{"id":56633,"date":"2016-05-04T10:54:23","date_gmt":"2016-05-04T14:54:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=56633"},"modified":"2016-05-04T10:54:23","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T17:34:04","slug":"time-kill-lethal-force-can-used","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/time-kill-lethal-force-can-used\/","title":{"rendered":"Ep. 1 Should I Shoot? When Lethal Force Can Be Used"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Ep. 1 Should I Shoot? When Lethal Force Can Be Used\" class=\"alignright wp-image-56904 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Should-I-Shoot-2-400x267.jpg\" alt=\"Should I Shoot 2\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Should-I-Shoot-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Should-I-Shoot-2-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Should-I-Shoot-2-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Should-I-Shoot-2-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Should-I-Shoot-2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><strong>Editor&#8217;s Note:<\/strong> <em>The following is a post from Sammy Reese,\u00a0 a former Marine Corps Artillery Officer and retired police officer from California. He is a part-time range master for the police department he retired from as well as a life-long martial artist and combatives coach.<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/time-kill-lethal-force-can-used\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"time-kill-lethal-force-can-used\" title=\"Ep. 1 Should I Shoot? When Lethal Force Can Be Used\">Ep. 1 Should I Shoot? When Lethal Force Can Be Used<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/should-i-shoot\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"time-kill-lethal-force-can-used\" title=\"Ep. 1 Should I Shoot? When Lethal Force Can Be Used\">Ep. 2 Should I Shoot? Why You Need a Lawyer Now<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/should-i-shoot-no-3-what-gun-should-i-get\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"time-kill-lethal-force-can-used\" title=\"Ep. 1 Should I Shoot? When Lethal Force Can Be Used\">Ep. 3 Should I Shoot? \u2018What Gun Should I Get?\u2019<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/shoot-no-4-probable-cause\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"time-kill-lethal-force-can-used\" title=\"Ep. 1 Should I Shoot? When Lethal Force Can Be Used\">Ep. 4 Should I Shoot? Probable Cause<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/ep-5-shoot\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"time-kill-lethal-force-can-used\" title=\"Ep. 1 Should I Shoot? When Lethal Force Can Be Used\">Ep. 5 Should I Shoot? What If the Crook has a Gun Pointed at the Clerk?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/ep-6-shoot-gun-get-part-ii\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"time-kill-lethal-force-can-used\" title=\"Ep. 1 Should I Shoot? When Lethal Force Can Be Used\">Ep. 6 Should I Shoot? What Gun Should I Get Part II<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I\u2019ve spent the better part of the last 20 years teaching cops, military and private citizens how to stay alive in a sometimes not-so-nice world. In the beginning of my firearms instruction career, I was pretty much focused on the mechanics of shooting and the hardware. Over the years, I have found myself focusing just as heavily on the software involved in personal defense for both law enforcement and responsibly armed Americans. By \u201csoftware,\u201d I mean using the most powerful weapon we posses \u2014 the human brain. All the best gear combined with inaccurate knowledge of deadly force laws, poor mindset and poor training is, quite frankly, a disaster waiting to happen.<\/p>\n<p>But accurate knowledge of deadly force laws, proper mindset and quality training&#8211;combined with the best gear available&#8211;could mean the difference between getting home safely or not getting home at all.<\/p>\n<p>In the beginning, I want to be hands-on, as do all new gun owners. They want to learn to shoot, and \u201cCan you help me?\u201d is the question I hear most. I always answer with, \u201cI sure can, but we need to cover a few other things as well.\u201d I won\u2019t get into everything I ask right now, but one of the first things I do ask is what they know about the laws when it comes to using deadly force in self-defense. (It applies to the use of, not the method; I will go much deeper into the actual application of deadly force in future columns.)<\/p>\n<p>I spend a lot of time traveling around the U.S., and since I\u2019m a retired police officer, I\u2019m covered by HR218, which is nationwide concealed carry. It\u2019s nice to be armed wherever I go, but that doesn\u2019t mean I don\u2019t have to do my homework before I go so I know the laws of each state. For those with multi-state CCW, knowing the laws in each state is a must.<\/p>\n<p>Since I reside in California, I\u2019ll use the laws we have here to shed some light on the question of when I\u2019m justified in using deadly force to defend myself.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us\/SOTWDocs\/PE\/htm\/PE.9.htm\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"time-kill-lethal-force-can-used\" title=\"Ep. 1 Should I Shoot? When Lethal Force Can Be Used\">California Penal Code Section 9.32. <\/a>Deadly Force in Defense of Person.<\/p>\n<p>This is the most important section for those who carry firearms for defensive purposes. The Penal Code here (and I would guess in most states) was written by lawyers and can, therefore, be very confusing. To most laypersons, Shakespeare\u2019s iambic pentameter is easier to follow.<\/p>\n<p>I prefer to keep things as simple as possible so the good guys here know when they can use deadly force; we use some very simplified verbiage that is the same as used when teaching law enforcement and for the most part, this applies across the board, even in extremely anti-gun states.<\/p>\n<p>Deadly Force is authorized\/legal:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When in fear of imminent death or great bodily injury (GBI).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>When in fear of imminent death or GBI of another.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>To stop an armed fleeing felon who has committed murder or GBI and, if not stopped, is believed will continue to kill or inflict GBI upon others.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This last one was traditionally more directed at law enforcement officers, but with school attacks, church attacks and other rapid mass murders being a more immediate reality these days, it bears mention.<\/p>\n<p>Another very important part of various states\u2019 penal codes covers the use of deadly force in the home \u2014 more commonly known as the \u201cCastle Doctrine.\u201d Some states require a homeowner to retreat, even while in his or her home, before using deadly force. (I\u2019m amazed that California hasn\u2019t changed the law here to make us just hand over the keys and deed to the house if requested by a crook \u2014 but I digress.)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.leginfo.ca.gov\/cgi-bin\/displaycode?section=pen&amp;group=00001-01000&amp;file=187-199\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"time-kill-lethal-force-can-used\" title=\"Ep. 1 Should I Shoot? When Lethal Force Can Be Used\">For example, California Penal Code Section 198.5<\/a> grants a justification for deadly force inside one\u2019s residence. If someone forces his or her way into your home and you have a \u201creasonable fear of death or great bodily injury,\u201d then you would be justified in using deadly force to defend yourself or another.<\/p>\n<p>The Castle Doctrine leads into some very murky water also known as \u201cStand Your Ground\u201d laws. Simply, such laws mean you don\u2019t have to run or attempt to retreat before defending yourself. The media has spun this verbiage to make it seem like those who defend themselves have almost picked the fight by not attempting to run away. In most cases, the fight you aren\u2019t in because you saw trouble coming and went the other way is the best fight to be in, but what if you can\u2019t avoid it? Knowing what the law is in your state or the ones you travel in can save you a lot of money \u2014 or time being locked up.<\/p>\n<p>When lethal force can be employed might seem like a simple question, but when you break it down to its component parts, it can be very confusing. Whenever you elect to carry a defensive arm, it is imperative that you know and follow your state and local laws, especially when concerning any requirement to retreat before employing deadly force. As this series progresses, I\u2019ll be shedding light on the entirety of the subject and, hopefully, get people to think about an immensely weighty topic into which they may have put precious little thought.<\/p>\n<p><em>For more critical information on the use of deadly force and other firearms and self-defense topics, visit <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscca.com\/GunsAmerica\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"time-kill-lethal-force-can-used\" title=\"Ep. 1 Should I Shoot? When Lethal Force Can Be Used\"><em>www.uscca.com\/GunsAmerica<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All the best gear combined with inaccurate knowledge of deadly force laws, poor mindset and poor training is, quite frankly, a disaster waiting to happen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":141,"featured_media":56903,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,234,262],"tags":[132,586,291,642],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-56633","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gunsamerica-authors","8":"category-columns","9":"category-defensive-use-of-firearms","10":"tag-buzz","11":"tag-column","12":"tag-dgu","13":"tag-should-i-shoot"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ep. 1 Should I Shoot? 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As a writer and copy editor for GunsAmerica, she enjoys covering topics that matter to gun owners and supporters of the Second Amendment. Outside of class and work, Kimber serves as president of her local Turning Point USA chapter, where she helps lead campus outreach and engage with voices in the world of political activism. She also spends her free time reading history, studying the Constitution, and practicing at the range\u2014especially with a pistol. When not writing or organizing, Kimber enjoys learning about homesteading, DIY projects, and hands-on skills that promote self-reliance. Experience: \u2013 Journalism Student \u2013 Currently studying News &amp; Journalism in college with real-world writing and editing experience. \u2013 Writer &amp; Copy Editor \u2013 Works with GunsAmerica to create clean, accurate, and engaging content. \u2013 TPUSA Chapter President \u2013 Leads a campus chapter and collaborates with key figures in conservative activism. \u2013 History, Constitution, and America Fan \u2013 Loves learning how the past shapes today\u2019s freedoms. \u2013 Shooter\u00a0 \u2013 Practical experience and solid skills at the range.","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/author\/kimber-pearce\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Should-I-Shoot-1-150x100.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/141"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56633"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56633\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":181522,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56633\/revisions\/181522"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56903"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56633"},{"taxonomy":"featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured?post=56633"},{"taxonomy":"hunt365","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hunt365?post=56633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}