Quote:
Originally Posted by SIXTO
No stats needed, I'll tell you right now they would. The "Freeze Police" or "Drop the gun" is a thing of Hollywood. Sure it does happen, but in an active shoot, anything goes.
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I would say that in general, It has everything to do with the actions of the man with the gun and the perceived threat the officer feels at the time. Either a threat towards himself, or some other officer on the scene, or a third innocent party.
Now, it's my understanding LEO's are trained be reasonably restrained in dealing with a subject holding a gun in their hands. It's their job to deal with armed subjects and not just shoot everyone on sight!
HOWEVER... In general, officers are held close to the same standards of using deadly force as a civilian. There has to be an immediate threat of death or serious injury for them to justified in shooting someone.
An unknown person holding a gun is pretty damn close to meeting that definition!
If the officer is shouting commands to "drop the gun", or "don't move," or "get on the ground," and you don't immediately comply with... well guess what? You're probably going to get shot! And the officer will be justified in doing so!
You were an armed person, brandishing a gun, who failed to obey a lawful command! The LEO MUST assume you have some other nefarious intent by not following his lawful command. Maybe you were scheming on how to get the upper hand on him.
If you were told to drop the gun, and instead
you decide to try and whip out your ccw credentials... well, you're probably going to get shot.
It will be of little consequence that you were in fact the complainant and good guy, but just chose instead to exercise your god given right to be stupid! He will still be justified in shooting said stupid person.