sv_libertarian wrote:
JL, I have to agree with everything you said except one thing. When you defend multipile officers shooting a single "shootable" individual. Your argument is very similiar to the one the SDPD used in justifying such a shoot, although they had some more technical sounding terms in there. Several officers firing one or two shots make sense. But there has been at least one if not more cases of several officers EMPTYING THEIR MAGS. That is going way too far if you ask me, and becomes excessive force. Why keep shooting if the guy is down? If I did that I would be in jail so fast it wouldn't be funny. Why is it then okay if several cops make multiple shots or empty their mags?
The dynamics of a mutiple person vs. single person shooting are quite different. When a single shooter is firing he his only concerned withHIS bullets, and incompasitating the bg. The same is true when you have multiple shooters, as each person is not waiting for the other to "finish the job". Each person (in this case Officer) is working independently, and multiple rounds are fired in just a short moment. Each Officer is focused on the bg, and isn't paying much attention to who else is shooting at the same time. It is an extremelystressful moment, and your survival instinct kicks in.
I'm sure you're right.
I am a firm believer in the old adage; anything worth shooting once, is worth shooting multiple times. Especially where pistols are concerned. I have seen several 1 shot stops (resulting in death)with a .223, but that is usually not the case with a handgun.
I'm unsure, but in this state, I imagine I could get away with a "double tap" but would hesitate to keep shooting for fear of "excessive force" charges. Not that I am likely to get any DA or local cop to have THAT conversation with me. I'm going to try though.
You have to keep in mind that Police do not "shoot to maim, kneecap, or shoot the gun out of bg's hands. That is for entertainment purposesfor movies. If you have grounds to be shooting at someone, it is lethal force, and it is a very real possibility that they will die. Theupper torsoand head are the only targets Police aim for.
Is there any other target?
Anyone not witnessing the shooting cannot say when the bg went down, or how many shots were allegedly fired after that fact. I do not agree with continuing to fire after the threat is eliminated, but just because someone is on the ground does not mean that they are no longer a threat.
Bullets have different effects on different people, and some are able to absorb them and keep fighting, better than others. I'm sure there are times when it goes a little too far, but your perspective is quite different when faced with a bg who is trying to do you harm/kill you.