So what would you do....

[XD2005]

Right from the beginning…I understand this is a personal thing and no “right” answer, but I am curious what your reactions might be to a couple situations (just ones I’ve been thinking a lot about lately). Obviously, state and local laws will have an influence….more than anything I look forward to discussion, not necessarily answers.

SITUATION ONE: Say your walking out of the store, or down the street, or wherever (not important)…all of a sudden someone (or maybe a small group) of people walk up to you, pull and knife or gun, and tell you to give them your wallet….do you comply and just let it be, or do you grab for something else (i.e. your shiny new XD). You could probably argue your life was in danger…but was it really? That’s a tough call. Maybe you could pull the weapon due to a felony with a weapon occurring, but would you really be willing to shoot someone over a wallet if you really didn’t feel your life was in danger? Obviously, this is a personal call. I just am curious what my fellow board members are thinking.

SITUATION TWO: It’s the middle of the night, all of a sudden a loud bang awakes you and you quickly realize your front door has been busted down. You hear yelling and realize they are yelling “police, don’t move” (or something similar)….what do you do? You know you’ve done nothing wrong, but you also realize police have, on occasion, got an address wrong, etc….but you also know that criminals have been known to do the same thing to throw people off (has happened a number of times I can recall, one recently in my area). I don’t ever want to be in a situation where a cop shoots me (can’t remember if it was here or somewhere else but I read about a man that was shot by the police because he didn’t realize it was them), or I shoot a cop over a misunderstanding (this happened in Lakewood, WA a number of years back when a tweeker shot a police officer and claimed he thought the officer was someone breaking into the home), but I also would never want to let a criminal take over my home on me when I am armed (or give the criminal a chance to grab my firearm). To be honest, the thought of this occurring (albeit the chance is minimal) scares me quite a bit. I don’t know if there’s really any “good” answer. The only thing I think that can really be done is comply and just “hope” it’s actually the police. What do you guys think?

[021411]

IMO:

#1: The attacker can slice and dice and shoot you probably faster than you can pull out the XD. If it's close range, it's gonna be tough to get the advantage. I'd comply in this case although I had a gun on my side.

#2: Tough call. Mistakes do happen but YOU don't know that. I would be armed and ready...

[east_stingray]

Situation 1: Someone pulls a weapon on you and demands ANYTHING AT ALL, your life is in danger. The presence of the weapon and the fact that the other guy is using that weapon to force you into something makes it life-threatening. On a legal note, it's usually "bodily harm or death", and if nothing else, said weapon definetly constitutes a threat of bodily harm.

As far as your question as to whether or not I'd be willing to shoot someone over that: you bet your shiny new XD I would. How many people do you think start off busting down doors or murdering or raping, etc. I'm no sociologist, but common sense tells me that almost every single door buster or murderer or rapist started small and got bigger. The guy demanding your wallet probably started by shoplifting. Now it's armed robbery, and maybe next time it will be your grandma and they'll just hit her with a pipe without giving her the opportunity to give up her purse because then she won't make noise. It's your duty to the other citizens as the "sheepdog" to protect them from the wolves. They can't do it themselves, and they don't appreciate you for it, but if you carry you've taken on a great responsibility. Use it. Prove them wrong. Make our streets safer.

[DigMe]

Situation 1 - Probably crap myself.

Situation 2 - Probably crap myself.

bc

[east_stingray]

Well, at least if you crap yourself you'll be well armed. I hear feces stings like a mother in the eyes.

[nightraider]

That second scenario is sure a mind boggler. Makes me really think.

[NiK]

Originally Posted by east_stingray

Well, at least if you crap yourself you'll be well armed. I hear feces stings like a mother in the eyes.

It's the original biological weapon!

[retired]

Sit.1. There is no need to argue your life is in danger, they drew a weapon; your live is in danger. Depending on what my chances where, I would grab the wallet (not the one with the I.D. in my case) and throw it at the guy wit the weapon, while at the same time withdrawing mine if I was able and shooting him and anyone else I saw with weapons. Perfectly justfied as you are defending your life. Don't EVEN THINK about lawsuits and monday morning quartbacking; you want to go home alive.

The odds are you may be injured also, unless they are pretty bad shots (which could happen). The point is, if you think they are going to walk away from you after getting your wallet without harming/killing you, you are a very foolish person. It could happen, but I certainly wouldn't depend on it to save my life and bottom line, that is what we are talking about here.

Sit#2. If you are able to get to a phone, I'd contact the local le thur the emeregency # and explain what's going on. If they confirm the police are their, then comply with the officers, sounds like they are legit.

If dispatch says they have nothing going on, yell at them to respond and advise you will be using your gun to defend yourelf against some fake police.

Generally speaking, tho mistakes are made. Most agencies, when they go into another jurisdiction, advise the locals of their intentions and usually have some of the locals in unfiorm for protection purposes anyway, just so this doesn't occur. Remember, I said in most occasions.

If you tell the "police" in your house that you are on the phone with 911 to confirm their presence and they come up shooting, I would guess you don't have the police. The real police would be on the radio to verify with their dispatch.

All I can say, is Good Luck. You are really in a mess in both situations, especially the latter.

[jednp]

Scenario 1 would be a tough call.. But I can tell you right now that I'd be willing to shoot someone who is mugging me at knife or gunpoint. What's one rule we follow with our guns? Don't point them at anything you aren't willing to destroy. I have to assume they are willing to destroy me because they are pointing at me. I'd hope I could just give my wallet and have that be the end. It'd be a touch call really though, hard to say until you are in the situation.

Situation 2.. again hard to tell.. I just watched a show on tv about this exact thing happening. Was a real story too. I think the FBI finally busted the gang of criminals committing these home invasions posing as police. Nobody knew when it was the police for sure or not. This group would come in looking for drugs and money, when none was available they would resort to raping mothers and daughters right in front of eachother. I think I would have to assume things to be the worst here if I knew I had done nothing wrong ever, and there's no reason for police to be busting down my door. I sure wouldn't ever want to fall victim to the stuff I was seeing them talk about on that show with stuff like this happening. I think it's safe to say either way you risk harm, regardless who it is. If it's the police, there's a good chance you are ordered to drop the weapon.. criminals would probably be a lot more likely to just shoot first. And if they come in wearing heavy ski masks, i doubt police use those! The masks police wear look so much different than your childhood spiderman lookin ski mask. So, like someone else said if you are able to keep yourself in a safe room and be able to call the police and double check.. do taht.. while keeping yourself armed. This again is one of those situations where it's just too hard to tell what you will do until it happens.

[ichy_trigger]

Point a gun at me and I'm pointing one back at you but I'm pulling the trigger as soon as I have the muzzle on target. At least in Ohio, the mere brandishing of a weapon by the BG's is justifiable reason for deadly force. I dont think anyone will ask you if you really thought they would hurt you. People give in to BG demands every day and still get shot or stabbed. I will go down fighting if at all possible.

Situation 2 i agree with Retired, barricade into your room and call 911 to verify the situation. If its really the cops, they will have no problem with this. If you announce that your verifying them and your door is kicked in, send a message back at them with lead.