One thing that I think several people have missed is that this criminal isn't just stealing a couple of hundred dollars from McDonalds. He is assaulting the liberty of everyone who is there, robbing them of a sense of safety. Many of the people who suffer a violent crime are never the same again. While you might not be able to help the people who have already been victimized, if this criminal is stopped here how many future victims do we save.
With the scenario, we are not able to describe all the circumstances that must be evaluated. Considering the scenario given, if I was confident through my training and the circumstances involved that I could end the robbery then I would. Most likely I would seek cover, or at least play out the clock a bit to evaluate the situation. It is not likely that I would fire on the criminal while he had another victim under the gun. Once that gun came off target, or even worse the shooter opened fire, then I would respond aggressively with gunfire.
If the situation was such that armed response was not viable, then I would also be trying to observe and remember as much information as possible to aid in the police response.
__________________
"I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts." -Will Rogers
|