self preservation
Regular Member
I have been reading about this topic in other forums but wanted to get some thoughts on the subject that are specific to KY. I have read and been told both ways. If you needed to pull your gun for self defense (or protection of another), would it be considered assault if you only held them at gun point but did not fire? The debate is that pulling the trigger is self defense but holding them at gun point could be considered assault. I would think that holding them at gun point would be justified (if the situation would have also allowed the use of deadly force) but like the saying goes, "common sense ain't that common".
Below is a link to KRS that cover what assault is, but I can't find any exemptions listed in these statutes.
Note: I'm hard pressed to think of very many situations that it would be wise to only hold them at gun point. Especially if they had a firearm as well. But life will throw you those curve balls from time to time. I was always taught not to point a gun at anything that I didn't want to shoot, but that rare case could pop up on me one day.
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/krs/508-00/CHAPTER.HTM
Below is a link to KRS that cover what assault is, but I can't find any exemptions listed in these statutes.
Note: I'm hard pressed to think of very many situations that it would be wise to only hold them at gun point. Especially if they had a firearm as well. But life will throw you those curve balls from time to time. I was always taught not to point a gun at anything that I didn't want to shoot, but that rare case could pop up on me one day.
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/krs/508-00/CHAPTER.HTM