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I was under the impression you don't point guns at someone unless you're ready to fire, so I'd assume that if I had made any sudden movements it could have been

by dfc 14y ago

I was under the impression you don't point guns at someone unless you're ready to fire, so I'd assume that if I had made any sudden movements it could have been fatal. Was this hyperbole or honesty? Drawing a firearm is a deterrent and is employed in order to prevent things to escalating to a point where an officer has to fire.

cbs 14y ago
It's a common bit of firearm carrying wisdom. Not directly equitable to, but in the same vein as, "even when the gun is unloaded, its loaded". Of course its a deterrent, but the only thing that makes it more of a deterrent than a whistle is that the officer is (or presumed to be) ready to shoot.
MichaelGG 14y ago
Sorry, I should have made it clear, he drew, then pointed directly at my head - I was looking right at the end of it. Wikipedia says the rule is "Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy". So, going from what seemed like an ordinary traffic stop to looking down a gun, I figured he was prepared to kill me if he found it necessary. As I could not figure out any reason for him to want to stop me like that in the first place, it seemed logical there was some massive escalation I was unaware of.
- dfc 14y ago
  Yes, that is a basic tenet of firearm safety. However if an officer delays drawing his weapon until he is ready to fire it can be too late. You cannot fire a holstered weapon. I am not certain about the exact distance but I think a hostile person brandishing a knife within 20 or 25 feet is considered to have an advantage / pose serious risk of death (able to inflict serious trauma) over an officer with a holstered weapon. (In NYS)
pjungwir 14y ago
Drawing a firearm as a deterrent can get you arrested for brandishing. If you wouldn't have been justified in shooting, you wouldn't be justified in drawing. Police have their own rules.
- dfc 14y ago
  We were talking about LEOs. What part of my comment made you think otherwise?

by dfc 14y ago

cbs 14y ago

It's a common bit of firearm carrying wisdom. Not directly equitable to, but in the same vein as, "even when the gun is unloaded, its loaded". Of course its a deterrent, but the only thing that makes it more of a deterrent than a whistle is that the officer is (or presumed to be) ready to shoot.

MichaelGG 14y ago

Sorry, I should have made it clear, he drew, then pointed directly at my head - I was looking right at the end of it. Wikipedia says the rule is "Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy". So, going from what seemed like an ordinary traffic stop to looking down a gun, I figured he was prepared to kill me if he found it necessary. As I could not figure out any reason for him to want to stop me like that in the first place, it seemed logical there was some massive escalation I was unaware of.

dfc 14y ago
Yes, that is a basic tenet of firearm safety. However if an officer delays drawing his weapon until he is ready to fire it can be too late. You cannot fire a holstered weapon. I am not certain about the exact distance but I think a hostile person brandishing a knife within 20 or 25 feet is considered to have an advantage / pose serious risk of death (able to inflict serious trauma) over an officer with a holstered weapon. (In NYS)

pjungwir 14y ago

Drawing a firearm as a deterrent can get you arrested for brandishing. If you wouldn't have been justified in shooting, you wouldn't be justified in drawing. Police have their own rules.

dfc 14y ago
We were talking about LEOs. What part of my comment made you think otherwise?