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http://www.click2houston.com/news/4764331/detail.html

This happened right down the street from my office...

Not that I am too concerned about the outcome...I was a bit hyper-aware of what was going on when I opened up the office this morning...Knowing that the woman's accomplice was out and about...

I first heard this on the live news this morning, so when I got the link I decided to post this and ask a question to our Law Enforcment folks that post here...

What was said at the last portion of the broadcast on this story struck me as a bit off...

Why would a "reasonable" Law Enforcement officer need to actually state that they were in "fear for their lives" before justifying a shoot??? That of course was coming from the reporterette...I understand there may be some dramatic licensing by the news media to hype the story etc etc...

I know no one is just supposed to be able to arbitrarily use deadly force unless certain criteria are met...

I have never know that a commisioned Law Enforcement officer had to have reason to fear for their own safety (other than the primordial finality of that fear, which to me is reasonable) to be the main factor in their decision to shoot a suspect...

I'm not trying to turn a hornets nest here, because it has been turned over a lot over the years...With slight differences in details in each case like this...

Whereas a Law Enforcement officer who is involved in a shooting will more than likely fly a desk during the investigation, or just stay at home until things get resolved...

A civilian (and this has been discussed before here, and in other places) will sometimes be handled a little differently...

I just guess that that one statement this morning peaked my interest in discussing the whole "fear for my life" statement...

That a "reasonable" civilian needs to be "primarily" in fear for their life to somehow justify a clean shoot in an incident...

And a Law Enforcement officer, which I believe does not have to "primarily" be in fear for their lives to serve and protect their communities...

Bottom line, I think the reporting seriously misinterprets the "station" that the two separate entities (L.E. and civilian) have when it comes to situations like this...

Heck, I'm too long on the jaw this morning I suppose...Ramblings of an idle mind maybe...

Ahhh, I get it...Ya'll are working nights??? huh???

Well, I will say that this happened down the street from where my wife's parents live.

From what I've heard the officers had no choice. The 'lady' (armed robber/car theif) was pointing a gun at them.

From the news article:

The chase ended at the Barringer Way Condos on Barringer Lane at Galveston Road in southeast Houston when the woman parked the truck, got out and began waving a gun at the officers, investigators said.

An officer, authorities have not said if it was the Houston or League City officer, shot the gun out of her hands.

However, the woman picked up the gun and that is when both officers opened fire, striking her several times, investigators said.

Okay, I'm not buying that anyone deliberately shot the gun out of her hands. I imagine the officer shot because she was waving the gun at them, and happened to hit the gun. (Shooting in that case would seem to be justified.)

Kevin

How many people that read that are going to think the officers shot the gun out of her hand on purpose.

I'm sure it had nothing to do with the threat the gun presented and they focused on that.

Glenn

Baytown wrote:I'm sure it had nothing to do with the threat the gun presented and they focused on that.

Of course not.

I hope this doesn't set a precedent of what is to be expected in self defense shootings in the eye of the general public.

-nick

You guys don't practice the Roy Rogers quick-draw shoot the gun out of their hands drill?

I still haven't mastered the twirl routine to re-holster my pistol in the IWB. It always catches on my cover garment. 8)

Hopefully, the officer was well trained and "center of mass" moved at the instant he pulled the trigger.

I just got out of FATS training about an hour ago. I was extra careful to look at the front sight and not get side-tracked on the weapon.

Glenn