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I searched and I know it's been batted around, but I didn't see a thread devoted entirely to it.
I guess my question is... if I see a felony being committed, and I feel compelled to stop it AND/OR detain the perpetrator, what are my options? If I have a GFL and I am legally carrying a firearm, may I use the firearm in the same manner a police officer would use his i.e. to preempt a possible escalation by the perpetrator or even worse, stop him from using his own deadly weapon?
OK... now that the actual question is aside. Since I CCW regularly, I have to run through scenarios in my mind. It's smart to at least think about them, I figure. I've seen and read enough on the news that I'm not assuming that if I'm in a store that is held-up and I just 'stay-down' that I won't get killed just on general principles. So... if I'm in a store, and it's being robbed, and I see a firearm, and that firearm is close enough to be pointed at me... I'm drawing and dropping the SOB. I figure the courts can sort it out, at least I'm not the guy shot execution style in the freezer.
On the other hand.. say I see a rape or a beating in progress. Say I even see someone set on fire (recent news). I'm not letting the guy walk away, nor am I going to shoot him in the back. So, it's likely I'll just hold him at gunpoint and hope he doesn't run (since I won't shoot him in the back). Will I be sued for doing so? Will the first cop on the scene shoot me!?
Do I need to yell "Citizens arrest"... or something along those lines?
I CCW primarily for my own protection. I just wonder what I would/should do if I witness something violent like an obvious felony. On one hand, I don't want to play cop since I'm not, but on the other hand, I don't want to let a criminal get away when I was right there to stop it.
I read these stories and I think... damn... if I were there it wouldn't happen. What if I WAS there :shock:
I guess my question is... if I see a felony being committed, and I feel compelled to stop it AND/OR detain the perpetrator, what are my options? If I have a GFL and I am legally carrying a firearm, may I use the firearm in the same manner a police officer would use his i.e. to preempt a possible escalation by the perpetrator or even worse, stop him from using his own deadly weapon?
OK... now that the actual question is aside. Since I CCW regularly, I have to run through scenarios in my mind. It's smart to at least think about them, I figure. I've seen and read enough on the news that I'm not assuming that if I'm in a store that is held-up and I just 'stay-down' that I won't get killed just on general principles. So... if I'm in a store, and it's being robbed, and I see a firearm, and that firearm is close enough to be pointed at me... I'm drawing and dropping the SOB. I figure the courts can sort it out, at least I'm not the guy shot execution style in the freezer.
On the other hand.. say I see a rape or a beating in progress. Say I even see someone set on fire (recent news). I'm not letting the guy walk away, nor am I going to shoot him in the back. So, it's likely I'll just hold him at gunpoint and hope he doesn't run (since I won't shoot him in the back). Will I be sued for doing so? Will the first cop on the scene shoot me!?
Do I need to yell "Citizens arrest"... or something along those lines?
I CCW primarily for my own protection. I just wonder what I would/should do if I witness something violent like an obvious felony. On one hand, I don't want to play cop since I'm not, but on the other hand, I don't want to let a criminal get away when I was right there to stop it.
I read these stories and I think... damn... if I were there it wouldn't happen. What if I WAS there :shock: