Warning Shots

[eyegots2no]

I really hate to say this but----


Your whole (I know you are a good guy) approach, desire to help, being a good neighbor, chivalry, etc etc.----could

GET YOU LOCKED UP.

What if you ended up dealing with the dog owner----and then he accused you of assaulting him, or, lies and says you pointed a gun at him?

This could cost you thousands to deal with ---and you could lose your ability to have a chl or even own a gun---not being able to get a job.

Believe me---it happens.

 

[JohnSW]

In Minnesota, felonies include:

"(2) intentionally discharges a firearm under circumstances that endanger the safety of another; or

(3) recklessly discharges a firearm within a municipality."

 

[Rpg]

OP: you made very good decisions.

Good judgment is essential if you carry a firearm.

 

[CH4]

As others have mentioned, warning shots are not just a bad idea, they're illegal in most, if not all jurisdictions. In California it's considered a negligent discharge of a firearm (246.3 PC) and it's a felony.

As discussed in other threads, there is only one reason to pull your smoke wagon and that's to stop the immediate threat of death and or great bodily injury; however, missing your target doesn't count as a warning shot.

 

[Cal44]

I can sort of empathize. Our neighbor's g/f's dog (Shar Pei) charged clear across our property at my wife, stepson, and me while we were walking along the road.

My sister-in-law and her husband have owned several Shar Pei dogs.

When I first met her, she had a female Shar Pei, like most Shar Peis, which was very aggressive.

The dog never bit anyone, but would act threatening and bark her head off at anyone including me.

Then, that dog died and the replaced her with a male Shar Pei.

And what does this have to do with warning shots? Nothing.

That one was friendly, and always came to me, probably because he first met me when he was a pup.

When he grew up, he became a major coward.

I would take him on walks on a leash. Whenever we would meet anyone on the sidewalk the dog would go behind me and hide.

I would tell people that this was a Chinese fighting dog.

 

[Springfeildkid585]

We've discussed them here a time or two.

Some see the need for them. Others don't

I'm one that doesn't care for them much.

But, I considered it today.

Across the street from where I work is a run down piece of property occupied by..... Let's just say "undesirables".

The have a dog. A medium sized dog.

He likes to try and bite people as they walk by on the side walk. He is not leashed and is quite aggressive.

We've been watching him for about a month now. Lunging and trying to bite. This afternoon he went after a young mother. She was pushing a stroller with another child in the other hand. The dog attacked nipping at the mother and youngster. The mother had nothing to fight back with as she tried to protect her children.

I ran out to help. But it was rush hour and trying to cross this four lane street is dangerous. So I stood there yelling at the dog. He never heard me.

So I considered a warning shot straight up in the air to scare him. I quickly thought otherwise because it probably wouldn't have done much good.

After what seemed like several minutes I was able to cross two lanes and wait in the center turn lane. The mother saw me and begged for help. I walked out into traffic with my arms up forcing them to stop.

I crossed the two remaining lanes and ran up behind the dog at which point he turned towards me. I yelled and waived my arms and kicked at him. Then I picked up a tree branch and swung it at him. He quickly ran away.

I really wanted to shoot him. But them again I didn't.

The mother hugged me and thanked me then went on her way.

As I was waiting for traffic to slow so I could cross the cops showed up. We talked and they went to look for the dog. They could not find him and I'm sure the low life owner was hiding the dog.

But that's ok. I called animal control and they will take care of the matter. Which what I should have done weeks ago.

Never fire up! What goes up, must come down. Put one in the dirt if you feel the need, but one in the sky with anything but scatter shot is reckless discharge. Remember, we're the good guys, and we have to account for every bullet.

 

[BE Mike]

First off, good job on helping the lady and children in distress. I think that a warning shot in this situation wouldn't have been the best course and that's why you didn't take it. Generally, I'm not in favor of warning shots, but in rare instances they may prevent escalation or when it is unclear who is the initiator of the wrongdoing. It could help the shooter of the warning shot to take charge of the situation and not have to resort to deadly force. I think if necessary, a warning shot should be made into a backstop of some kind and not into the air. I'd like to reiterate that in general, warning shots should not be fired; only under very rare and specific situations.

 

[CoMF]

Cal44,

I had a one-in-a-million chi that didn't turn into a miniature Cujo and wouldn't display aggression when you did things like pull food away from him. I think socializing him as a pup and the fact his parents weren't inbred (I got him from a reputable breeder) certainly helped.

I'm really glad I didn't shoot that Shar Pei. I would've felt terrible, and I've found that showing aggressive dogs you're not afraid of them deters all but the most determined and violent ones.

 

[federali]

Legal Warning Shot

If need be, fire a warning shot to scare off wild game where it is otherwise legal to discharge firearms. In more urban settings, warning shots should be avoided. The courts have considerable difficulty with any attempts to use deadly force in a non-deadly manner.

I think warning shots serve no purpose and in a popular 5-shot, J frame, there goes 20% of your firepower.

 

[ironhead7544]

You are handicapped. You go out your front door. You see your teenager taking a beat down from a mob. You yell but no effect. You cant run down there and even if you did you could not help due to your condition. You draw your legal pistol and fire one round into your lawn. The mob runs off. Your kid is saved.

How many years should you get in prison for firing that shot?


You can walk, but not to good. You have to use a cane due to injuries from Viet Nam. You walk out of WalMart after dark. The parking lot is well lit. You get charged by a mob, they are yelling and screaming. One is behind you and he hits you so hard you see stars and cant breathe. When the mob is in hand reach of you, you manage to draw your legal .45 auto. They scatter. You wonder what would have happened if they had not stopped. You wonder what would have happened if you did not have your 45. You wonder what would have happened if you had to shoot one of them. They would have run off, leaving you with a wounded or dead unarmed (possibly) "victim". You thought of firing a warning shot in the air but are glad you were not forced to. You call the police right away and report the incident.

 

[Florida J Frame]

Warning shots are always a BAD idea. You either need to stop an action NOW or you don't.

 

[old bear]

The only warning shot I have ever fired or will ever fire was a near miss!!!

 

[Rastoff]

I'm glad this turned out as it did and no one was hurt. Further, I'm glad you were willing to help. Far too many are not.

The "warning" shot would not have helped. The dog is used to a busy street and wouldn't be phased by a shot from 70' away.

Now, once you crossed the street and this happened:

I crossed the two remaining lanes and ran up behind the dog at which point he turned towards me.

I think you should have at the very least had your gun out if not shot the dog. The situation could have gotten ugly really quickly. You knew it was aggressive, it was already lunging at others and now it's coming toward you. Shoot the dog.

I know many have a soft spot for dogs, I do too. However, I have a softer spot for little kids and their mothers. I don't think I would have taken a chance with this one. Of course I wasn't there so, this is only anecdotal.

 

[JohnSW]

I've found that showing aggressive dogs you're not afraid of them deters all but the most determined and violent ones.

My local German Shepherd was doing his routine "I'm on duty" barking, and he threw in a warning grown at me. I gave him a stern "No Growl!", and shook my finger at him. He stopped barking at me, and looked at me like "gosh, sorry".

 

[CoMF]

My local German Shepherd was doing his routine "I'm on duty" barking, and he threw in a warning grown at me. I gave him a stern "No Growl!", and shook my finger at him. He stopped barking at me, and looked at me like "gosh, sorry".

Sounds about right. I imagine the poor guy must've had the saddest look on his face.

The FIL has a GS mix who likes to beg around the dinner table at Thanksgiving. I gave him a stern "NO! Go lay down!" and he sulked away into the living room, but not before turning around and giving me this heart-wrenching "Why you gotta be so mean to me?!" gaze.

 

[one eye joe]

KANEWPADDLE, YA DONE GOOD ! ! ! IT'S NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO FIRE A WARNING SHOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. IF YOU NEED TO PULL A GUN, IT SHOULD BE A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH. IF YOU DO KILL A HUMAN OR AN ANIMAL, IT MUST BE JUSTIFIABLE. I WOULD CALL THE COPS, EVERY TIME YOU SEE THIS DOG UNLEASHED, AND KEEP A LOG---DATE, TIME, OFFICER THAT YOU SPOKE TO. THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE OIL…………...

 

[KJS]

Firing a round into the air most likely would have gotten you into trouble.

My thoughts exactly. The bullet will land somewhere, endangering safety. Either you need to fire your gun in self-defense or you don't need to fire your gun at all. Warning shots will only get you in legal trouble.

 

[CO_Kid]

I also concur on bad move to think about shooting in the air, a 7 year old boy was killed here last New Years by celebratory gun fire.

Police seek person who fired shot that killed boy - Richmond Times-Dispatch: Ongoing-coverage

I have watched those same fireworks from that same place. I also worked the extra duty police patrols there a couple years on July 4th.

When I was growing up in Erie, PA, a girl was shot and suffered permanent brain damage at the city's New Years Eve party from a round coming down into her head.

 

[JJEH]

Obviously the lady was in real trouble. You try to help and non of the motorists felt like slowing down to let you cross the street, since they didn't wanted to stop and help.

Anyways, firing a shot in the air doesn't do anything good. Will only get you into trouble.

A warning shot is basically an attempt to start a negotiation. During that attempt many things can go wrong. So, unless you are living way out in the country, I wouldn't fire a warning shot.

Regarding dog defense, all you want is the throat. BTDT. Think like an animal

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Aside from the inherert risks of firing a gun into the air, standing along side a multi-lane busy highway firing a gun is a good way to startle or panic a driver, cause an accident or get yourself run over. And there may be another good guy with a gun that only sees what he believes to be a crazy man firing a gun on the side of the highway, and does not see the lady/dog problem on the other side of the highway.

Knowing when to leave a gun holstered is every bit as important as knowing when to use it. Lots of things to consider in very brief moments.

Sounds like the situation was handled quite well.