Shooting A Human Being...

[aermotor]

As I lay here in bed right now, I hear some noises outside – the 870 is near me as well as my FNP-40 – and I got to thinking, could I actually shoot someone? I think the simplest answer is this: if I knew my life or anyone of my families' lives were in danger, yes, I could do it to protect them and if knew bodily harm or death would come if I did not. But that doesn't me feel easy about putting a hole in someone from 00.

Just the thought of it is pretty crazy though to me, I assume about a million things would flash through your head in about .2 seconds and you'd just have to make that snap decision. Life or death. Them or us. But when faced with life or death, maybe you don't think at all, you just do, seems like a natural survival instinct just kicks in; primitive...

What are your guy's thoughts on the matter? Anyone ever hesitate to fire on someone—what were the consequences? Anyone ever fire on someone and wound/kill/miss—what were the consequences?

I'm interested to hear different opinions.

[ivanimal]

Situational awareness is key. Overzealous action and you may be bubba's roommate at the pen.
Then again;
I wouldn't hesitate to shoot to kill if it were me or them. Just survival mode.
Still;
There is no one perfect answer just like there is no perfect question.
As always;
I would not want to be an intruder in most people here's houses.

[locosway]

I see it like this. If someone is willing to hurt me or my family, then they aren't human any more. Humans are compassionate people who genuinely care about others. If this person has lost those feelings then you should be afraid.

Sometimes drugs can cause someone to lose such feelings temporarily, and there's a lot of other things that can cause it to be permanent. Either way, they aren't human for that time. I'd have no problem shooting someone who isn't human.

[Stanze]

In certain contexts, everything and everyone looks like a shooting range/FPS map and zombie to me.

My wife and mine's life was threatened last Saturday(Perp stated he wanted to kick my arse for being "happy and smiling"), all I had was my SOG Trident, but I was cool as a cucumber ready to rock! Assailant changed his mind at the sight of my blade and walked away.

[Napalm Bulldog]

If an intruder came into my house, I wouldnt even yell stop or Ill shoot. They would just hear boom. Now Im talking in the instance were someone kicks in your door. But I have had on 2 occasions were people visiting there friends next door mistaked my door for theirs and walk in my home. Akward and both were during the day, But funny. All I could think of was to smile and say Hi. The look on there faces was classic.

[rkt88edmo]

Get training where they address this.

[SJgunguy24]

Quick assessment and level of violence needs to happen instantly. That can be trained as well as being instinct.
I've learned that if your gonna get down, be the first to strike. Strike hard and fast, and don't back down. Different situations require different levels of action. Sometimes just the threat of resistance can end a confrontation, sometimes not. But it pays to have as many tools as possible to deal with what life may bring.
The most poweful weapon anybody has is their head.

[Scratch705]

being that my room has the window facing right next to the main door, i cannot afford to hesitate.... once they enter the door/window, i shoot first, identify later. (helps that no one we know sneaks in and out of our house late at night)

[caoboy]

If an intruder came into my house, I wouldnt even yell stop or Ill shoot. They would just hear boom. Now Im talking in the instance were someone kicks in your door. But I have had on 2 occasions were people visiting there friends next door mistaked my door for theirs and walk in my home. Akward and both were during the day, But funny. All I could think of was to smile and say Hi. The look on there faces was classic.

Sounds like you need to use that thing on the door knob called a lock.



Remember, don't point the gun at anything you aren't fully prepared to destroy.

That being said, it's all in how you feel the situation is playing out.

[BillCA]

One of the hardest things you may ever have to do is move your finger 1/8" and take a human life. That applies whether you're facing someone in your own dark hallway, flying an F4 at 19,000 feet and releasing weapons or shooting a 20mm at a boat from the side of a Naval ship. In a split second your whole being has this conversation;

Heart to brain! What're you doing? Are you mad?
Brain to heart - Hostile at 11 o'clock, weapons hot, engaging.
Heart to brain! Wait! Wait, are you sure about this?
Brain to heart - Yes, attack is imminent. Target acquired.
Heart to brain! Don't be rash here! Don't make a mistake!
Brain to heart - Hostile action confirmed. No error. Fox 1!
Heart to brain! Augh! I hope you're right or you'll get us all killed!
Brain to heart - If I'm wrong we'll all die too. Target neutralized.

It's natural when you've been conditioned to respect and cherish life and you do. It's natural when you believe each person should be treated with compassion and some understanding.

Just be sure of your facts. Just be sure you are not shooting from unjustified "bare fear". Do every reasonable thing you can think of to resolve the situation without bloodshed.

However violence often happens swiftly and without warning. Or you're put into the position where your survival options are limted. You may have to operate on your best, immediate judgement with limited facts.

Then you'll have to justify your actions. Not only to others, but to yourself over and over. Sometimes it helps to talk to a stress counselor so you can talk yourself through it. Talking does help the flashbacks and nightmares go away too.

[Rob454]

The thing is if you sit there and try to rationalize what youre doing youll end up dead. Survival instinct better kick in pretty fast. While I wont go around just wasting people left and right if someone came to harm me or my family I woudl simply kill them. Im not gona rationalize if theire human or non human or think about it for a few seconds. It woudl be simple. here is a threat bang threat neutralized. End of story. Im not trying to soud liek Im a bad *** hardcore killer soul. Im a nice caring person. i love life and I love my family and friends. but you threaten that and i promise you youre gonna go down.

[Soldier415]

Only thing i'll say on this subject...pray you never have to do it.

Do everything you can to avoid it.

But if it is you/your loved ones or him...

It better be him.

[rrr70]

Only thing i'll say on this subject...pray you never have to do it.

Do everything you can to avoid it.

But if it is you/your loved ones or him...

It better be him.

+ a lot

[Snapping Twig]

Hope to never know what it's like.

Wouldn't hesitate to do it if cornered.

[AgentAK]

I've ran this scenario through my head many times. It all depends on the actions of the intruder that will make the outcome. My life is much more important to me than some jerk that decided to enter my residence.

My situation may be quite a bit different than others here though. I live in a rural area on about two acres. The entire yard is fenced with bougainvillea growing along it (many huge thorns) and has barbed wire on top of the fence. I have two Boxers that live outside. The house has bars on all windows and entrances which can be easily released from the inside and I have my Greyhound inside also.

If I have an intruder in the house, they have gone through a lot of trouble gaining access and their intentions are obviously not good.

Like I said before, it all depends on the situation. If someone storms through my bedroom door, they're dust. If I catch them and they comply with my instructions, they go to jail, if not, dust.

I guess I may be a sick puppy but I've seen enough death and destruction that I have no qualms about making the decision between them and me. The only thing that truly bothers me is who will clean up the mess?

I just wanted to add that my possessions are NOT worth taking a life for nor putting my own life in danger. A good example is my dumb a** brother-in-law in Texas. Yeah, I know you can defend your property in TX. Anyway, the dumba** is a retired Air Force Colonel and thinks he's some bada**. He talks all the time about how he'll shoot anyone that comes on his property. He lives in a normal neighborhood with houses next to each other. One year, they were having problems with neighborhood punks popping the inflated XMAS lawn decorations. Late one night, he heard the punks outside, grabbed his pistol and ran outside. He chased the kids for two blocks brandishing the firearm and shooting twice. Yeah, this guy is the poster child for people who should not own a gun.