Boston bombers... would you shoot?

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by onedef92

You've been professionally/militarily trained. Average Joe Homeowner? Prolly' not so much...

Sometimes I forget that things that are second nature to me are very foreign to some.

...and no, I absolutely do not mean that in any sort of cocky, Rambo sort of way. I am far far from being a badass tactical guru and have no delusions otherwise.

[C5SilverBullet]

You better make damn sure you get them both quick, because one of those bombs may end up in your living room.

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by C5SilverBullet

You better make damn sure you get them both quick, because one of those bombs may end up in your living room.

I would venture to say that as with the police, they would have absolutely no idea where shots were coming from. Look at them... standing right by headlights. They had zero night vision doing that. With the house lights off and you located inside, they would never see a thing. From a sound perspective, with the echos of the corridor of houses there is no way they could locate you based on that.

... although to your point, with an M4, some 75gr rounds and a target that perfect, it would be quick work for sure.

What is that... 35-40 yards tops? (hard to tell without knowing how far he zoomed in) You could empty an entire magazine accurately before they even realized you were shooting at them.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

"I went to the window to see what the commotion was, they saw me, turned and aimed at me. I feared for my life. I aimed center of mass."


Prove me wrong. I don't care what the neighbors camera shows !!

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by aerovette

I would gladly take my chances in doing the RIGHT thing.

Like I said, bullets flying everywhere, bombs being detonated just outside my house. By all means, try to say that being only a few feet away, my life was not in imminent danger. I will gladly stand in front of a jury of my peers and say that I did what I had to do to protect myself and others. BTW, lethal force is also legal in the protection OF OTHERS. Which in this case is pretty clear (you know, the gunshots and all) that they were a clear and present danger to the lives of others.



If you don't think you are capable of helping, trained enough to help, or even worried about the possibility of collateral injuries as mentioned... great. Those are perfectly acceptable reasons NOT to get involved. But it is a sad state of affairs when someone who had the means to do something would knowingly stand idly by as opposed to helping your fellow man because of fear of retribution.

[...Whitepower...]

All you hero's read this and get back to me. City says cops had no duty to protect subway hero Joseph Lozito who subdued killer Maksim Gelman and was stabbed seven times in process - NYPOST.com

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by ...Whitepower...

All you hero's read this and get back to me.

What's your point?

Turn your back and walk away from doing the right thing because... you are afraid of the consequences?


If I ever met Mr. Lozito I would shake his hand. I'm no MMA badass, but I can only hope that I would have had the courage to do the right thing as well. With the Kimber .45 that would be strapped on my waist I think I could hold my own just fine.


Most run away from a fire. Some run towards it.

[vtelvr]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

I would venture to say that as with the police, they would have absolutely no idea where shots were coming from. Look at them... standing right by headlights. They had zero night vision doing that. With the house lights off and you located inside, they would never see a thing. From a sound perspective, with the echos of the corridor of houses there is no way they could locate you based on that.

... although to your point, with an M4, some 75gr rounds and a target that perfect, it would be quick work for sure.

What is that... 35-40 yards tops? (hard to tell without knowing how far he zoomed in) You could empty an entire magazine accurately before they even realized you were shooting at them.

Your point is valid, but how many general population citizens know to think about all the facts you set forth here. I admire your passion and dedication, but in the end, even if you have the upper hand, this was a cop job...not a "free for all" for any citizens. If you found that the cops were being over run, and you felt the need to step in to keep them alive...then great.

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by vtelvr

If you found that the cops were being over run, and you felt the need to step in to keep them alive...then great.

In life and death situations you are either proactive or reactive. If you are reactive, it means you waited too long.

If you wanted to be damn sure... as in ZERO doubt... the second the bomb went off, you take them down. At that point, it is very clear that some patrol officers are outgunned and in severe danger.

I know it is hypothetical, but consider this:

The younger 1 escaped this shootout. In the end he didn't, but he still had a gun with ammo and could have EASILY killed or injured many more had he chosen to do so. Had he killed more people and you could have stopped him prior to his doing so... would you regret the decision to stand idly by?

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by onedef92

Maybe you are correct in saying that someone without training/experience should stay put but the military instinct and training tells me to shoot... and I would not hesitate to do so.

You've been professionally/militarily trained. Average Joe Homeowner? Prolly' not so much...

I dunno OD, my 12, 00 buck Benelli would be 8 shots lighter.....and I aim LO, to take out the femoral arteries......

and their nutz, just for shits and giggles.....

[RedLS1GTO]

... and then there's Gene. F**k tactics. F**k subtlety.

I'm going to rain down fire from above with the fury of a thousand suns.

[Broken Wind]

With the police on the scene as they were, I wouldn't touch it. Absent that, and those turds are trying to harm innocents, it's weapons free.

[ConstantChange]

Originally Posted by Broken Wind

With the police on the scene as they were, I wouldn't touch it. Absent that, and those turds are trying to harm innocents, it's weapons free.

I feel the same way.

[vtelvr]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

In life and death situations you are either proactive or reactive. If you are reactive, it means you waited too long.

If you wanted to be damn sure... as in ZERO doubt... the second the bomb went off, you take them down. At that point, it is very clear that some patrol officers are outgunned and in severe danger.

I know it is hypothetical, but consider this:

The younger 1 escaped this shootout. In the end he didn't, but he still had a gun with ammo and could have EASILY killed or injured many more had he chosen to do so. Had he killed more people and you could have stopped him prior to his doing so... would you regret the decision to stand idly by?

I couldn't stand idly by, but I would have made the call to the cop shop to tell them to come to my safe, high point to subdue the perps. If they aimed at me, all bets are off. Under your scenario, standing back from the window in a dark room, until you made the first shot, they would have no idea they were being fired upon until it hit them. However, if they are staring you in the face, I wouldn't fire.

[Jeff '79]

I don't know. I think that it happened too fast for me to grab the SKS, load it, and get clean shots off.
My wife would have been hysterical at that moment too, so I probably would not have.
I probably would be grabbing my wife and ducking for cover, as the hail of bullets would have been pretty intimidating, and by the time I got used to it, it would have been over.
Don't forget, that would have been an alarm clock going off at that time of the night.

[OddBall]

Call. Let 'em know that all ya got to do is squeeze the trigger.
Let the decision be the cops.

[Poog]

Originally Posted by island14

That, and you can almost count on some prosecutor filing charges on you also.

Back in the old days they would of thanked you, in today's world you would go to jail.

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

On what charges?

I live in NJ. The corrupt anti-gun prosecutors in this state would think of something.

[xXBUDXx]

Guns scare me

[Torqaholic]

In front of my house? Not a problem.

In Massachusettes? Not going to find me there.

[Torqaholic]

Originally Posted by mrvette

I dunno OD, my 12, 00 buck Benelli would be 8 shots lighter.....and I aim LO, to take out the femoral arteries......

and their nutz, just for shits and giggles.....

Good idea to aim low Shots hit high when shooting at a downward angle

I'd use a 30 caliber rifle. One shot. Just wait until they're lined up.