I can respect that but I also know that there have been many instances over time where a GG overreacted and ended up being the one in trouble. I am certain when SHTF then instinct takes over. But as with having knowledge and experience about how to USE your firearm, I believe that having knowledge beforehand about when you can and can not use a firearm to defend yourself is just as important. I THINK some peoples attitude is if they feel in fear then they will shoot and deal with the consequences later. Personally I never ever ever want to use my firearm and take the life of another but I certainly dont want to spend the rest of my life behind bars because I made the wrong decision. Especially when learning the laws before hand could have kept me from making the wrong decisions. That is why I want to arm myself with knowledge beforehand, hence the question I posed.
Thanks
Remember all the threads where people stated "hesitation will get you killed"? If you aren't on autopilot [ acting instinctively ] in the decision making process when it happens, you could very well take too long to decide [ hesitate ] a course of action.
In one, you stand the risk of over-reacting [ acting too soon ], in the other you stand the risk of being injured or killed for not acting soon enough. Your instincts should tell you when you need to use deadly force [ when your life is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm ].
Your actions can and will be judged/dissected by people who have the luxury of time. It's a fact you can't ignore, but it's also a fact that you can't allow to determine your actions at the moment of truth.
The decision making process is measured in micro-seconds if you are "reacting" and behind the curve. You can extend this time by situational awareness, and to a lesser degree, avoidance.
As MPDC66 stated--
"The real danger is trying to compartmentalize everything into pat, black and white answers and actions."
As Mac45 stated--
"The reasonable man criteria always governs these situations. If the action of an individual would lead a reasonable man to the conclusion that he would be the vicitm of violent attack if he did not reliquish his property, then you have robbery."
Any over reaction usually accompanies an unreasonable fear and may be ruled on accordingly after the fact. It's been my observation that the more time spent in training of the physical skills, the more one then understands what they are capable of accomplishing [ a confidence in their ability ], and it's those who haven't the training who stand a better chance of over-reacting as they don't have the confidence in their ability to control their environment.
With that said, all the cerebral black and white thinking isn't going to help you one bit when the elephant presents itself.
Brownie
