From: syoung@pecanpi.UUCP (Stan Young)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Bad tactical position ( was Psychology in Defense)
Date: 17 Nov 92 13:15:11 GMT
Organization: Pecan Pi, Doraville, Georgia


In article <Bxrvs1.3AH@scylax.uucp>, scylax!tiglath@uunet.UU.NET writes:

<Stuff deleted regarding what to do if a suspect won't obey your commands,
 but is not currently threatening.>

# Waiting him out is not safe.  He may be waiting for his mate or mates.
# Or you may crack up under continuous stress.  And the longer the
# perp sees that you are not tough enough.  The more he can think he
# can rush you, and succeed!.  Why should I take a chance.  If he is 
# alone,  ooops! I was wrong.  If he isn't, ooops! I am dead.  Can I be 
# expecte to take additonal risk, imagined or not, for his sake.  More 
# scenarios...

I take it you've never had much experience with the courts.

You can't shoot somebody for your convenience, or for what might be.  You'll
be held to the standard of "the reasonable man".  Keep in mind that as the
situation changes, your defense options change.  In this case, the suspect
is not currently threatening you - you can't shoot without running into real
problems.

# A. The perp has hurt someone in my family, I am holding him at gunpoint.
# again he doesn't obey but indicates he wants to go, call it quits,
# and gently, unmenacingly, he moves to leave.  Do I let him go?

Absolutely.  Get as good a description as you want, tell him to stay if you
want, but let him go.  If you shoot now, you will be committing an act of
revenge - that'll get you put in jail.

# B. Some one is picking the lock. I heard the noise and I see a black 
# clad figure slowly entering the now open balcony door.  I am behind the 
# door armed,  do I shoot first?   The way I see, if he is a burglar
# and I make a noise 99% chance he'll flee,  if he is a deranged sadist
# he has found his target, for which he might be well prepared.
# Am I expected to take this chance?

If you can get the guy to run, you are a LOT better off than if you shoot him.
In this circumstance, you would PROBABLY be ok legally, depending on your state
laws and the mood of the police and prosecutors.

# C. The good guy is sick, old and weak.  He holds the perp at
# gunpoint in his small bedroom, the perp has a knife in his waist. he is
# young, muscular, large and ferocious looking.  He laughs at the 
# commands, feeling his superiority in spite of the gun trained on him.
# The old guy is having a nightmare, shaking, his nerves frying.  He
# knows that in spite of the gun in his hand, he is no expert and if
# he blinks or makes the slightest mistake he'll be history.  He feels
# that if the tension continues he will not be able to control it and
# he may even faint.  Does he shoot before his nerve runs out?

Bang.  The old man is in fear for his life, and there is a significant 
difference in physical capabilities.  It is not a matter of worrying about
his nerve running out.  He has a current, realistic fear for his life.

# I know many of you will say BLAM. BLAM BLAM!.  That is what the instinct
# tells us.  I personally feel that shooting is the safe way to go.  But 
# in all these cases there is not (yet) lethal force being offered, as 
# the rule goes.  Can these be exceptions to the rule?  Is there 
# a way not to shoot without takuing additional risk.
# I assume the good guy doesn't know how to control an unwilling body
# forcibly like police do.  Experts speak.  

I'll make a recommendation that others will probably make - pick up Mas Ayoob's
THE TRUTH ABOUT SELF-PROTECTION.  It will open your eyes.

-- 
 Serendipity is looking in a haystack for a needle
 and discovering the farmer's daughter.                    -- Julias H. Comroe 
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Stan Young                                     {emory, slammer}!pecanpi!syoung