I generally refrain from becoming involved in hypothetical threads like this one.
FWIW, I realize that I’m apparently known for being ‘wordy’, so feel free to ignore my posting and skip to another one. I’m not here to teach or be anyone’s ‘expert’.
I won’t pretend to give a ‘definitive’ answer to the hypothetical situation, either. Sorry.
I can only offer that I would do what I felt was prudent, appropriate, reasonable and was the least likely to unnecessarily elevate the potential threat of serious bodily injury or death to innocent persons. Actions can have consequences. Once fired, you can't call a bullet back.
I've never met an adult innocent human being, including myself.
I know, and appreciate, your sense of humor
Biker.
It's just that errant rounds, meaning misses or perforations of the intended target, can still have consequences.
I know lots of folks will want to argue that 'inaction' can also have consequences, and I’m not going to get distracted into ‘arguing’ that premise.
What I will offer is that intentionally & directly contributing to a situation in such a manner some innocent person is permanently or seriously injured, or even killed, because of an action that is later (after due consideration) determined to have been inappropriate, or even unlawful, is still something to bear in mind.
Then there's the issue of actually being able to physically, effectively respond to the situation at hand in the most tactically sound manner ... IF prudent. How many non-LE folks have much experience in being involved in these sorts of situations? How many have sufficient training upon which to resort when unexpectedly finding themselves in such a high stress, dangerous situation?
How many non-LE receive such training, or actively update their knowledge? How many non-LE folks act to maintain their knowledge and practice of tactics when it comes to armed/deadly force encounters? I'm not saying that all LE agencies are similar in providing such on-going, in-service training for their folks, but it's probably more likely for it to occur among LE agencies in general, than among the general public, don't you think? How many non-LE folks can afford the investment of time and money to attend 8, 12 or 24 hours of training every year, or even every other year? How many feel the inclination to do so? Do you think the inclination might vary a bit when comparing 'ordinary' firearms owners to those folks who frequent internet forums like this? How many folks among the regular motoring public even know that these forums exist? How many firearms owners just buy (or inherit) a firearm and keep it at home, and never think about ANY sort of training? (I’m not becoming involved in the topic of the ‘RKBA’ and any sort of ‘mandatory’ firearms training, either. Different subject, and it’s already been kicked about.
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I can say that I've become used to hearing folks in CCW classes say that the only time they actually shoot their firearms is when they attend their initial class, or have to renew their CCW. These are folks who have the standard 2-year CA CCW license.
Sure, some states have wording in their laws that allow people to come to the aid and defense of other/third persons, but that doesn't mean it's always going to be a good idea to discharge a lawfully carried concealed weapon, even if the circumstances might otherwise make it seem as though it would be considered reasonably necessary and justified at the time.
Now, my level of training in handling situations like this is likely going to be different than that expected to be found among the general non-LE citizenry. Makes sense. This can be said about most vocations. This means, though, that I'm going to be held to a higher standard in accordance to whatever actions I do take. My responsibilities to the general public peace/safety as a sworn peace officer have a direct bearing on my potential actions and conduct. Again, not a surprise. That’s as it should be. I take them very seriously, too. I absolutely do not want to do something that will unnecessarily increase the risk to the public in a given situation. My gained experience over the last 25+ years certainly affects and influences my considered actions, as well. Things just don’t seem to ever happen the way you expect them to happen.
I'll tell you what I don't want to have happen, though, and that's to think about some innocent person having been seriously injured or killed because of an unsound, imprudent action on my part.
Then, as someone else mentioned, when the local LE arrive anyone holding a gun in their hand may become a 'man with a gun' .... and believe it or not, their arrival may not be noticed until someone is shouting the command to “Drop the gun!”. Stress, tunnel vision and diminished sensory processing can do strange, unexpected things. Imagine not even hearing the arrival of the LE units, and then when surprised by discovering their presence, doing something stupidly unthinkable like forgetting the gun in your hand ... and turning toward the cops to hear what they’re saying. Also if shots have already been reported as being fired you can probably imagine how the stress levels of the responding LE have likely been elevated, too. They’re still just human, after all. You can’t predict the level of experience of the cops that may be responding, either.
I've come across suspects who have been 'down' upon my arrival, and I've heard frantic communications transmissions trying to tell those of us responding to an armed robbery call that it had just been learned that ONE of the men running down the street with a gun in his hand MAY be the VICTIM. He's the one I found, BTW. Just the way things go, sometimes.
Anyhow, even off-duty & plainclothes/undercover LE can be at risk if they become involved in an armed situation to which uniformed units respond. I remember several years ago, when I was attending an in-service POST certified class for street tactics for plainclothes/undercover officers, the discussion of this potential risk was made all the more 'real' because of the very recent, tragic death (within the prior week, I think I recall) of an undercover cop from a nearby agency ... shot by responding uniform Patrol officers from his own (very large) agency ... and at least one of the cops attending the class had known the officer.
Is it unreasonable to expect the same, or even greater, risk to exist for non-LE folks who may rashly, or unwisely, feel compelled to decide they MUST act in a rapidly changing, chaotic, deadly force situation? A situation in which they may never have received any strategic or tactical training, or any training in how LE will likely act when responding to such situations?
Once I retire, it's likely my potential choice of actions will undergo a carefully considered revision, too, since I'll no longer be acting from a position of sworn public trust and the responsibility to take the appropriate action of a full-time peace officer.
Just my thoughts. I’m not trying to teach anyone anything. I’m not anybody’s ‘expert’ anything. Feel free to disregard my personal opinions ...
