From: forda@gtephx.UUCP (Andrew Ford @ AGCS, Phoenix, Arizona)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: AVOIDING GETTING MISTAKENLY SHOT
Date: 27 Jul 92 13:53:20 GMT
Organization: gte

In article <3655@blue.cis.pitt.edu.UUCP>, dcwst8+@pitt.edu (David C Winters) writes:
# In article <9207221854.AA22524@gtephx.com> forda@gtephx.UUCP (Andrew Ford @ AGCS, Phoenix, Arizona) writes:
[...] 
# #IMHO, there are three situations to consider when avoding being shot by
# #cops: (1) you have the perp under arrest, (2) the perp has been shot, but
# #is still alive, or (3) the perp is dead.
# #
# ##1 premise: keep the gun holstered until you are forced to use it.
# 
# No, keep it in sight, and in your hand.  If the perp is alive, you may
# need it.  But, hold it in such a way that you can (quickly) make it
# obvious to the police that you are the good guy when they get there,
# i.e., be ready to grab it by the barrel and spread your hands apart (so
# that your fingers aren't near the trigger), or something similar.

You are far more likely to get shot at if you are waving a gun around.
(I know you did not imply that, but having a gun in your hand might
be seen that way.)  Obviously, some situations warrant drawing 
immediately, but others may not: you have to weigh the chances of being
shot by another honest citizen or a cop versus the chance of the suspect
shooting you.  Then you take your best guess: going to either extreme
is not the best way to stay alive.

# #Sit (1):  have the perp standing 5-10 feet in front of you with his
# #back to you and his hands in the air: if the local cops would shoot
# #the gun holder in this situation, you need to move.
# 
# A better position to have him assume: face down on the ground, looking
# _away_ from you, with both hands IN YOUR SIGHT.

An arriving officer (or another citizen) will only see you waving a gun
around (you are *very* likely to be moving -- adrenalin).  An officer 
coming onto a scene with a person holding both hands high in the air
will immediately understand that you are holding that person: your'e 
less likely to get shot that way.

# #Sit (3): Approach the body, remove his weapon, retreat (with the weapon
# #constantly pointed at the body) then holster the gun.  Criminals do 
# #not approach dead or dying bodies to remove guns, nor do they retreat
# #with guns pointed at a body: criminals shoot and leave.  Again, if the
# #local cops would show up and shoot you under these situations, move!
# 
# If you KNOW that he is dead (just felt for a pulse, or the like), DON'T
# touch the body.  A corpse cannot use whatever weapons it has on it, and
# you aren't in danger.  Holster your piece, sit down, keep your hands in
# sight, and wait for the police.

I left out the "check for a pulse" between remove guns and retreat.  You
don't *know* that he's dead until you've checked and the first order of
business is to illiminate the threat.  He may have blacked out from shock,
which is to say that he may sit up and shoot.

[...]
# #God I'm glad to be in Arizona!  Thanks for the posting -- I was just 
# #beginning to get real irritated with the 108-110 temps this month.
# #I'd rather sweat from heat than sweat from fear!
# 
# It is much easier to buy an air conditioner in Arizona, than to buy
# relief from fear-caused sweat in many other places.  :-)
# (Problem with Arizona (for me) is, not enough snow :-(  )
# 
That's the great part!  Snowbowl (ok ski resort) is 3 hours away and 
Apache Sunrise (good ski resort) is 4 & 1/2 hours away: then you come 
home to reasonable weather!

And the really great part is that in March and April, you can water 
ski and snow ski on alternate weekends!

-- 
"25 States allow anyone to buy a gun, strap it on, and walk down the street with
no permit of any kind: some say it's crazy.  However, 4 out of 5 US murders are 
committed in the other half of the country: so who is crazy?"   -  Andrew Ford
gtephx!forda@enuucp.eas.asu.edu  OR  !uunet!samsung!romed!enuucp!gtephx!forda