I'm a pretty good shot...and go to a range now and then to practice.
That said, I don't own a gun...but in the situation you describe..
I'd aim and fire.

Wow. I don't know if I could ever shoot someone in a situation like that, where I don't really know what's going on.

Now if it was someone coming in my house trying to cause me and my family harm, that's something different. But even then, I would take shooting someone so seriously that I'm not sure I could pull the trigger.

In the same vein, I don't think I could ever be on jury that could possibly sentence someone to death.

I've always been told that you never point a gun unless you're going to use it. You don't threaten with it. Carrying a gun gives too many people a sense of false bravado.
To answer your question... yes, I think I would shoot under those circumstances.
However, when to shoot and when not to is a very hard question.

I really think what I'd probably do is (if I carried a gun) hand it to a guy standing next to me and have him do it...I just really don't know...but I sure hope I never have to find out.

I'd be afraid to own a gun! I think in a fit of rage (at anyone, including loved ones), it would be too easy to use it, and the consequences are definitely not worth it! Just my humble opinion.

I have 4 guns and I wouldn't hesitate to use them if someone invaded my home.

I would absolutely not aim to "kill" anyone, but I'd put a big dent in them.

Gayle

Pattico...I shudder at the thought of someone carrying a gun who doesn't know to properly use it...it's like having someone who doesn't know how to drive speeding down the expressway.
As to handing a loaded gun over to the nearest man ... what would make you think that he would know any more about using a gun than you?

Not that he would know more about it...but have more guts to use it on a person....

Judge not least ye be judged.

patti

If I saw a person in a mall or a grocery store or wherever aiming and shooting at people and I had my gun with me, I would duck behind something and aim and shoot at him until either he was dead or critically wounded, if at all possible. I would not be able to live with myself if I allowed more innocent people to die or be wounded if I thought I would be able to prevent it. Same goes if someone breaks into my house, my life and my family's lives are worth more to me than his is.

I have a gun, and I'm a pretty darn good shot. But I choose, so far, not to have a permit to carry it in public. I could definitely, without hesitation, shoot someone who was breaking into my home and causing me to be in fear of my safety. I'm not as confident about my ability to judge a situation in a public setting.

DH, on the other hand, was (he thinks) the first person in our county to receive his concealed carry (CC) permit. He's the most level-headed person I know, and would be able to quickly assess a situation to determine who needs saving and who needs shooting. He's also extremely accurate, and would be able to shoot to stop rather than shoot to kill.

So I'd hope he was with me.

If I decide to get my own CC permit, I'll be required to go through the state-mandated training class to prove I know the mechanics of using it. I personally believe if you carry it, you'd best be willing/able to use it appropriately, which is why I don't have a permit yet. Because otherwise, there's a good chance you'll just piss off the criminal while you stand there shaking.

And I'm sorry, pattico, but I totally disagree with the idea of handing a loaded gun to a stranger and expecting him to have a better ability to use it. If he wanted to have that kind of responsibility, he'd already be carrying. If he doesn't know how to use it and being handed a gun pressures him to do SOMETHING, he could end up killing an innocent person with a wild shot.

Dissagree all you want...

I'm just saying I don't know what I'd do...probably why I'm not carrying one.

And if you read all I said you know it is all just guessing...

Once again...I don't know what I'd do in a situation like that and I hope to never find out.

I only ask what you would do...if any of you know for sure...

And suddenly it always turns to telling people how wrong "they" are for what they "think" they "might" do.

I'm being honest...I'm just guessing.

patti

Whatever you do, doesn't matter if you don't shoot to stop the person permanently.
They can always shoot back, even if wounded. There is no reason to shoot, unless you do it right.

Moni

One of the golden rules...if not THE golden rule of concealed weapon permit is this: mean it when you shoot. A gun cannot protect you or others. YOU protect yourself and others with the gun.

I could do this.
But not everyone is me.

Introspective is good before making the decision to carry a weapon Patti and if you are not certain of what you would/could do with a gun you should not carry one. Why? Because a bad guy could take it away from you and harm you or others with it.

I admire how forthright you are about this.
I hope you never have to find out either what you would do.

Lori

In that situation,I would shoot without hesitation and not lose a minute of sleep over it.

There would be some innocent people still alive if someone had.

"I would absolutely not aim to "kill" anyone, but I'd put a big dent in them"

With all due respect, like others have noted if you are not prepared to shoot to kill then your home would be safer without guns at all.

Shooting to disable only works in the movies.

I assume that the weapon under discussion is a handgun.

Though not fully knowledgeable about the situation, I have been told that handguns are notoriously inaccurate, that a person needs to be well trained in order to shoot them accurately.

Inaccuracy might well mean that you might be the one who shot innocent bystanders.

And if you had to admit that you were not well trained ... that would leave you with a pretty thin leg on which to stand, when the family lawyer of an injured party got busy.

When bullets begin to fly toward a shooter, their source instantly becomes a high priority issue for that shooter.

So I'd suggest that you have good cover/present as small a target as possible. Many such shooters are proficient.

I lived for a while where there'd been a war not long before, and dislike situations where people take advantage of others, so I'd probably shoot, given an opportunity.

But I haven't owned a gun (a long gun, .22 rifle) in nearly 60 years, so the possibility of my having one is rather remote: there's no way that I'd own a handgun. Certainly so in my country, as for more than 40 years, owners of handguns (required to be heavily permitted) have had to get a permit to carry them from home to a shooting range.

ole joyful

sadly there is always a bad person out there that has a gun bigger or more deadly than any one here could possibly have legally. even in your own home you'd better be darn careful where you shoot and who...you might end up in jail along with, or as i heard once, being sued by the bad guy!!

my coz's dd came very close to shopping that day but turned away and drove home just in time.

Someone should ask this question of the man who shot and killed his wife in their kitchen last week, thinking it was the intruder they thought they heard, not knowing she had followed him downstairs.

Years ago, there was some guy trying to get into houses and seemed to know when the women were home alone. One evening, my DH was bowling, and I had just gotten the kids to sleep. The doors were locked, but I heard the storm door open and the door knob was turned. Then I heard someone walking around to the back, (we had a gravel driveway) and same thing at the back door. Soon after, DBIL phoned and I told him about it. The next day, he brought me a hand gun and told me it was for my protection. I told him I couldn't kill someone but he told me I didn'thave to kill him, just shoot him in the kneecap!!! LOL I'm sure I wouldn't be able to hit the broad side of a barn, but would have to tell an intruder to hold still and put the gun right up to his knee, to be able to hit it. As to what I would do in a shooting incident at a public place, I've thought about it condidering the recent events. Obviously, I wouldn't be armed, so guess I would try to get someplace to hide, if possible. Dottie

Dottie, your brother in law gave you bad advice... if the intruder had a gun. He would be able to still shoot and kill you.

Really folks, just hurting an intruder is not wise.

Moni

Sign my name to Flamey's post. I would not hesitate to shoot to kill if I was in a situation where a lunatic is mowing down innocent people. McCloud and I both are planning on getting our concealed weapon license soon.

Read Flamingo's post and put Ya Ya by it, wouldya!?

I've always believed that I could and would shoot to kill an intruder who threatened us. If I were armed and in a situation like at the shopping mall, I would also be able to do it if I had a clear shot at the shooter.

I'll never forget the story of a woman being robbed at gunpoint at a fast food drive thru. She left him laying there......dead. Good girl. I'd do the same.

If someone were shooting in a mall, I would not shoot unless I am in danger. If I am behind him, the legal thing for me to do is run away because I'm not a police officer and would much rather not go to jail acting like one. A home intruder, on the other hand, would regret my house was ever built.

In answer to your question....I would shoot anyone at any time that appeared to be a threat to me or my loved ones at any given time,without a second thought...no matter where or when it is/was.
If the SOB died, oh well..they should have thought of that when they brought me and my life into the picture

My father had a job in a very rough part of the city. He got a pistol license and carried a gun back and forth to work. He was terrified that someone would break into our house and steal his gun, and then use it to commit other crimes. When he was dying, he told my brother to dispose of his gun. I don't think he could have ever fired that gun at another human. He let me fire his gun at a pistol range once. It kicked back at me. I really don't like guns.

absolutely no doubt i would shoot first! i believe i have more of a right to live then someone stupid enough to threaten me especially a criminal. i'd also make sure there is no one left alive to come back and sue or waste tax dollars in prison ;-) i grew up and have lived in rough areas of chicago it would not bother me one bit to have to shoot someone to save myself, friends or family ~ liz

If I had a clear shot, I would definitely shoot him. I can't see not doing it, if I had a gun, and he was killing people.

If anyone comes thru my door, they had better be prepared to eat lead. I live out in the boonies by myself 90% of the time, and I would definitely shoot someone.

I don't particularly like guns. To me, they are tools. If you need one, nothing else will take the place. I'd rather have a gun than have to count on hitting someone over the head with a cast iron skillet.

Oh, yes, I'd shot to kill in that situation or if someone came into my house. I don't carry a gun but I have one and know how to use it.

Linda

The linked article is, unfortunately, very timely and appropriate to this discussion.

Here is a link that might be useful: 1 dead, 2 injured in shooting in market

Patti, did you see there was a prison break in Red Oak, Iowa? Around 1:00 AM. Girlfriend broke her guy out, using a sawed off shotgun. They caught them in Omaha about 1/2 hr ago.
Leslie

I grew up hunting with my dad. He taught me about guns and how to shoot when I was very young so I know how to use them and would not hesitate. I am pretty accurate with either a pistol or a rifle.
Guns don't scare me, but people who carry them and don't know how to use them do!

Our 15 year old grandson had a frightening experience at a Burger King near him. He and some friends were going in to get a hamburger when a man started a fight near them. One finally told the other man he had something in the car for him. He took a gun out of the car, brushed past our grandson and said something to him. He went inside the restaurant and got a girl, put her in the car, hit another car getting away. The girl managed to jump out of the car. I don't know whether the guy was caught. I thought later he could have as easily started shooting every one in sight or could have grabbed our grandson or one of his friends. These things are not supposed to happen so close to home.

Just a note to those that will protect their home with a gun. You SHOULD be able to do so I firmly believe that!
This story isn't about a home owner tho so I am not sure if thats why it ended the way it did.
My DS and a friend were out and about uptown. Drinking. They ran into some other guys with a chip on their shoulder. There were words exchanged. Not a fight. No one was told to leave the bar nor were the police called to settle it, DS thought it was a joking around thing more than actual arguement. DS went back to his apartment at the time where he lived with my nephew, his cousin. He'd fallen asleep on the couch or passed out I am really not sure. But can only imagine. The friend then returned to the apt. My nephew had never left the apt the entire evening but watched tv with a girl. After the bars closed something like 8 guys (the ones that DS and friend had words with plus a few more) came up to the apt. Kicked the door in, ran in and 1 or 2 of them threw DS to the floor, proceeded to kick him everywhere before he was fully awake. His cousin got up to try and and pull them off DS, while the girl ran into the kitchen to hide, two more guys grabbed my nephew and another started punching him, yet another had a baseball bat and when my nephew got away from the two holding his arms, then hit him in the head with the baseball bat! My nephew managed to get away and ran barefoot thru the snow for 5 blocks to his parents house and called 911. the friend grabbed nephews deer rifle, which he did not know if it were loaded or not. It was. He did not point it at anyone, held it in the air and said everyone get out, now! Some ran out but the police were there at that point. Guess what?? Because he held the gun he got into trouble! Big time. What he was charged with right now I cannot remember, terrorizing or something. The kids lied about having a baseball bat, the police did find it and my nephew had a bone fractured in the upper part of his nose/forehead from it.
The guys that broke the door and ran in got off with disorderly conduct!! My son was charged with disorderly conduct in a bar! The nephew that hadn't even left the apt all night was charged with disorderly conduct too!!! NEver heard of that law disorderly conduct in a bar before. The 8 guys that charged in didn't pay for any medical bills for either of the 2 boys, nephews were bigger than DS's. Nor did they have to pay for damages done like the entertainment center and tv that were thrown over. They according to the police were going to be charged with breaking and entering, assult on DS, assult with a deadly weapon because of them using the baseball bat on my nephew, ummmm I dunno what all. This was over 5 years ago now. The states attorney is a real doofus. He charged them all with disorderly conduct and didn't ask for any medical bills or damages and then went after DS's friend for picking up the gun. He did it and admitted to it and I am trying to think whatever they charged him with was something like $750/fine. He was found guilty because he didn't try and lie his way out of having the gun.

So beware if you ever pick up a gun and think the law is behind you. It may not be! If it was done by either of the apt renters, my son or nehpew I am not sure it would have been done any differently.
Like I said our states attny is a doofus and never does what the police reccommend.

As a rather long winded answer to Patticos question, I don't shoot guns and therefore couldn't do it. I am not sure if my husband could either....I just don't know and hope I never have to find out.