Would you report using your gun.....?

[Blackcloud6]

I once read on one of these boards an incident where a guy got mugged in a parking lot of a store. The bad guy pushed him down and threatened to hit him with a pipe or something. The good guy pulled his pistol and the bad guy dropped the pipe and ran.

The good guy dusted himself off and went to the police station. Guess who was there filling out an assault report? Yep, the bad guy!

 

[Stay Low]

Although my first reaction is to say report it, I can't really think of a good reason. Has a crime been committed? The prospect of the BG runnig and telling the cops doesn't seem likely. I say don't report it.

 

[SAG0282]

Yes.

While not perfect nor something to look forward to, I'm the good guy and I want the cops to hear MY side first. Especially being 22....I don't think the cops would have too much problem believing a 22 kid in a lowered car with loud exhaust misbehaved with the gun. This would be mitigated by reporting it first and doing the stand-up, legal thing.

 

[Ankeny]

Wow, I am really suprised by the number of folks who say walk away. Not reporting could (in WY would) be viewed as an attempt to hide something. If the incident was reported by a witness, the cops would take you into custody as a felon. I don't need my face shoved into the pavement. Before you say no law was violated, knowingly pointing a loaded gun at another person is "reckless endangering" in my state...a felony.

 

[444]

"If the incident was reported by a witness, the cops would take you into custody as a felon."

They WOULD, if they knew who you were or they caught you.

In reality, this would happen, I would immediately leave the area. It would be very bad luck if "they" actually caught me. Of course in today's world, there are video cameras everywhere. In Las Vegas, the bathroom stall is about the only thing not on tape. But how many tapes get a clear picture of the people involved, even when they are standing right in front of the camera ? So, you are leaving the scene and just happen to choose a route that is also being used for the police response and they nab you. You tell them that you were trying to get away from the guy (it is only natural that you run the opposite way) before you called the police to make a report.
I see some morality creeping into the discussion.
Am I running from the police ? Yes. Does this make me a bad guy ? It does from a legal standpoint, but certainly not from a moral standpoint. I used a gun to defend my life. The only thing I did wrong was that I didn't tell anybody about or fill out any reports. I don't see this as being morally wrong.
If possible, think about this: where did you first get the idea that you had to call the police ? Where did that idea come from ? Reporting to the government seems to be the first thing people think of.

 

[Edward429451]

WADR,

Wow, I am really suprised by the number of folks who say walk away

Why? It's common knowledge that alot of good citizens get arrested and charged when trying to do the right thing.

Not reporting could (in WY would) be viewed as an attempt to hide something.

That's what they say but I think it's just propaganda and always skirts the facts. Not that they wouldn't do it, just that there can be an expectation of privacy without guilt.

If the incident was reported by a witness, the cops would take you into custody as a felon.

What do you think they're going to do if you walk in the copshop and tell em you drew down on a BG to get him to back off, give you a commendation? You stand a better chance of preserving your freedom and record if you don't report it.

knowingly pointing a loaded gun at another person is "reckless endangering" in my state...a felony.

Being between a rock and a hard place makes you prioritize and that makes this problem #2. If the BG hadn't forced me to draw to defend potential threat, a gun wouldn't have been pointed at him. The state may call it reckless endangerment...I call it self defense. Felonies are more preferable than dead anyway.

It sure would be nice if citizens had the kind of trustful relationship with the establisment/LEO's that we could feel confident to report incidents to the cops without fear of injust reprisal. But it's getting to be common knowledge that you'll likely still be screwed for trying to do the right thing. Cause & effect adaptation for survival in it's simplest form, ie., "RUN!!"

 

[NoScreenName]

Not to be too arguementative but I fail to understand how some of you guys are thinking that you can make a 100% clean "getaway" if you are in a car...
If you are on foot then maybe...

All it takes is a nosy neighboor type and a plate # and you might not even make it home before seeing cherries...



I dunno though, that's just me... Anyways, to the original question...

If the situation forces me to draw and he runs...once there is no immediate physical threat, I'm hightailing it back to my car and getting the hell outta there...perhaps even to a well lighted, public place to calm down for a minute or 2...

I think, dependingon the circumstances, I personally would at least call 911, relay what happened, mention that the danger has passed so you don't really need an officer to respond and finally ask the dispatcher if it's worth even making a report...

(however unlikely) If the answer is no...Then listen and don't bother and at least you have some sort of record of what happened and which side of it you were on...

and (more likely) if the answer is yes, then filing a report is 100% voluntary and should you choose not to go in and file a report, you still have that record of what happened should it come up again...

Although probably not the most realistic scenario of what actually would happen after making that call... anything more is on the dispatch/officers IMO... you stated it was not an emergency despite calling an emergency number and simply wanted them to know in case a 2nd party madde a call...If they choose to respond, then that is their business I suppose... All you can do is write the report and give your description at that point... I can't really see the police trying to charge you with anything...Just know the letter of the law (and conduct yourself in accordance) and be mindful of your statement...

The long and short of it is this... do whatever you feel is best and abide by the consequences of that decision...

or just ask a local city cop what their take on it is..

 

[niemand]

Must with "Non-Reporting" concur. Liked Poster remark RE; "Permission-Slip". (Absent in "Second Amendment" anything of; "Only those approved may have")

Immigrated for "Space/Liberty". Oddly, One would think "Firearms Owners" would amongst "Less dogmatic System-Worshippers" be.

"Legalities" have naught with "Moralities" (Despite some confusion of terms). to do.

And "Police/Officials" NOT "Your Friends". (Remember please, Supreme-Court decision(s) "Police having no obligation to protect." What then are "They" for? (Saving time, answer; "Maintain Staus-Quo for those Ruling others.")

 

[gau5]

For those saying report it, if you were from new jersey, you would not say that.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

....say you're carrying legal and some scum tries to rob/kill/rape you.....you pull your gun..he runs..do you report it???Why or why not???

I can't really think of a good reason. Has a crime been committed?

Um, yes. Assault Attempted robbery, attempted rape, attempted murder. All crimes.

If you are too damn selfish to even give the cops a chance to try and catch the scumbag, you aren't responsible enough to be carrying.

 

[Cruiseron]

No

Pulling a concealed handgun and not using it could be called Brandishing! Or even escalating a situation! Both could cause loss of your permit.

 

[R.H. Lee]

Um, yes. Assault Attempted robbery, attempted rape, attempted murder. All crimes.

Is a citizen under a legal obligation, or does a citizen have a "duty" to report crime? Is not reporting crime a violation of law?

 

[WT]

I don't believe that a citizen has to report ALL crimes.

Legally I believe a citizen has to report child and senior abuse. Doctors have to report gunshot and major knife wounds. Auto mechanics have to report repair work involving gunshots.

Other than that, I can't think of any.

 

[roo_ster]

Depends on where I am.

The local peace officers I have met are a pretty decent types and generally pro-RKBA. I would report.

Plop me down in some anti-RKBA/CCW state and I'll just go on my way, clear out of the area, and go on with my life.

 

[BigG]

Don't ask - don't tell. /billy clinton

 

[.45&TKD]

Nope. Wouldn't report it.

WT- What state are you and your LEO sources in?

Just curious.

 

[ted murphy]

he who calls the cops firsts, wins.

Big difference between being a complanant or a respondent.

It pays to call the cops, but it depends on the situation.


I've done it both ways.

Ted

 

[Ankeny]

Edward429451:

It sure would be nice if citizens had the kind of trustful relationship with the establisment/LEO's that we could feel confident to report incidents to the cops without fear of injust reprisal.

Amen. I am thankfull I have that relationship. FWIW, I have received two commendations from the Fremont County Sheriff's Office for my actions during life saving activities. They think I am a stand up guy.

I shared the substance of this thread with one of our prosecuting attorneys and received this reply:

"A crime was committed and should be reported. Although there is no statutory obligation to report the crime, I believe that brandishing the pistol w/o a report could well be grounds for revoking the CCW." This of course assumes you had legal justification for drawing the weapon in the first place.

 

[niemand]

hmmmm, Really now. "Grounds to Revoke" "Privilege". What then One wonders in such places as "Vermont" or (As I am Understanding) "Alaska" occurs?

Is "Right" not "Privilege".

"Handling an incident" is no more (In reality) a "Report" requiring than dispatching of Rabid Animal.

Is "Public Service" for which One should not "Make Much Of".

This by "Bill O'Conner" by way of "Jeff Cooper" illustrates;

I have been approached to speak on the subject of the phrasing of a proper law regarding the carrying of sidearms. Family member Bill O'Connor of Maryland suggests,
"Carry what you want, how you want, where you want, and we won't bother you unless you screw up."
This is approximately the way the rules read in Vermont.

 

[carpettbaggerr]

if I was the potential victim of a street crime (that is how I interpreted the question) I wouldn't know him and he wouldn't know me. The odds greatly favor no one on the street knowing either of us. By the time he reported me, I would be long gone, so go ahead and report me.

"Yeah, some guy pulled a gun on me in the Walmart parking lot. I ran away, and he got in a red Chevy and chased me. The first 3 letters of the plate were XYZ. He's crazy, and he's carrying a stainless Colt 1911 on his right hip so be careful."

What do you think will happen when the cops pull you over and find a stainless 1911 on your right hip? Hope it's legal.

And which states don't need a "permission slip" to carry concealed? Vermont and Alaska are the only ones I know of. That's only 4% of the US. So in 96% of the states you need a permit, if carrying concealed is allowed at all. Don't like the situation, but until we get it changed, we have to live with it. Or violate the law and pay the penalty if caught.

 

[FPrice]

BigG...

"Don't ask - don't tell. /billy clinton"

Good philosophy.

IF you want to be thought of in the same category as that...man.

 

[biere]

After reading some of USMCsilver's post about his ccw renewal I would wonder about having reports made just to make reports.

I also sort of consider this thread to be similar to the threads about getting ccw permits to carry or to just carry without asking permission to do so. In those threads I agree with reasons on both sides but it all comes down to each person and their choices in life.

I know the folks who will come if I have a problem on my land, therefore I have zero problem calling if there is a problem on my land.

Since my car has a license and registration in my name and any car I borrow or rent will come back to a friend or family member or me, I will go call or find the police if something occurs in or near the car.

Stick me in an alley in a town known for crooked this or that, illinios bothers me these days, and I will decided myself. And yeah, in illinios I don't think I could carry anyway since the stories I hear first hand are for chicago.

I will decide for myself. I can not decide for others, but I will admit that the answer should at least be "it depends" since real life is not like the movies.

 

[Rebeldon]

I've had to pull mine twice. Never had to shoot it though.

The first time was in Alabama. Some drunk fellers came at me and one of them had a beer bottle raised as if to club me with it. They weren't so drunk to hit me with it after seeing my pistol. They left quickly. I didn't report it.

The second time, I apprehended a car jacker. I'm a witness in that case. The trial is constantly being delayed because the defendant is sick. The cops who arrested him said he had AIDS. He was wearing a band on his wrist that apparently said so.

 

[schromf]

MY take is report it always:

But I have a confusion factor involved, if I decide to draw a weapon my decision has already been reached to fire, which will take about 1/2-1 second to execute. At any distance I felt threatened the BG's odds of not being hit seriously are about 0%. Beyond that distance I would not have been seriously threatened and would not have drawn my weapon.

I do not ever believe in brandishing weapons, and I prefer concealment until I feel ( or my family) threatened enough that it is neccessary to use my weapon. There is no in between in my mind.

SO my answer is always yes, bodies are hard to explain away.

 

[Denko]

"A crime was committed and should be reported. Although there is no statutory obligation to report the crime, I believe that brandishing the pistol w/o a report could well be grounds for revoking the CCW." This of course assumes you had legal justification
If you report it someone will be deciding if you are the one who committed the crime.They didn't catch the other guy but they do have you.You have in fact admitted "brandishing" the weapon.If you don't report it and the other party does,your in trouble.It seems we are screwed either way.