Are Warning Shots a Good Idea?

[ET]

We are discussing here, and not arguing. I know that most people feel as though with our God given right to defend our self, its always a good bet to go over the right to shoot, in your head, so that you know what to do in a very specific scenario. The one thing I know for sure is that if you kill someone, take another life, if you are a normal and rational man, the psychological impact will stay with you for life. Secondly, the financial and legal implications of shooting someone, can also be a life changer. My point is that I would try to avoid, at all cost, if at all possible, taking of another life. Any means to deescalate a potential life altering encounter, would be the best course of action , but not at the mistake of too little too late. If you are thinking John Wayne, then you are not thinking correctly. Calling someone John Wayne when I was in the military, was an insult. Hollywood, tin soldier. etc. Many combat Vets know this is true. IN civilian life, the right to take another life, while defined by the law, is not as clear as when in a combat zone. Just a point of view.

 

[Firefighterchen]

Any normal or rational person would know warning shots are not worth the risk. If the situating couldn't be deescalated verbally, and if you can't back out physically, warning times long over. The threat has the time before I break kydex and get on point to stop. Assuming a warning shot won't hurt a bystander is a wrong assumption.

Sent from my D6616 using USA Carry mobile app

 

[BC1]

People... WARNING SHOTS ARE A VERY, VERY, VERY BAD IDEA. PERIOD!
.
Pretty much the end of the discussion.

 

[ET]

People... WARNING SHOTS ARE A VERY, VERY, VERY BAD IDEA. PERIOD!
.Pretty much the end of the discussion.

Does this mean that you won't be participating in this discussion any longer?


The " period " you posted was as if you actually think you have the final say in any matter or discussion on this forum.. BTW in internet speak, you are yelling like a little kid trying to get his mamma attention... PERIOD

 

[Rhino]

Are Warning Shots a Good Idea?

 

[Axeanda45]

In just about any situation I find myself, the "safe target" is going to be my assailant, and HE isn't all THAT safe, given that I could miss or get a through and through (which is why I NEVER carry FMJs).

Firing a firearm in self-defense is DANGEROUS no matter the target. Why incur that danger WITHOUT neutralizing the threat?

Most of the instances I've heard of where somebody failed in an attempt at armed self-defense, the victim hesitated in some way. People win fights by gaining and maintaining the initiative.

If I pull a gun, it's going to be because I plan to fire it, and into an immediate and credible threat until it's no longer a threat. After a lot of though, I'm not about a firearm for "negotiating", threats, or anything of the sort. If I pull a gun, it's to SHOOT, and without more hesitation than it takes for the fundamentals of basic pistol marksmanship to be exercised. That's not much time at all. If my assailant flees or submits in that INFINITESIMAL amount of time, I won't shoot. He shouldn't bet his life on that happening. I'm certainly not going to bet mine.

I am just trying to make the point that SOMETIMES (and quite possibly hardly ever) it (a warning shot) might be a tool you could use..... that is all, I actually said I dont think it is a good idea to fire a warning shot, but at least I am not ignoring the possibility of it working...... (like most here are doing, in fact, they seem to be ridiculing the very thought of it....)

 

[Deanimator]

I am just trying to make the point that SOMETIMES (and quite possibly hardly ever) it (a warning shot) might be a tool you could use..... that is all, I actually said I dont think it is a good idea to fire a warning shot, but at least I am not ignoring the possibility of it working...... (like most here are doing, in fact, they seem to be ridiculing the very thought of it....)

What I'm saying is that *I* don't EVER expect to find MYSELF in a situation where a warning shot would be a good idea.

It's literally POSSIBLE that it might work out for somebody else, but that's not where the smart money is. But as I said, it's possible to fall tens of thousands of feet without a parachute and survive. I'm not counting on either.

 

[BC1]

Does this mean that you won't be participating in this discussion any longer?


The " period " you posted was as if you actually think you have the final say in any matter or discussion on this forum.. BTW in internet speak, you are yelling like a little kid trying to get his mamma attention... PERIOD

BTW, I'm not speaking "Internet," I'm speaking English. And comprehension is a must.
.
My statements are based in experience. I'm a well-trained and highly experienced PP instructor. Trained at LFI and Gun For Hire. That's the definitive word on the subject. That's the mindset taught in every course. Don't be stupid. Keep it holstered until needed. If you have time to fire a warning shot a grand jury may believe the threat was not IMMINENT. Thus drawing your weapon may be considered premature. Also consider that many states prohibit firing any weapon within city or town limits unless in self-defense. You may be charged, depending on where you live. Here's a sample. As I said, warning sots are a VERY, VERY, VERY bad idea.
.
Penal Law §265.35 - Prohibited use of weapons
3. Any person who, otherwise than in self defense or in the discharge of official duty, (a) wilfully discharges any species of firearms, air-gun or other weapon, or throws any other deadly missile, either in a public place, or in any place where there is any person to be endangered thereby, or, in Putnam county, within one-quarter mile of any occupied school building other than under supervised instruction by properly authorized instructors although no injury to any person ensues; (b) intentionally, without malice, points or aims any firearm or any other gun, the propelling force of which is gunpowder, at or toward any other person; (c) discharges, without injury to any other person, firearms or any other guns, the propelling force of which is gunpowder, while intentionally without malice, aimed at or toward any person; or (d) maims or injures any other person by the discharge of any firearm or any other gun, the propelling force of which is gunpowder, pointed or aimed intentionally, but without malice, at any such person, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
.
Definitive. As in "the law."

 

[Axeanda45]

Fine...


I will fix this so everyone will just shut up....


It isnt a warning shot.... you just missed on the first shot and paused for second, and the perp ran away... no more threat...


(no need for a second shot, except for those on here who never clear leather without killing everyone who deserves it, even if they are no longer a threat..., you know, those "any time you pull a gun and dont kill your victim you are brandishing types"...)


The following is for idiots that are incapable of comprehending sarcasm.... : I wasnt serious, it was a joke, get over it....

 

[NavyLCDR]

Fine...

I will fix this so everyone will just shut up....

It isnt a warning shot.... you just missed on the first shot and paused for second, and the perp ran away... no more threat...

(no need for a second shot, except for those on here who never clear leather without killing everyone who deserves it, even if they are no longer a threat..., you know, those "any time you pull a gun and dont kill your victim you are brandishing types"...)

The following is for idiots that are incapable of comprehending sarcasm.... : I wasnt serious, it was a joke, get over it....

I don't know, seems to me like your post has more accuracy in it than sarcasm...

 

[Rhino]

I am just trying to make the point that SOMETIMES (and quite possibly hardly ever) it (a warning shot) might be a tool you could use..... that is all, I actually said I dont think it is a good idea to fire a warning shot, but at least I am not ignoring the possibility of it working...... (like most here are doing, in fact, they seem to be ridiculing the very thought of it....)

I've tried to make that point before. Don't bother. Some people are just incapable of seeing it.

 

[ET]

If I had my choice of a successful warning shot or to kill some one because I had the right too, Ill take the warning shot.. that was my point.. In my two civilian encounters, the thought of a warning shot never occurred to me.. The verbal commands and the sight of my weapon was enough to defuse the situation, I would, if at all possible, use the verbal warning over a warning shot but I would not dismiss it entirely given the right situation, just because some Yahoo's on an internet forum say so.. Again IM not saying a warning shot is a good idea, or a bad Idea, its just a tool. The end result of an altercation where no one winds up dead.

 

[Eidolon]

yeah

 

[Firefighterchen]

For someone with so much experience...I find it humorous to think he still thinks he has a choice in that situation...

Sent from my D6616 using USA Carry mobile app

 

[BC1]

A warning shot constitutes a Class A misdemeanor in some states when it's fired in a public place, within the limits of a city or where any person is to be endangered.
.
Check your state law before considering this as an option.

 

[Axeanda45]

"LAWS" dont mean SHlT when your life is in danger..... worrying about them in a life or death situation can get you killed..... be knowledgeable about the risks? most definitely... but throw away a possible tool that might save a life? NEVER.....

 

[kelcarry]

It amazes me that this thread is almost at 100 replies. The pro-warning shot replies are understandable for argument's sake and only argument's sake, which is the take I get on most of the replies. Argument's sake, however, does not change the fact that the legal constraint and precursor for you to discharge your firearm is because you are in imminent danger of death or great bodily injury; wasting several seconds to put a bullet in the air, ascertain if this has been sufficient to change the assailant's mind about killing you, and then, after making a determination that he does intend to kill you and then discharge your firearm at the assailant is playing a reckless game with your life---it really does not matter--you are now dead. Some repliers talk about being able to "save a life"--bottom line is the life you save is the life of the person who just killed you.

 

[Axeanda45]

It amazes me that this thread is almost at 100 replies. The pro-warning shot replies are understandable for argument's sake and only argument's sake, which is the take I get on most of the replies. Argument's sake, however, does not change the fact that the legal constraint and precursor for you to discharge your firearm is because you are in imminent danger of death or great bodily injury; wasting several seconds to put a bullet in the air, ascertain if this has been sufficient to change the assailant's mind about killing you, and then, after making a determination that he does intend to kill you and then discharge your firearm at the assailant is playing a reckless game with your life---it really does not matter--you are now dead. Some repliers talk about being able to "save a life"--bottom line is the life you save is the life of the person who just killed you.

Ok smart guy... PLEASE show where ANYONE in this thread said they thought "shooting a round in the air" was a good idea.... ALL of the people that I have seen so far that are the least bit "pro-warning-shot" have talked about shooting into the ground or into another SAFE something or other....... ONLY THE IDJITS that spout off crap like you just did have talked about shooting someplace that has a VERY HIGH chance of going somewhere not intended and hitting an innocent....

 

[Firefighterchen]

...that are the least bit "pro-warning-shot" have talked about shooting into the ground or into another SAFE something or other...

There is no guarantee what you're shooting at is safe. Not worth the risk.

There are a lot of things that could work, but I would lump into the warning shot category, such as:

1. Peeing on your attacker.
2. Cutting yourself and trying to get your blood on them while screaming you have aids.
3. Exposing yourself.
4. Pooping your pants.

Shall I go on?

Sent from my D6616 using USA Carry mobile app

 

[Axeanda45]

Firefighter, do ALL shots that go into the "bad guy" stop? ....... Shall I go on?.... Do ALL SHOT AIMED AND FIRED AT THE BAD GUY HIT THE BAD GUY? Shall I go on? Are you now going to say it is a bad thing to shoot bad guys because the shot might go through them and hit an innocent? Not worth the risk? Shall I go on?


REMEMBER: I said that I dont think these "warning shots" are a good idea..... I just believe/admit that they can sometimes work and are better than being forced to kill someone... Further, it would behoove (what a weird sounding word) ANYONE who actually does try one to at least shoot it at something extremely close to the bad guy (who knows, you might actually hit him!)