Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: Customer shoots two armed robbers at Internet cafe. [View all]sarisataka
(18,547 posts)Intervening as a third party is discouraged in in CCW classes. It is only in extreme situations that you should do so and is not recommended.
Now say you do intervene, as in this case. The armed citizen must make a split second decision, shoot or demand surrender. The citizen has no way of knowing if the gun is real, fake, broken or anything else, so the assumption must be that it is loaded.
Option A- demand surrender
Pro- no body gets shot if the criminal gives up
Con- criminal may shoot citizen
-criminal may shoot clerk
-criminal may take clerk hostage, seriously complicating the situation
-second criminal may attack citizen before any action is taken
Option B- shoot without warning
Pro- element of surprise
-first hit often will end a fight
-opportunity for well aimed shot
Con- criminal may not be out of fight and shoot bystander
-a miss will give initiative back to the criminal
-possibility a miss or penetrating hit will strike bystander
-if police arrive on scene citizen may be mistaken for criminal
-legal issues of stemming from shooting
notice in both cases there are more cons than pros. A third option is do nothing and be a good witness. May be best choice in some situations, however if the situation turns bad there may be many mental issues for 'not doing something sooner'