Your thoughts on warning shots?

[jowgafist]

LAKE WORTH, Fla. (AP) -- Authorities say a 91-year-old South Florida man jumped out of bed naked and held an intruder at gunpoint until deputies arrived. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said Robert E. Thompson woke up Saturday morning after a would-be burglar climbed his backyard fence and was met by his charging dog, Rettt, a Rottweiler and Doberman pinscher mix. Thompson heard the commotion, grabbed his .38-caliber revolver and phoned police without ever getting dressed.

Deputies said Thompson fired a warning shot as 26-year-old Jose Pasqual started to come toward him. Thompson kept his gun trained on Pasqual until deputies arrived.

Pasqual was booked in the Palm Beach County Jail on a burglary charge and did not immediately have an attorney.


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[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Dusty1]

I'm sure it would make you look good in court....

[JD]

houghts on warning shots?

For movies only unless part of Military or Agency ROE/Policy.

[Guns and more]

No.

[WHEC724]

If I fire a warning shot, it's because I missed!

'Just kidding... I think...

Honestly, I would never fault someone for firing a warning shot. In this case it ended well. My thought is that if it's worth pulling the trigger, it's worth hitting them. Plus on an auto-feed, you run the chance of the second round jamming.

-2cents...

[Agave]

I'll stick with the Patrol's policy. "Warning shots are not authorized."

[Rugergirl]

Great for 4 legged animals you think might attack, not for 2 legged animals.

[mi2az]

I would not give a warning shot, too worried about a return vist

[2ndsupporter]

Warning shots are a problem.

Say your at home and you fire a warning shot. Where are you going to fire it?

At the floor? Thats just a ricochet that could hit the BG, yourself or an unatended target!

At the celling? What if you live in a multi-level home? Who's upstairs?

Shot past the BG? Whats behind him? Could be a number of people, pets and/or property.

What if your outside and you shot straight up? Well, what goes up must come down? Could cause a number of problem there!

I guess if you shot the ground it might stick, don't know!

What if the warning shot isn't effective and the BG is still coming, do you have enough time to make a shot count?

Point is if faced with an BG coming at you with the intent to do you harm, then the only shot I'm going to fire is the COM shot/s.

[Sarge45]

No warning shots. Verbal warnings and directives only. The only shot fired is for full effect if the verbiage doesn't work..

[SIXTO]

Increasing my liability and wasting ammunition doesnt seem like a prudent idea.

[HK Dan]

I'm sure it would make you look good in court....

I don't agree with ya there.

Most municipalities have laws against discharging a firearm in city limits. Face it, you just don't know where the bullet will land, even if you shoot at the ground. Stuff happens, we've all seen it.

Add to that that firing the gun IS an application of deadly force, whether you hit him or not. So if you're going to use deadly force, the situation must be justifiable whether you're shooting the azalia bushes or the bad guy.

Warning shots are a bad idea.
Dan

[RoadRunner71]

I think it would be VERY situation specific. My knee-jerk reaction is no way on Earth. Then again, I am sure there would be situations where it might be favorable, but with extremely limited time to make the decision to fire or not and then have to decide to make it a warning shot or not might take too long.

[Janq]

No warning shots. Verbal warnings and directives only. The only shot fired is for full effect if the verbiage doesn't work..

Agreed.
Further why artificially reduce your own life saving capacity, for no good reason?

Leave that to TV and movie characters.

Also as noted by others, where do you fire said warning shot so as to be safe?
People don't keep sand buckets in hand as they engage BGs...And you are responsible for _every_ round discharged be it aimed or not, regardless of reason.



- Janq

[automatic slim]

If you want to "warn" him, save the ammo and yell at him. My policy is to fire all warning shots center mass.