Warning shots, regardless of the situation, have always been a no-no. If you have to pull and discharge a firearm it is ALWAYS intended to be a lethal shot.
There is precedent of self defense being lost because of warning shots if you had the time to shoot a shot YOU KNOW is going to miss, you had time to disarm the situation in another way, is the legal justification.
So yes, if you own a gun, and intend to use it in self defense, no warning shots, aim center of mass.
Btw, in Czechia and Slovakia, it is the opposite. If you have time, you are legally required to use a warning shot. To me this makes more sense since it is likely to defuse the situation without actually injuring/killing anyone. Although I admit it could escalate the situation if the warning shot causes bystanders/cops to get involved and misunderstand the situation. So I guess it is a matter of preference.
The thinking is that even considering pulling your firearm must mean that you are in a time-critical situation where it’s the only recourse you have. The goal is to keep it from even entering the equation until the point where it’s life or death. Not to mention any shot off-target had a chance to end up hitting someone or something you really shouldn’t.
I can see the reasoning behind a warning shot. No reasonable person wants to take a life, and if a shot into the ground, air, or neighbors couch can prevent that, I get the appeal. Unfortunately by the time we’re there, it’s already well past the point where the other person is simply too much of a threat.
The thinking is that even considering pulling your firearm must mean that you are in a time-critical situation where it’s the only recourse you have. The goal is to keep it from even entering the equation until the point where it’s life or death.
But why tho? Does a cop keep their gun holstered until absolutely the last second? No! They aim at you at the first sign of danger so that you think twice before you do dumb stuff. Why wouldn’t that apply to civilians defending themselves or their property?
By the way, warning shot is also not the first thing you are supposed to do in CZ/SK. If time permits, you should pull the gun, give two verbal warnings then warning shot immediately followed by another verbal warning.
But why tho? Does a cop keep their gun holstered until absolutely the last second? No! They aim at you at the first sign of danger so that you think twice before you do dumb stuff. Why wouldn’t that apply to civilians defending themselves or their property?
Point is they SHOULD keep it holstered until it’s the only option available. There’s a case to be made for training and accountability, but at least in the states that goes out the window. Your average cop is neither trained nor accountable,and certainly shouldn’t have a gun. That’s another argument though.
All of the warnings can be done before a gun gets involved. You can warn that you will defend yourself, that you have a firearm, etc. without brandishing it. And still, firing the gun and not hitting something important, in a high stress situation, regardless of level of training can’t be done safely and reliably.
While I somewhat agree about the warning shot, I absolutely don’t about the brandishing. Visual demonstration that you have a gun will always be many times more effective then just saying it. Requiring that you keep it holstered until the last moment is dumb. Not only are you loosing out on the deterrent but having to draw and load the gun under pressure is far more likely to lead to an accident. Or you carry the gun loaded which again increases the chance of an accident.
If you carry, you should be carrying with a round in the chamber (I assume this is what you mean by loaded). If you’re not comfortable carrying with a round in the chamber, you should not be carrying a pistol.
Says every reputable CCW instructor. If you do not carry with one in the chamber, you either do not trust your equipment (in which case you should get better equipment) or do not trust yourself (in which case you should not be carrying).
Warning shots, regardless of the situation, have always been a no-no. If you have to pull and discharge a firearm it is ALWAYS intended to be a lethal shot.
There is precedent of self defense being lost because of warning shots if you had the time to shoot a shot YOU KNOW is going to miss, you had time to disarm the situation in another way, is the legal justification.
So yes, if you own a gun, and intend to use it in self defense, no warning shots, aim center of mass.
Btw, in Czechia and Slovakia, it is the opposite. If you have time, you are legally required to use a warning shot. To me this makes more sense since it is likely to defuse the situation without actually injuring/killing anyone. Although I admit it could escalate the situation if the warning shot causes bystanders/cops to get involved and misunderstand the situation. So I guess it is a matter of preference.
The thinking is that even considering pulling your firearm must mean that you are in a time-critical situation where it’s the only recourse you have. The goal is to keep it from even entering the equation until the point where it’s life or death. Not to mention any shot off-target had a chance to end up hitting someone or something you really shouldn’t.
I can see the reasoning behind a warning shot. No reasonable person wants to take a life, and if a shot into the ground, air, or neighbors couch can prevent that, I get the appeal. Unfortunately by the time we’re there, it’s already well past the point where the other person is simply too much of a threat.
But why tho? Does a cop keep their gun holstered until absolutely the last second? No! They aim at you at the first sign of danger so that you think twice before you do dumb stuff. Why wouldn’t that apply to civilians defending themselves or their property?
By the way, warning shot is also not the first thing you are supposed to do in CZ/SK. If time permits, you should pull the gun, give two verbal warnings then warning shot immediately followed by another verbal warning.
I don’t think we should be using (American) cops as the standard for reasonable behaviour here
Point is they SHOULD keep it holstered until it’s the only option available. There’s a case to be made for training and accountability, but at least in the states that goes out the window. Your average cop is neither trained nor accountable,and certainly shouldn’t have a gun. That’s another argument though.
All of the warnings can be done before a gun gets involved. You can warn that you will defend yourself, that you have a firearm, etc. without brandishing it. And still, firing the gun and not hitting something important, in a high stress situation, regardless of level of training can’t be done safely and reliably.
While I somewhat agree about the warning shot, I absolutely don’t about the brandishing. Visual demonstration that you have a gun will always be many times more effective then just saying it. Requiring that you keep it holstered until the last moment is dumb. Not only are you loosing out on the deterrent but having to draw and load the gun under pressure is far more likely to lead to an accident. Or you carry the gun loaded which again increases the chance of an accident.
If you carry, you should be carrying with a round in the chamber (I assume this is what you mean by loaded). If you’re not comfortable carrying with a round in the chamber, you should not be carrying a pistol.
Like, you read that in a horoscope?
Says every reputable CCW instructor. If you do not carry with one in the chamber, you either do not trust your equipment (in which case you should get better equipment) or do not trust yourself (in which case you should not be carrying).
It’s nice that the Czechs and Slovaks have such a naive view of violence. It means the culture is doing something more important right.