GUNS: Gentlemen, Hold Your Fire...

[Knothead]

MDS's thread describing his experience in subduing a twisted neighbor Almost killed a man brought out some rather interesting ideas regarding the application of deadly force to a violent domestic situation.

Simply put, there were several guys who commented that they might have handled it with a firearm. Or at least responded with one in hand...

Please understand, I'm not being critical, or anything. The scene described there might possibly have warranted gunfire. I honestly don't know.

But I DO know that when a gun is brought into a scene like that, a person can just too easilyescalate the events in a very deadly fashion.

Comments?

I agree. Its easy for someone to get schnarked if tensions escalate in such situations.

Gravity guns ought to be outlawed.

[Epidemic]

In general it am better to leave you gun at home because the law does not favor people saving others with guns.

The media don't like it much either.

I guess that it is better to be judged by 12 than carried by six though.

[Brainchild]

I don't like guns myself, much too often a violent end replaces what could have otherwise been solved through good old communication.
MDS, I'm not saying you were wrong, God knows you weren't, and I know that if you could have solved the problem any other way you would have.
I have been in a few fights myself, not that I like to, but sometimes there is no other choice
But once a gun is entered into the picture, seems it always come to a sorrowful end for someone, usually everyone.
I only own one gun, and it's a 22 rifle, used only to shoot snakes,coyotes,and tin cans, and I don't keep it in the house, itr's at the farm in Dads gun cabinet locked up.
Do what ya have to, but leave the guns at home

IMHO
BC

[Knothead]

Well, I guess I'm wondering what the laws are around the nation. Regarding the use of guns in certain situations. Some of the responses to that thread lead me to wonder if the legal response is different here.

When I got my first handgun, back in 1982, (Colt .38 DS) I went to the West Valley Police station and asked around. Like, "when is using a firearm appropriate?"

The cops had two completely different things to tell me:
1) Some said, "If you have to shoot a burglar, make sure you drag his body back into the house..." hardy har har.

2) The more intelligent ones told me, basically, that if you employ deadly force in a home-defense scenario, you can expect to be arrested, and typically a $100,000 bail will be assigned. (Bail bondsman gets 10%, so you're already out 10 grand. )

Then, since the Los Angeles legal profession is so opportunistic, not to mention EXTREMELY anti-guns, you can expect to be put through a LEGAL WRINGER that will exhaust all of your financial resources.

Even if you're righteous, you did what you HAD to do, (i.e., it was obviously kill or be killed) this is what happens.

What happens where YOU live?

[EndobioticChaos]

I agree. From a tactical standpoint, a gun in a situation like that is not a good idea, even if killing the guy wouldn't bother you. Sooo many things could happen. For starters, what are you going to do if he grabs her and holds her as a sheild? Now you're instantly in a no-win situation. If you go close enough to use your fists on him, now he's also close enough to grab your gun. Even if he can't get it away from you, all kinds of other things can happen, such as you accidently shooting the lady. Or you could lay it down a ways away before you walk over to him... now, what if he gets to the gun before you do.

It's a LOT easier to accidently kill someone you have no intention of hurting when you've got a gun.

[Atomic Rooster]

2) The more intelligent ones told me, basically, that if you employ deadly force in a home-defense scenario, you can expect to be arrested, and typically a $100,000 bail will be assigned

What a bunch of BS!! So if I use deadly force to combat an armed intruder, I will be arrested? What kinda crap is that?

[Knothead]

Originally posted by EndobioticChaos
I agree. From a tactical standpoint, a gun in a situation like that is not a good idea, even if killing the guy wouldn't bother you. Sooo many things could happen. .....
It's a LOT easier to accidently kill someone you have no intention of hurting when you've got a gun.

Yes. The situation you're describing, EC, will get you put in jail right off the bat. At least here in L.A.

As MDS will tell you, that kind of situation involves adrenal overkill, spur-of-the-moment decisions, and general insanity. You're just not likely to make any good decisions... esp. life-or-death ones.

And your every second-to-second action/reaction, which only took a minute or so, will be dragged out in court, and in incredibly minute detail...

And the hell of it is, you may be defending your very LIFE!

What happened to that legendary Texas legal doctrine, "Well, yer Honor, he needed to be killed!" Was that real, or was it some joke?

if so, it was a joke that I liked!

[Knothead]

Originally posted by Atomic Rooster

What a bunch of BS!! So if I use deadly force to combat an armed intruder, I will be arrested? What kinda crap is that?

Yep, down here, that's the deal.