The warning shot...

[padowser]

“Shockey, a licensed firearm owner, drew his firearm and ordered the men to stop,” the grand jury presentment said. “When they ignored his command, Shockey fired one shot into the ground, approximately 25 feet from the two men. The perpetrators stopped what they were doing and waited obediently until troopers arrived and took them into custody.”

the whole story is here

I like 'em. You get people's attention, maybe cause them to have a brown out, and perhaps avoid civil litigation.

What do you guys think?

[BimmerJon]

Better in the ground than in the air, but warning shots are not good...

A bounced round can kill an innocent real easy

[steveforopen]

I think they are appropriate in certain circumstances. However, I think those circumstances are few and far between.

Warning shots open you up to huge liability. Prosecutors could argue that you escalated the situation by taking "pot-shots", or that you put others at risk due to discharging a firearm in a suburban environment.

I only fire when I know my life is in danger. Discharging a firearm in the direction of another individual is not a game, and if I need to shoot, you better believe its going to be at someone, center mass and not at their feet or above their heads.

In general, warning shots = bad idea.

[NY Refugee]

I have to agree that discharging a firearm to get someones attention can end up hurting an inicent bystander. Also with some of the over zealous PD and DAs out there I could see someone trying to stop a crime being charge with endangerment.
Racking a shot gun or a slide on an automatic in my opinion would be better.

[Pa. Patriot]

Very, very limited situations where warning shot would be useful/prudent. And rural area to boot.

[38SnubFan]

+1 for bad idea. To me, "warning shot" = ND.

-38SnubFan

[sjohn26]

I like em.................my 1st warning shot is usually C.O.M. , the following warning is a headshot.

I imagine they work quite well...............

[steveforopen]

I like em.................my 1st warning shot is usually C.O.M. , the following warning is a headshot.

I imagine they work quite well...............

I imagine they do as well.

However, if the consequence of your warning shot is arrest, or worse injuring an innocent bystander, was it really worth it?

[knighthawk06699]

I personally believe a warning shot is a bad idea. If you have caused me to have to fire my handgun it for damn sure would not be at the ground. If I have to fire my gun it will be at the assailant, all a warning shot is is a wasted $1.15. lol Seriously though to many things can happen when you fire a warning shot and a whole lot of them are bad.

[SFMarine]

Rural area=ok Urban= Negative.

It's a tough situation to break down. I'd rather fire a warning shot, have the indidual(s)/perpretator(s) surrender and hold them until the authorities arrive. Last resort is to shoot them. I'm sure if they're "running away" they could sue you....who knows. I'm not too up to date on those statutes.

There was an incident in my area where two idiots broke into a bar. The owner just happended to be former NYPD and living upstairs. He heard a break in...called 9-11 and broke out his....not sure what caliber pistol. The two perpretators took off running towards their vehicle. The owner managed to fire a series of shots. Hitting both of them. They got in their vehicle and of course went to the hospital where they were treated and sent to jail. The owner was not charged. Keep in mind the two individuals did not have a guns nor did they threaten the owner in anyway. Yes, they did break in and that's free-game.

Knighthawk- I agree with you there...My Black Talons cost $2.75 a piece.