Search and Seizure at the Supreme Court: "let me explain (Score:5)
by The Tyro (247333) FriendFriend of a Friend on 02:42 PM -- Friday February 20 2004 (#8342280)
the dynamics of these situations.

Action always beats reaction... Anyone trained in close quarters combat will tell you that. By the time you see someone pull out the object, realize it's a weapon, make the decision to fire, line up your sights and squeeze the trigger... you can already be dead.

From the holster it takes an average of about two seconds to realize that someone is a threat, make the decision to fire, draw your gun and fire even one round. The officer is always reacting to somebody else, which always puts the officer at a disadvantage... that lag time has gotten officers killed.

In this case, it's slightly different... the suspect was faced with four drawn guns. He should have kept his hands where everyone could see them... unfortunately, whether from a language barrier, fear, ignorance... whatever the reason, he made a move, and it cost him his life. It didn't help that one of the officers tripped while trying to retreat and fell down, leading the other officers to believe he'd been shot.

If I tell a person at gunpoint not to move, and they go for their pocket, I'm going to shoot them. They might be pulling a wallet out of their back pocket... but then again, they might be pulling out one of these, [andrewsleather.com]these, one of these [action-direct.com] or even one of these. [cowboyneeds.com] Understand now? You now know what cops know... and what cops are worried about.

When faced with a drawn gun, think of it as a game of 'simon says'... you do nothing until simon says. If an officer considers you enough of a threat that he's got his gun out, pay attention, because your life depends on your next move. Just FYI, in a lot of jurisdictions, anytime an officer draws his gun, he has to make a police report; If he's got a reason to have it out... for the love of God don't give him a reason to use it.
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- posted by Sophont @ Saturday, March 13, 2004