victims family, the possible is the DA if he doesn't think it's a "Good Shoot")
Most gun owners know this, and have thought about it.