Engage or not?

[Mrcoffee]

Here in my little East Texas town, the kinda thing I got my CHL for is happening more often. Just last week a robbery happened at a gass station thatI use often.... So here is how it happened, and what would you do if you happened to be there, Engage or not...
2 collage age males run into gass station, one with hand gun, one with metal pipe. One with gun stood in front of counter holding cashier and a customer at gun point, while man with pipe jumped over counter to get money. They left with out hurting anyone.

So what would you do........ just wait it out and see what happens, or while BG is jumping over counter draw and shoot BGWG while he is distracted? Do we have to give BG a chance to DROP gun... or shoot first, even if he is not facing us?
When only 10 to 15ft away from BGWG, you would not have much time to react if he starts shooting..... so enage at first op? Or wait and hope?

[Sputz]

I would find cover then wait for them to leave and give the cops a good description of the perps. Just because I have a chl does not mean I need to get involved in a robbery and escalate it into a shoot out unless my life or my family is in danger.

Sputz

[Thomas]

The problem is that you can't tell if the BG is someone who would shoot even after he cleans the register.

If the BG fired any kind of shots (warning, at equipment, in ceiling, etc), I would shot the BG if I had a safe opportunity. For me, "safe opportunity" means the BG isn't going to see me draw and I can aim (at shoulder holding gun if I was close enough). Though I may not if I think the BG being may able to pull off a round in response and hit the person I was in defense of (or anyone else for that matter). If the BG never fires his weapon, neither will I in this instance.

[gigag04]

That's a personal decision. I know what I would do...

[speedsix]

...there it is...me, too...

[Jusster]

So what would you do........ just wait it out and see what happens, or while BG is jumping over counter draw and shoot BGWG while he is distracted? Do we have to give BG a chance to DROP gun... or shoot first, even if he is not facing us?
When only 10 to 15ft away from BGWG, you would not have much time to react if he starts shooting..... so enage at first op? Or wait and hope?

Based on my understanding of the law, IANAL, you do not have to give the BG a chance to drop the gun, and it doesn’t matter where you shoot someone who is committing a crime that you are justified in using deadly force.

What would I do? That’s a tuff one. If I were 10 to 15ft way and had the opportunity to stop them safely, I MIGHT just do that. As Thomas stated, how do you know that this wont be the time that these guys decide they don’t want to leave any witnesses? Or what if the clerk could say something wrong and this guy just starts shooting? I’d see anyone committing a robbery with a deadly weapon, in a confined space that I have little opportunity to escape from, a serious threat.

Jusster

[Beiruty]

To answeer your question, from legal stand point you are cleared to engage with no warning. Just make sure where your shots land.
To decide to enagage or not is personal matter, espacially if it is robbery over money like $50 cash or something like that. If shots are fired by the BGs, it is totally diffrent ball of wax.

[AEA]

Armed robbery is a FELONY. A Felony in progress justifies using deadly force to stop the threat. You have to decide on your own if you are willing and capable of stopping the threat IN PROGRESS. If you do, successfully, you will face no charges.

[tbrown]

If you decide to shoot, it's a tactical advantage to shoot him in the back without warning. After you neutralize him, shoot the pipe hitter until he drops his weapon or runs away.

[jocat54]

That's a tough one. If the circumstances were right I would probably shoot--hard to say really.

[Medic624]

That's a personal decision. I know what I would do...

[2up1down]

That's a personal decision. I know what I would do...

Well put Gentlemen,,
As for me and my kind, see AVATAR.

[MasterOfNone]

Armed robbery is a FELONY. A Felony in progress justifies using deadly force to stop the threat. You have to decide on your own if you are willing and capable of stopping the threat IN PROGRESS. If you do, successfully, you will face no charges.

That's a dangerous oversimplification. A felony does not automatically justify deadly force. There are many felony offenses that do not.
However, aggravated robbery, which this scenario is, is a justification for deadly force.

[MoJo]

Unless you or some other person is in mortal danger, be a good witness. It's a Concealed Handgun License not a Bat Man license.

[speedsix]

...the CHL doesn't make a man a man...or not...you don't license what makes a man...wise, foolish, brave, or not...it's just a piece of paper that makes it legal to carry a gun...what a man decides to do...or not do...doesn't need anyone's approval...