Who here would give a warning shot?

[babe]

I know it's the 'wrong' thing to do. The only legitimate reason to shoot is to stop the threat. I am personally prepared to shoot someone to save the lives of myself and my family and I'm ready to live with the consequences. But I think those consequences, and the trauma of killing or horribly injuring someone will be life changing for me.

If someone broke into my home, I would not be the homeowner waiting to line up the perfect kill. I think anyone who has been on this site awhile knows there are many gun owners who have already decided...if you break into my home...threaten my family...you are dead. I'm not that person.

So if I hear the crash in the night, I'll be yelling 'go away! I have a gun!' And if I still hear the footsteps charging up the staircase, I would still want to do all I could to avert a deadly confrontation. If it meant adding some level of personal risk by taking the chance the intruder might be quick enough to overpower me or 'shoot first', my conscious might make me take that risk. I could see myself firing a warning shot to give the damn fool one last chance to end this peaceably

I don't think anybody really knows what they'll do in 'that' situation until they've come upon it. But when I try to look into my own soul, honestly...this is what I see. Is there anyone out there who feels like me? Am I a bad gun owner? Should my feelings make me reconsider being a gun owner?

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Vocalize yes. Warning shot no. If you're going to shoot, you shoot to stop the threat. Not to kill, not to wound and not to warn. Scream, yell, tell them they're going to get shot, but in the immortal words of Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez, "When it's time to shoot, shoot. Don't talk."

And yes, the act of using lethal force on another human, no matter how much an ******* they are, it does stick with you.

[Librarian]

Consider also that a 'warning shot' is 'use of lethal force'.

[diveRN]

If I fired on anything other than a bad guy, it would be only as a distraction for the bad guy, but then it's a distraction... not a warning.

So no.

[beb]

You're at home and know 100% a warning shot would not harm anyone (hypothetical). But now you've made it clear to that intruder that there are guns in the home. What if they want the guns or something else enough to come back? Now he's prepared.

Taking a life is traumatic. It's clear from the PTSD and suicide cases from LE, Military, CCW etc that have had to kill another for self-defense. But when there are such evil people out there who wish you harm; there isn't really the option of a warning shot IMHO

[Divernhunter]

Sorry I am part of the "shoot and make sure they do not get back outside" group.

The warning shot will be center mass or head shot.

[babe]

Vocalize yes. Warning shot no. If you're going to shoot, you shoot to stop the threat. Not to kill, not to wound and not to warn. Scream, yell, tell them they're going to get shot, but in the immortal words of Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez, "When it's time to shoot, shoot. Don't talk."

And yes, the act of using lethal force on another human, no matter how much an ******* they are, it does stick with you.

Ok...but you would be left feeling you didn't do all you could have to avoid the threat without giving that warning 'bang'. A lot of people can yell a lot of things but thst noise has a completely different effect on the human psyche.

[DSB]

Consider also that a 'warning shot' is 'use of lethal force'.

Quoted for truth. There is no such thing as a "warning shot." There is "not shooting," "justified use of deadly force," and "unjustified use of deadly force." If you engage in the latter, you are guilty of a crime.

In order to justify firing your weapon, you must actually and reasonably believe that you are in immediate danger of great bodily injury or death. If you actually believe that, then you have no time to engage in warnings (verbal or otherwise).

[Cody]

If I shoot, it's a warning to get out of the way of the bullet. It's not my fault if you don't move fast enough.

[babe]

If I fired on anything other than a bad guy, it would be only as a distraction for the bad guy, but then it's a distraction... not a warning.

So no.

Ok, what if the 'bad guy' is a 13 year old kid. Maybe he's on a dare. Maybe he thinks it's BS the white lady in this house has a gun. Is there nothing in your conscience that makes you want to do everything possible to avoid taking a life?

[Jet Setter]

Nope. No sense wasting ammo.

[American Samurai]

If I shoot, it's a warning to get out of the way of the bullet. It's not my fault if you don't move fast enough.

hahaha, I like the way you put that.

[babe]

Sorry I am part of the "shoot and make sure they do not get back outside" group.

The warning shot will be center mass or head shot.

If I shoot, it's a warning to get out of the way of the bullet. It's not my fault if you don't move fast enough.

Nope. No sense wasting ammo.

When you ask a genuine question about the serious consequences of taking a human life in self defense and you get answers that are flippant, you start to think the anti-gunners might just have something on us.

[Deadon]

The wife already knows if shes being held hostage by a thug that breaks in I'm taking the shot. We've had that talk. Yes if I were to miss it would be very hard to deal with. That said watching some thug have their way with my family isn't going to cut it. Then no telling what happens after. We won't be the victims so no warning shot.

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Ok...but you would be left feeling you didn't do all you could have to avoid the threat without giving that warning 'bang'. A lot of people can yell a lot of things but thst noise has a completely different effect on the human psyche.

If I have drawn my weapon, then "avoiding the threat" is no longer an option. If I'm in my home, then the threat has come to me and avoiding it isn't even part of the equation.

If I'm out and about, avoiding threats is part of every day life and is something that just becomes part of how you approach every interaction or situation.

Again, if I'm to the point of drawing my weapon, then *avoiding* the threat is waaaaay long gone. I may still vocalize, but it's probably along the lines of "PUT IT DOWN MOTHER****ER" and "OH ****!"