Comment by mindslight

1 day ago

While there is some truth here, it's worth noting that firearms are far from a deterrent - these days, many criminals are often enraged by a victim having a gun and end up escalating further. Earlier this year there was a gang execution in Minneapolis that was prominent national news. The thugs were probably just going to kick the shit out of the victim, but when they discovered he merely had a gun, they took it from him and then held him down and shot him repeatedly in the back. Or there was another famous killing in Louisville about 6 years back. It started off as a simple night time home invasion but when one of the residents started to defend themselves by firing a warning shot, the perps responded by turning the home into a shooting gallery and ended up killing the other resident. So these days it's more of a toss up because we're not in the Wild West or even Paul Kersey's cities, but rather subject to highly organized crime that demands supplicating obedience and will readily retaliate against anyone who tries to defend themselves.

If the homeowners had a shotgun it would have been over quickly. Shotguns don't miss.

  • Bullshit. Shotguns are not designed to have a wide pattern close up. They're designed to have a wide pattern out at 40 yards or so.

    Sawed off shotguns have a wider pattern closer, but it's wildly random and impossible to aim with any real effectiveness.

    I have both. I shoot trap. My gun on my bedside is a p226 with a flashlight that has a strobe option.

  • There were like seven assailants, and the shot actually did hit one of them in the leg. This is what caused the others to retaliate. I don't think a shotgun would have helped. Unfortunately the incident was not a game of DOOM.

The warning shot was the main mistake. It goes against all training. Only shoot to kill.

  • Accounts differ. It's hard to tell if it was really a warning shot or if that's merely what the resident said after the fact to avoid being prosecuted for having defended themselves.