ID target or Shoot

[wjh2657]

Good mind set Gun, but for one correction , there is no such thing as an ex-Marine , only Former Marines .

Semper-Fi brother :sarcastic:

You are both wrong. There are Marines on duty and Marines off duty. We are just off duty Marines. I've been off duty since 1988.

Master Gunnery Sergeant of Marines

 

[TnRebel]

You are both wrong. There are Marines on duty and Marines off duty. We are just off duty Marines. I've been off duty since 1988.

Master Gunnery Sergeant of Marines

ok boot you got me I have been off duty since 1966.

 

[Beretta8045]

Your home is dark, it's late and you hear someone inside your home. DO you try to ID the individual or do you use deadly force without issuing any commands or effort to ID?

Assuming you're in your bedroom, lock the door, call 911, and issue verbal commands if someone tries to break in. I'm not going all Rambo in my house to protect my things--that's what insurance is for!

 

[kelcarry]

Hey Beretta8045: I'm with you 100%. "Stuff" is nothing to get killed over--that is what insurance is for. All the more power to some of the posters who are ready to go to war over "stuff"--to each his own--I understand where they are coming from and will be the first to applaud them as they "stop" the perp permanently, but it is not me and, quite frankly, is not worth the risk. Come into my locked bedroom, however, and it will be the last time you do that. The only 2 things I would add to your comments: 1. Have a hi-intensity flashlight aimed at the door opening and position yourself away from the opening--perp is blinded for a second, you get to ID him, and you are not in his line of fire should he have a gun--but he is in your line 2. If you have kids in other part of house, all bets are off on the locked bedroom/stay put theory--you do what you have to do and you must become more proactive with a planned response.

 

[Doorgunner]

"stuff Insurance

I tend to agree with Kelcarry on this issue but that does not detract from your right to protect your "stuff". It's a personal choice, like everything else. I don't feel that I could handle blowing away some kid who was attempting to steal my truck out of my driveway. Actually, this happened once years ago when I was young and stupid. I actually reached in and yanked the little bastard out of the truck. He promptly got the shit kicked out of him by my cousin and sent on his way. Never did call the cops; we took care of it ourselves. Looking back, it was somewhat stupid, I suppose, as the idiot could have shot ME, had he had a gun. Now, If I look out the window and see this happening, I'm gonna call the cops; the next call will be the insurance company. BUT, if someone is in the house in the middle of the nite rooting around, that's a horse of a different color, as I'm gonna assume they're there to hurt me and mine and will react accordingly. So, like I said, for me, depends on the situation. Here's the kicker for me: we ain't taking it with us, why worry so much about it? (Hey, I'm old...this is the way it's starting to feel...)

Yeah, I'm old too. That gives me the opportunity to remember more years of busting my butt to pay for my "stuff" some of which is of enormous sentimental value, too. Of course, here in NM the mere grasping of a weapon is considered use of deadly force so protecting your self or stuff by holding a weapon is already getting you in the soup.

Laws are too often written by lawyers. Electing them is like hiring a fox to design/build a hen house.

 

[TheTwins]

I have the outer perimeter wired. I will know they are there before they get in. If they get past that, they would be professional thieves and their isn't anything here that would warrant professionals coming here steel. So there is only one thing left, "intent". :wacko:

If they get within 20 feet of my house I know they are there. If something sets off the buzzer depending on the buzzer sound I know what part of the house you are near.
There is a few draw backs with my system. It also includes cats, dogs and even birds flying by. It is a minor nuisance, I can deal with that.

 

[JJFlash]

Yeah, I'm old too. That gives me the opportunity to remember more years of busting my butt to pay for my "stuff" some of which is of enormous sentimental value, too. Of course, here in NM the mere grasping of a weapon is considered use of deadly force so protecting your self or stuff by holding a weapon is already getting you in the soup.

Laws are too often written by lawyers. Electing them is like hiring a fox to design/build a hen house.

You know, I hadn't considered "sentimental value" of some stuff and that point is significant as I am a sentimental kind of guy. So, yeah, I'd probably have a somewhat different mentality about someone attempting to steal it. As I think about it, tho, my sentimental stuff is in the house and if I catch Mr. BG in the house, like I said, I consider his presence to be personally life-threatening and so...

 

[kelcarry]

Hey JJFlash: Your thoughts about the scum are obviously what all of us think--if he can come into your home and steal your stuff get away it bothers the heck out of you. Shooting him thru a closed door or in the back will take some good explaining on your part, depending on your state of residence, so as much as we all want to we have to be careful that what we wish for comes true.

 

[JJFlash]

Hey JJFlash: Your thoughts about the scum are obviously what all of us think--if he can come into your home and steal your stuff get away it bothers the heck out of you. Shooting him thru a closed door or in the back will take some good explaining on your part, depending on your state of residence, so as much as we all want to we have to be careful that what we wish for comes true.

I still haven't changed my mind about shooting someone in the back, Kelcarry. I won't do it, if only for legal reasons (there's that jury of your "peers" thing...). I guess if they're stealing my one and only keepsake from my Dad or Granddad, I'll run around in front of them, or make 'em turn around, and then...Bottom line, if that's all I got to remember my Dad by, they're not leaving with it.

My .02 cents

 

[Ropadope]

Yup it's a serious question.

I saw a similar thread on another site asking if you should shout a warning to an intruder or not. I was so surprised at how many folks responded with something like, NO warning, no ID, I'd shoot to kill. Needless to say I was amazed at the responses and just wondered how the responses from the folks at this site would be....

I don't know what "other site" you where on, but it sounds like a bunch of trigger happy, half brained, mindless morons. :to_pick_ones_nose:

 

[nogods]

Your home is dark, it's late and you hear someone inside your home. DO you try to ID the individual or do you use deadly force without issuing any commands or effort to ID?

Two people break down your door, enter your house brandishing weapons, and yell "police! get on the ground!"

Do you believe them?

Does anyone know of a case in which bugulars tried such a ruse?

In NYS the fake traffic stop became so prevelent that the govenor had to issue an executive order prohbiting the use of unmarked cars for routine traffic stops. Thus,if you have an unmarked car flashing lights at you the best thing to do is call 911 on your cell and report it. Either it is a person impersonating LEO or an LEO who doesn't know the law.

 

[kengrubb]

Your home is dark, it's late and you hear someone inside your home. DO you try to ID the individual or do you use deadly force without issuing any commands or effort to ID?

With two cats, three kids, and a wife, yeah I'm gonna ID the target rather than just start blasting. It's why I also carry a SureFire--whether in the pouch on my belt.

 

[maybejim]

I don't know what "other site" you where on, but it sounds like a bunch of trigger happy, half brained, mindless morons. :to_pick_ones_nose:

Depends on the circumstances. If some moron who I don't know is wandering around my house with a weapon in his hand, there's a good chance I might shoot him first and yell "Freeze or I'll shoot" second. But that's just me.

 

[RugerP345]

I'd say do like Dirty Harry. Have a maniquin in a bedside chair holding the flashlight so the BG bursts in and shoots up the maniquin thinking he got the drop on you. Then you fire him up! :biggrin:


Seriously, I can't see anyone just start blasting without KNOWING what they are shooting at. Seems like a good way to get sued and/or in prison to me.

 

[maybejim]

I'd say do like Dirty Harry. Have a maniquin in a bedside chair holding the flashlight so the BG bursts in and shoots up the maniquin thinking he got the drop on you. Then you fire him up! :biggrin:


Seriously, I can't see anyone just start blasting without KNOWING what they are shooting at. Seems like a good way to get sued and/or in prison to me.

If they are a stranger and they are carrying a weapon I don't think anyone would ever go to prison. If you're that worried about being sued, you best not even own a gun.

 

[Ga9mm]

Two people break down your door, enter your house brandishing weapons, and yell "police! get on the ground!"

Do you believe them?

Good point. I wouldn't, just because I know me, and I don't believe anything at first. On the reverse side of that, how many LEO's have been shot doing that to someone unsuspecting?

 

[maybejim]

Good point. I wouldn't, just because I know me, and I don't believe anything at first. On the reverse side of that, how many LEO's have been shot doing that to someone unsuspecting?

A number have been but it almost always ends with the often innocent homeowner dead.

 

[FN1910]

I don't know what "other site" you where on, but it sounds like a bunch of trigger happy, half brained, mindless morons. :to_pick_ones_nose:

I think I know which site he is talking about and there are a few (actually more than a few) that come close to fitting that description.

 

[RugerP345]

If they are a stranger and they are carrying a weapon I don't think anyone would ever go to prison. If you're that worried about being sued, you best not even own a gun.

You're a hazard to other people.


Thats a big IF. So what If they aren't?
That's the thing. You need to be positive, not base your gunfire on an IF.

If you're that worried about being sued, you best not even own a gun.

I'm not worried about it, I just see it as unnecessary to have to pay a million dollars in a civil liability suit becasue I shot the apt complex maintenance man in your IF situation above.

It's just one of the basic concepts of gun ownership and gun safety, identifying what you are shooting at. If you can't understand that you don't just blast away at a noise or a shadow,then YOU don't need to even own a gun.

Failure to be identified doesn't justify the death penalty in America.


NRA GUN SAFETY:
Know your target and what is beyond.
Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second.

REMINGTON COPR GUN SAFETY:
Be sure of your target and what's beyond it.

Massad Ayoob: LFI Handgun Safety:
Be sure of your target. Know what it is, what is in line with it and what is behind it. Never shoot at anything that you haven't positively identified. Remember that a handgun bullet can travel one mile and a rifle bullet can travel several miles.

 

[maybejim]

You're a hazard to other people.

If they're strangers wandering around my house without permission, I would hope so.

Thats a big IF. So what If they aren't?

I might shoot them anyway. Depends on circumstances.

not base your gunfire on an IF.

Of course it is based on an IF. IF it's my brother in law...bad example..:sarcastic:.IF it's my son, I wouldn't shoot.

I just see it as unnecessary to have to pay a million dollars in a civil liability suit becasue I shot the apt complex maintenance man in your IF situation above.

I don't live in an Apartment and there are no maintenance men that have permission (or the legal right) to be in my house without permission. Any maintenance man that comes in without knocking is certainly liable to be shot and in sane locations without a million dollar civil liability suit.

It's just one of the basic concepts of gun ownership and gun safety, identifying what you are shooting at. If you can't understand that you don't just blast away at a noise or a shadow,then YOU don't need to even own a gun.

If they are wandering around my house in the middle of the night and I don't know them, they've been identified enough. My kids are grown and know better than to slip into my house unannounced (and don't live anywhere close). I always identify where my wife is if I hear a bump in the night. No one else has any business in the house.