Warning Shots..Good or Bad idea?

I think warning shots are a very bad idea in a SD situation. That might be the only shot you get a chance to fire before the BG kills you.

The one story of a warning shot that did like was: A farmer was getting tired of having the local teenagers break into his tractor shed and steal his gas. One night he heard a noise and looked out the window to see the light, a single hanging bare bulb, on in the shed. He could see people moving about inside. He quietly opened his bedroom window, grabbed his .22 rifled, and shot out the light bulb. He got a couple of free gas cans that were left behind and his gas stopped disappearing.
 
I'm a little late to the show here but I'll weigh in anyways. Considering that you are morally responsible for every bullet that is discharged from your firearm it is a very bad idea to fire a warning shot. Many times you will not know what is behind your threat, like innocent people, and by firing you then become the aggressor. If the threat does not have a weapon pulled yet, you firing could give him legal cause to "defend himself" with lethal force. If you pull the trigger of your CCW it should be to eliminate a threat that has given you no other option.
 
Funny issue this warning shot. And where are we suppose to fire our guns during warning shot? This is just the same as saying HI BAD GUY, HERE I AM A CAPT OF THE PHIL MARINES AND I AM ARMED AND I AM WARNING YOU! Remember, that the guy you are supposed to warn is armed as well, I bet before you have time to level your weapon at him he is pumping you full of tiny itsy bitty holes from his 7.62 rifle yes? Well, if its an issue of my men's welfare, myself or my friend's we can forget all about this warning shot issue. I dont mean to be rude or a fatalist but, well, that is the real scenario here in Mindanao.
 
I was told by a cop buddy of mine that I should always fire a warning shot. . . but that hole in the ceiling should be the last one I shoot.
 
There are some well meaning, but VERY misguided comments in this thread.

In case some of you might have missed, NukeCop is a serving member of the Armed Forces. In this case, I believe he (or she) is asking the question in a rhetorical sense, and without the intent to seek guidance in the commission of an act which is unlawful under the present circumstances.

You see, in addition to the laws of the host nation, NukeCop is also under the provisions and jurisdiction of the Uniform Code of Military Justice--as long as he (or she) carries the identification card of a servicemember.

First, the three General Orders under which servicemembers perform duties as Sentinels of the Guard are specific:

1. I will guard everything within the limits of my post, and quit my post only when properly relieved.

2. I will obey my special orders, and perform all my duties in a military manner.

3. I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions to the Commander of the Relief.

Different branches have different wording and length, but the intent is still the same. Thus, if the special orders for NukeCop's post call for warning shots, and then shots directed at the pelvic area, he (or she) had damned well better do EXACTLY that--and NOTHING ELSE.

Should he (or she) make the decision to step outside the boundaries of the special orders, this is what they might face:

...(1) In that you did, while assigned as a Sentinel of the Guard at Post XXX, failed to follow your Special Orders, of which you had prior knowledge, to wit: fire warning shots to discourage a breach of your post. This is in violation of Article 92(2), UCMJ.
...(2) In that you did, while assigned as a Sentinel of the Guard at Post XXX, failed to follow your Special Orders, of which you had prior knowledge, to wit: to fire aimed shots at the lower body/pelvic area to stop or disable an intruder. This is in violation of Article 92(2), UCMJ.

...(3) In that you did, while assigned as a Sentinel of the Guard at Post XXX, did commit the act of Murder, by intentionally discharging your assigned weapon at the chest area of XXXXX, thus causing death as a direct result of your actions. This is in violation of Article 118, UCMJ.

____________

If they find in Courts-Martial that NukeCop intended to kill the intruder, guess what the penalty is? It involves being the target at a high-power match.
 
very good idea (with big IFs)

...if there is a secure backstop. I met five guys who owe their lifes to a decent warning shot. And I know a guy who could avoid killing these five because he placed a warning shot into a secure backstop.

If the BGs are not drugged, the "sobering" effect of a warning shot whith a loud fast supersonic caliber (e.g. 9x19, .357 etc) is amazing. Even out in a free area the unexpected blast of such a gun totally resets your perception of the situation.

So, IF and ONLY IF
- there is enough time (i.e. distance between BG and you), and
- there is a secure backstop,
I'd prefer a warning shot over every other nonlethal first action such as pepper etc.
 
Good idea

1.) Never go clear your house.
2.) Protect your loved ones but retreat and call 911.
3.) When you move in your house, you give all advantage away.
4.) A friend did exactly that once. Heard burglers at night. Opended bedroom window (2nd floor) and shot into his yard with a 12ga. BGs ran for their lives. :eek:
 
As a retired Police Officer, Rangemaster and Military Policeman, Squad leader and Senior M.P.I. all warning shots do is decrease your firepower by one round, give the perp the chance to claim he fired back in self defense and increase the chances that YOU wil cause collerateral damage to another
 
armsmaster270

+100, on your post. There are rules of engagment that require warnings, those few instances aside, your post cut the X ring.:)

Nice to have somone with your experience with us.

Good Luck & Stay Safe
 
Warning Shots

Verbal warning then shoot! Just make sure they are facing you. But if they decided to leave on there own you can not shoot them in the back.
 
As a citizen, I do not believe in a warning shot. I will fire a weapon as a last resort, period. A warning shot is hardly a "last resort".
 
I think in some situations, such as a woods area, a warning shot is a very good deterent. My "procedure" if in an open area if I feel a threat from someone while I mind my own business:

If I have the time:

1) Draw, present, but do not point the gun
2) If he continues to approach, verbal to back off, point gun. If they do not back off decide if a warning shot to left or right is acceptable for area. No weapon present from them makes this more likely.
3) If they continue to come with motive and threat to my life or obvious weapon pressent, then they meet a .40 S&W.
 
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