Why I cannot say a warning shot is not "always" a bad idea. For example, I serve as one of the few security people in my church. I have over thirty years law enforcement and have never had to shoot a
suspect. I volunteered to physically watch over the parking lots while people are coming and going to church. We have portable radios, but transmissions frequently do not get timely responses. For example, say I were to spot one or more armed bad actors exit a vehicle with guns and quickly head for the front door of our church. What am I to do considering I may be 30-50 yards away and armed with a pistol. I can yell and draw their attention, which would possibly draw their immediate fire or if close to the door may charge inside a door. I really would not have time to spend communicating on a radio and connect explain the situation with an inexperienced guard inside. I see my "possible" best option as firing a warning shot in the air which would immediately notify everyone of the danger. I would then continue to do what I could do to engage the threat. I rely first on my well experience instincts to protect lives the fastest and safest way possible. If inexperienced, yet somewhat cool guards are told under "no" circumstances fire a warning shot you might deprive them the possibility that a shot in the air might actually save a life. Yes, I did once and it might have saved a life...no one got shot if that is your measure of success. Never say never!! All shooting incidents are different. The best goal I think is enough time to prevent entry, I believe I could get our sanctuary locked down in under 15 seconds if properly trained to stall the bad people's entry.
One point at a time. What goes up, must come down. What guarantee is there that the round will not strike someone when it falls back to earth? Are you willing to accept that risk? Is your church willing to accept that risk?
Maybe that leaves firing into the ground or an object. Ricochets and spalling are unpredictable, however. Occasionally, poor tactics bring about favorable results, but we shouldn’t make those methods the preferred tactics.
Excellent follow up on your May 21,2024 report on this topic. Although the news reports on the incident at Guadalupe Catholic Church state that the church volunteer fired a warning shot into the ground, I think there is a good chance the person had an unintentional discharge. He may well have had his finger on the trigger when he wasn’t ready to fire, but covered what happened by claiming it was an intentional warning shot. The wrong takeaway would have been to think that warning shots were a good idea. So, thank you for making the case against warning shots.
Whereas the Bereans in Acts 17:11 tested the teachings of Paul against the Scriptures concerning spiritual things, we should also test and be discerning about temporal things.
Justification for the use of deadly force begins with the defender’s “reasonable belief” that an attacker poses a serious imminent threat. What you described does not seem like imminent threat. Firing a warning would also make it not an imminent threat. My 2 cents.
Why I cannot say a warning shot is not "always" a bad idea. For example, I serve as one of the few security people in my church. I have over thirty years law enforcement and have never had to shoot a
suspect. I volunteered to physically watch over the parking lots while people are coming and going to church. We have portable radios, but transmissions frequently do not get timely responses. For example, say I were to spot one or more armed bad actors exit a vehicle with guns and quickly head for the front door of our church. What am I to do considering I may be 30-50 yards away and armed with a pistol. I can yell and draw their attention, which would possibly draw their immediate fire or if close to the door may charge inside a door. I really would not have time to spend communicating on a radio and connect explain the situation with an inexperienced guard inside. I see my "possible" best option as firing a warning shot in the air which would immediately notify everyone of the danger. I would then continue to do what I could do to engage the threat. I rely first on my well experience instincts to protect lives the fastest and safest way possible. If inexperienced, yet somewhat cool guards are told under "no" circumstances fire a warning shot you might deprive them the possibility that a shot in the air might actually save a life. Yes, I did once and it might have saved a life...no one got shot if that is your measure of success. Never say never!! All shooting incidents are different. The best goal I think is enough time to prevent entry, I believe I could get our sanctuary locked down in under 15 seconds if properly trained to stall the bad people's entry.
One point at a time. What goes up, must come down. What guarantee is there that the round will not strike someone when it falls back to earth? Are you willing to accept that risk? Is your church willing to accept that risk?
Maybe that leaves firing into the ground or an object. Ricochets and spalling are unpredictable, however. Occasionally, poor tactics bring about favorable results, but we shouldn’t make those methods the preferred tactics.
Excellent follow up on your May 21,2024 report on this topic. Although the news reports on the incident at Guadalupe Catholic Church state that the church volunteer fired a warning shot into the ground, I think there is a good chance the person had an unintentional discharge. He may well have had his finger on the trigger when he wasn’t ready to fire, but covered what happened by claiming it was an intentional warning shot. The wrong takeaway would have been to think that warning shots were a good idea. So, thank you for making the case against warning shots.
Whereas the Bereans in Acts 17:11 tested the teachings of Paul against the Scriptures concerning spiritual things, we should also test and be discerning about temporal things.
Justification for the use of deadly force begins with the defender’s “reasonable belief” that an attacker poses a serious imminent threat. What you described does not seem like imminent threat. Firing a warning would also make it not an imminent threat. My 2 cents.