Question For The Police: How Often Does This REALLY Happen

[Smoke]

We are often told that if we ever draw our firearm in self defense we need to be the first to call the police so the other guy won't call them on us and say we were threatening them with a gun.

Now I'm not talking about an altercation between to idiot neighbors I'm talking about a situation where a citizen stopped a criminal attack by drawing a firearm and the criminal ran off and called the police on the citizen.

Have any of you ever actually seen that happen?

 

[Rpg]

As a prosecutor, I saw a few instances where one person claimed to have displayed a firearm (no shooting involved) and there was a dispute as to who was the BG.

Certainly, when the first person to call the cops was the guy with the gun, it tended to support his belief that he was justified in what he did. Tends to support his stated belief regarding justification (no evidence of 'guilty conscience' )

In one case the gun guy's story, taken as he reported, was enough to convict him of felony menacing.

In another, early self-reporting weighed heavily in weighing conflicting ' independent' witness reports.

I recall one instance, involving shots fired ( misses, as it turned out) in which the gun guy did not self report , perhaps imagining that nobody noticed. That went badly for the shooter.

Point is that it can help to be the first reporter if your story makes out a case for legal justification. Not so much if it doesn't.

 

[Absalom]

We are often told that if we ever draw our firearm in self defense we need to be the first to call the police so the other guy won't call them on us and say we were threatening them with a gun.

I'm not being facetious here, and based on Rpg's comments, there seem to be some real yahoos out there, but (always assuming you ARE the good guy and not involved in a dubious activity such as a family dispute) would it seriously occur to a sane person NOT to immediately call police after any such incident, not because I'm worried the bad guy might tattle on me first, but because I JUST HAD TO DRAW MY FREAKING GUN ON SOMEONE.
Just saying....

 

[Smoke]

Certainly, when the first person to call the cops was the guy with the gun, it tended to support his belief that he was justified in what he did. Tends to support his stated belief regarding justification (no evidence of 'guilty conscience' ).

I think that , right there, is what people are trying to communicate when they say you'd better be the first to call.

That paragraph jumped out at me

 

[James&theGiant1911]

It makes me wonder about the situation, because if I draw on someone, due to the situation, then that person is not walking away nor will they be able to tell any cool stories. If you life is truly threatened and it necessitates you drawing your firearm (armed person, threatening your life) then the bullet goes to the head. The dead do not have any cool stories to tell and if you have CCW most component instructors teach you this.

You never pull a firearm without the intention of using deadly force. You just do not do it, if the situation necessities you drawing your weapon then you shot to kill. I do not understand why someone would draw a weapon without life threatening force, such as another firearm or knife. Strong armed or threat of physical force without a weapon is a tough one to defend, I am talking about like force.

 

[okiegtrider]

Certainly, when the first person to call the cops was the guy with the gun, it tended to support his belief that he was justified in what he did. Tends to support his stated belief regarding justification (no evidence of 'guilty conscience' )

would it seriously occur to a sane person NOT to immediately call police after any such incident, not because I'm worried the bad guy might tattle on me first, but because I JUST HAD TO DRAW MY FREAKING GUN ON SOMEONE.
Just saying....

To me, both these are right on target.

Cops, and later on, prosecutors, don't make their evaluations of a situation based on who got to the phone first.

You make a lawful use of force, or justifiably display a weapon, and the cops have to come and find you to hear the story, even if you are right, your story is going to be viewed extra critically.

You have been involved in a potentially lethal encounter. Call the cops.

 

[Smoke]

It makes me wonder about the situation, because if I draw on someone, due to the situation, then that person is not walking away nor will they be able to tell any cool stories. If you life is truly threatened and it necessitates you drawing your firearm (armed person, threatening your life) then the bullet goes to the head. The dead do not have any cool stories to tell and if you have CCW most component instructors teach you this.

You never pull a firearm without the intention of using deadly force. You just do not do it, if the situation necessities you drawing your weapon then you shot to kill. I do not understand why someone would draw a weapon without life threatening force, such as another firearm or knife. Strong armed or threat of physical force without a weapon is a tough one to defend, I am talking about like force.

You can say that all you like but statistically firearms are drawn with no shots fired more often than they are drawn with shots fired.

I've told this story before, guy tried to mug me outside of my apartment. He took off as soon as he saw my gun come out of my pocket, I never even got a chance to bring it to bear.

I drew my firearm with the full intent of using deadly force but the situation changed such that deadly force wasn't necessary. ETA Under Colorado Law as soon as I pulled that gun out I had already used deadly force.

If my gun comes out of the holster my intent is to fire as soon as my sights are on the target. If something happens between the draw and the trigger squeeze the changes things then I stop.

I don't "shoot to kill" (that's Hollywood BS anyway) my sole intent in introducing a firearm into any situation is to stop the threat. Where ever I am in the process when the threat stops being a threat is where I stop applying deadly force.

If all that's required is for me to put up my off hand and say "Stop! I'm armed don't come any closer." Then that's where I stop. If I have to go beyond that I do but only to the point that the threat stops being a threat

 

[GatorFarmer]

Some folks never lived in the ghetto... There, you avoid dealing with the police if possible. They are not seen as your friend. The internet is too full of snitches and busy bodies for it to be discussed much. Suffice to say that many people who have...been around.... have drawn and even used firearms without the police being summoned. This is true in some rural areas too...the swamp...the desert...Appalachia...and has likely always been the way it is here in the Cowboy state.

In the past, and now, there are places where being seen talking to the police for any reason can be bad for your health, business, etc.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Hide the body-then call the popo. Or better yet-call your lawyer-he has mouths to feed too.

 

[Arik]

You can say that all you like but statistically firearms are drawn with no shots fired more often than they are drawn with shots fired.

I've told this story before, guy tried to mug me outside of my apartment. He took off as soon as he saw my gun come out of my pocket, I never even got a chance to bring it to bear.

I drew my firearm with the full intent of using deadly force but the situation changed such that deadly force wasn't necessary. ETA Under Colorado Law as soon as I pulled that gun out I had already used deadly force.

If my gun comes out of the holster my intent is to fire as soon as my sights are on the target. If something happens between the draw and the trigger squeeze the changes things then I stop.

I don't "shoot to kill" (that's Hollywood BS anyway) my sole intent in introducing a firearm into any situation is to stop the threat. Where ever I am in the process when the threat stops being a threat is where I stop applying deadly force.

If all that's required is for me to put up my off hand and say "Stop! I'm armed don't come any closer." Then that's where I stop. If I have to go beyond that I do but only to the point that the threat stops being a threat

I think you guys are talking about two different things. He's saying don't draw with intentions to scare. In your case the guy got scared and ran off before there was a chance for you to even bring the gun up.

 

[PA Reb]

I say dead bad guys can't call first!

 

[trapper704]

Iv'e packed a concealed revolver for over 40 yr's it's only been pulled out 1 time, saved my life. I have vowed that it if I ever need to again I'm pulling the trigger.

 

[James&theGiant1911]

I live in a duty to retreat state, so I am speaking from that perspective. However, they are trying to appeal that as I type this.