Shots Across the Bow
No, not the blog, but warning shots to let someone know you mean business. I say don’t do it. If you have the mental capacity to fire a warning shot, odds are that you are not acting out of fear for your life. As such, discharging a weapon is ill-advised and probably illegal.
Phelps addresses the issue noting that:
Warning shots are always a crime.
I concur with Phelps in that situation. I would have stated clearly one time to leave. Any movement other than a retreat after said warning would result in someone getting shot.
January 7th, 2005 at 3:44 pm
That’s why revolvers have a built-in “warning click”.
January 7th, 2005 at 4:04 pm
Shotguns too, and the click is a lot louder. ;>
January 7th, 2005 at 6:00 pm
Warning shots are a bad idea all the way around. If you are careful not to hit the intended recipient of the warning, you may have set up an instant of vulnerability that may be exploited. At the very least, you’ll have to re-aim and probably track a now moving target, who may have opened fire with their own previously concealed weapon.
I don’t know about you, but I always fear for my life when a stranger facing a loaded gun doesn’t heed firm verbal instructions.
January 9th, 2005 at 10:00 pm
The man who kicked in the door of the apartment of the woman I married was a foot taller and 100 lbs heavier than her, and most likely could have outrun her. She did not have a clear route to escape. He was at still several steps away from her when she missed with two rounds. Chicago law, even then, was not favorably inclined toward defensive shootings. I maintain that she did the right thing.