When to Draw

[boredin818]

What about drawing to save someone another persons life? is that allowed?

[gearhead15]

Case in point:

Last year, in the adjoining town to my city three guys called in a bogus pizza order. When the delivery guy showed up at the address they gave, the three guys surrounded him and one jumped him, knocking him down. The delivery guy had his CWP, got his pistol out, and shot the attacker. The other two ran away, the attacker died. It was ruled justified, even though none of them were armed.

What I took from that was that an unprovoked physical attack that gave the CWP holder no opportunity to retreat met the standard for using lethal force in self defense. It would be hard to justify using lethal force for much less than that.

In my personal opinion, if someone threatens me with a lethal weapon I could have the right to defend myself but depending on the weapon used (knife, club, firearm) my obligation to retreat could come into play. I should attempt to retreat from a lethal weapon that can't be used when out of reach of the attacker, but if the attacker pulls a firearm on me then I believe I would be justified in fighting back. At that point, though, I'd have to consider whether attempting to draw might get me shot.

[gearhead15]

What about drawing to save someone another persons life? is that allowed?

In my state the answer is "yes". Different states have different laws, however.

[QuarterBoreGunner]

When deciding to draw or not.. ... is there a minimum distance that you have in your head that you will let someone get before drawing?

For me that all depends; is a weapon showing? What kind of weapon? How fast is the bad guy advancing? A guy in a wheelchair with a baseball bat isn't much of a threat.
A guy with a knife? 15-20 yards and closing and I will do my level best to put him down.

And what domeshotjuan2 is correct; if you have an out, you MUST take it. It all comes down again to, what would a prudent and reasonable person do in your situation?

What about drawing to save someone another persons life? is that allowed?

The agency that does my qualification touches on this, and man, it's sticky subject and unfortunately there is no hard/fast rule for it. If you're talking about loved ones and family, personally, hell yes.

An altercation on the street between total strangers? Possibly not; who knows what can of worms you'd be opening? A guy assaulting a woman in an alley might just be some kind of messed up, public role playing. Weirder things have happened.

[porky]

Read the Law-Don't ask us for interpretations-
From the previous posts- most of these would get YOU arrested and/or sued-

if someone is beating your ***, you don't have the right to FIRE your weapon UNLESS you can PROVE that they were attempting to KILL you-If you pull it, you are asking for more trouble-getting shot with your own weapon or.... being forced to kill someone-Although this may be your fantasy, the reality is that it will f@#k you up unless you are some sort of psycho already.

All of the scenarios you provided for require common sense or the ability to use NONLETHAL force- Stop rubbing your guns and learn to fight with other weapons including your brain.

Not hating on you,but it sounds like your looking for reasons to be able to pull your shiny gun on someone-If many cops never need to use or pull their guns,I don't see why you would-

If you were talking about being in your home, I would respond differently-

In public-you are in a bad way any way you cut it- you have rights,but they are extremely narrow and your scenarios don't put you in a position to pull your gun righteously-concentrate on the situations where you have a clear right and responsibilty to protect yourself, your family and your community-These are VERY rare circumstances
Looks like all my Glock will ever shoot is paper-At least I hope so...

[El Gato]

This is what we teach in ccw classes...

never "brandish" or try to scare people with your gun... complicated but if you think they are going to be scared of your gun... you may be right or you may be wrong...and if you think they will be scared of your gun...and they aren't... are you prepared to deal with the situation now that they know you have a gun and you are not legally entitled to use it?.... to quote Clint Smith... if you want to scare people...get a mask...

o You are justified in displaying a firearm only in those situation in which firing your firearm would also be justified

o Brandishing may undermine your claim of self defense.

o Brandishing may blur the lines between who is the attacker and who is the victim in the mind of a witness.

[El Gato]

ok...
as a start... print this out and read it... a couple of times... helpful

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/Cfl2007.pdf

then get:

http://www.amazon.com/Gravest-Extreme-Firearm-Personal-Protection/dp/0936279001

read it a couple of times...

Then take some classes and compare what you learn in class to what the instructor is saying.. the instructor should not contradict what the Atty. Gen. says and maybe not Ayoob...instructors vary... we have had some here that come up with some really oddball stuff...and by the way...they don't know their penal code...etc...
use logic...apply logic...

[FieldsofFire]

The second I fear great bodily injury or death, I am drawing my weapon; or if I fear great bodily injury or death to someone around me.

You try to avoid all physical force confrontations whenever possible, but you never hit softly when it comes time to defend your life.

[Phireglass]

Ok, now correct me if i am wrong but are you not allowed to draw a weapon to prevent a felony?

[Blademan21]

Ok, now correct me if i am wrong but are you not allowed to draw a weapon to prevent a felony?

How do you its a felony? Are you a LEO? Apples and oranges question.

[Phireglass]

like an armed robbery for example, car jacking, or whatever somthin gnarly..

[CSACANNONEER]

I will not draw until I have decided that I have no other recourse. I decided a long time ago that I will never produce a weapon until I'm planning on using it. Why would one want to show their "ace in the hole" early?

[till44]

You should match force with force. A verbal confrontation does not warrant you drawing your gun, neither does a fist fight. It's called excessive force, and if you dodge the criminal charges the civil ones will be just as bad.

You drawing your gun is deadly force, and deadly force is to be used only in the protection of life, yours or someone else.

[Friar_Tuck]

If you shoot someone in CA, it better have been for a damn good reason because 9 times outta ten you will be prosecuted. This state HATES the idea of serfs protecting themselves or their property. They want you to LAY DOWN, GIVE them what they want and let the "professionals" handle it..

[QuarterBoreGunner]

^is that your opinion or your personal experience?

'cause it's sure not mine.