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We need to distinguish between someone making a deliberate conscious decision to shoot - inappropriately - and being so jumpy he shoots (inappropriately) when the other guy moves fast.

C-dub I owe you an answer. I would probably have made the exact mistake the policeman did. Even knowing from the title of the video that the driver was unarmed, I was so surprised by his movements that I "saw" a weapon in his hand instead of his license of whatever it really was. I would have done the same thing the cop did if I had been that close - but I hope I would not have been that close, gun drawn, when the driver made his move.

There are a couple of things about the video that need explaining. One is why the policeman had his pistol drawn and pointed so early in the interaction. Another is why he crossed the field of view of the dashcam to shoot the driver, apparently trying to shoot away from the direction of the truck. Was there a person in the truck that the cop thought was a hostage or someone who was abducted? Had there been a police bulletin on the radio to look out for a pickup and driver matching the description of the driver he shot?

Since I got my CHL in 1996 my main fear has been that I would fail to recognize an emerging threat - in other words, that I'd get shot down standing there thinking, "This can't really be happening! I should draw and fire - but it is too late!"

The other side of the coin is the possibility of drawing/shooting inappropriately, out of startlement or fear, in a situation that did not call for such use of force, such as this video.

I think I personally am more prone to waiting too long, maybe taking the first bullet before realizing "this is is!" - but in this case of the video, well...

I am not saying the driver did anything wrong to get himself shot, only that he moved faster than I would have, and turning to reach into his vehicle was not the "expected" move when reaching for ID.

I agree the policeman should not have had his pistol drawn and pointed for what was purported to be a simple traffic infraction. He also closed with the driver before he fired, instead of backing up or taking cover.

In such a tense situation there is no time to make a rational decision to shoot or not. It is up to the parties involved to create time and space. If the policeman was expecting trouble, I can imagine him drawing and aiming - as well as "seeing" the gun he expected to see, when none was present. And firing - because he felt that he was under immediate threat.

I'm not trying to make excuses for the policeman, nor "bash" police, or imply that the shot driver was "at fault" and brought it on himself. Just saying it happened fast, there was something in the situation that caused the policeman enough anxiety that he drew and aimed his pistol long before I perceived any threat to him, and that the driver gave the appearance, to me watching the video, that he had reached for and produced a weapon. But long after the policeman drew.

For me the take away is to stay calm, speak and move slowly, create time and space, and not provoke pr push things along too quickly. Confronted by a strange dog I do the same - turning and running evokes a "prey" response and will get me bitten.

He had already drawn his pistol by that point. You can see him approach the driver with his pistol pointed at him as the driver turns back into the truck cab.

The driver moved way too fast! First time I watched the video it looked to me like he went for a weapon and came up with one. That should not be enough to get him shot but it was a mistake for him to move so abruptly with the policeman pointing his pistol at him.

It was also a mistake for the policeman to have drawn and moved *toward* the driver instead of back toward cover.

I can't say I could have done any better than either of them, in their position, but I do know that if I'm ever accosted by the police my intention is to move very slowly and deliberately, articulating (saying) my intentions ("officer, I'm going to reach in my [location] pocket for my license and insurance card") - might get me shot for moving too slow, but less likely than moving too fast.