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MeMelYup wrote:

Jumping Frog wrote:

cb1000rider wrote:I understand that and I've always had trouble with the opinion (that I've largely seen on this forum) of "I'm drawing, I'm firing". Seems like those should be two different decisions, assuming you've got the time to make them.

I agree they are different decisions. However, I phrase it a little differently: "If I am drawing, I am willing to fire if necessary."

I believe there are some people who have the belief that merely drawing a handgun is some kind of magic talisman that will cause the other person to flee in horror. They do not have any expectation that if they draw, they may need to shoot. Merely drawing may be all that is required 95 times out of a hundred, but sometimes the other person's reaction will quickly escalate the situation where shooting is necessary. A person who hasn't thought that through and is simply displaying an empty threat instead of serious purpose is going to find things going quickly sour.

I believe that is the point. A person must never draw their firearm unless they are willing to use it. If you draw your firearm only to defuse the situation, you must be willing to use it if the situation escalates. Therefore, never draw your firearm unless you are willing to use it.

If you feel compelled to draw your firearm, you should also be willing to reholster without firing, if drawing successfully deescalated the situation. But either way, the gun is being "used"..... either to interrupt the attack, or to end it.

If someone is charging at you with an angry expression, shouting and threatening mayhem, and you draw your gun and aim, consider drawing and aiming as a preemptive act to whatever follows:

A) You draw the gun. The guy stops his charge, apologizes, backs away, and leaves - the gun gets reholstered.

B) You draw the gun. The guy stops his charge but keeps shouting threats and otherwise actiing aggressively - the gun stays unholstered, at the low-ready, until the situation resolves to either (A) or (C), at which point it is reholstered.

C) The guy does not stop his charge - you shoot him, and once he's down, you reholster.

My point is that there is a world of difference between:

A) If you draw, you had better use it; and

B) If you draw, you had better be willing to use it.

(A) is the wrong answer.

Javier730 wrote:

cb1000rider wrote:

AJSully421 wrote:Disparity of force. (2 on 1, even if unarmed, age difference)

I don't get this argument. I've seen skulls broken, 1:1 - no disparity in size force. Any physical assault can be deadly. Why does it have to be 2:1 or a big difference in age or size?

I agree with your statement. Any assailant can be dangerous, but in this case, disparity of force would be easier to explain to 12 of my peers. If a one on one fight between individuals of the same stature was about to take place and one individual pulled a firearm and shot him, it could be considered justified but it would be difficult to prove. Would you draw on a person who became aggressive with you and did not have a weapon in their hands? Just curious.

Would I draw on another overweight 5'10" man who was getting aggressive with me? ABSOLUTELY I would. I'm a 62 year old man with a crippled back and other health issues. I'm in no condition to go "mano a mano" with anyone.....but more importantly, nor should I have to, regardless of my physical condition. If someone doesn't want to get shot, they should refrain from physical aggression with me. If they can't refrain, and they get shot, THEY started it. I ended it.

I am a peaceful man. My attitude in life is, don't want none? Don't start none, and there won't be none. The ball is always in the other person's court. I merely respond to the realities. I try to always be polite, personable, and friendly. If the other guy is polite, personable, and friendly, then Iwill remain polite personable, and friendly. And I will continue being polite, personable, and friendly, right up to the moment I have to draw my gun. Beyond that point, polite, personable, and friendly have all three left the building, and I'm liable to utter a curse word or two.

Thankfully, as long as I did not issue "fighting words", there is nowhere in the law that says I have to submit to physical aggression before I am allowed to produce a weapon to protect myself, so long as I'm not the one to initiate the confrontation.