Doctorr Fabulous wrote:Work with me under the assumption that this device is rigorously tested and shown not to cause or increase the rate of failure or pose any additional danger. Assume that the law evolves to understand that it's employed under the assumption of lethal force and treated as such, despite being intended to be less lethal, and assume that it's cheap enough that you can use a trainer version to learn the POA difference, if any. Would you use it? Why or why not?
If I understand your statements correctly, my answer here is no. In a situation in which my actions are legally considered lethal force (even if the intent of the device or action is non-lethal) I would not choose to use a (theoretically) less than lethal solution. The situation in which this happens has already met the requirements for lawful exercise of lethal force and I probably either have already yelled my head off at a lone assailant hoping he doesn't make me shoot him, or in the case of multiple assailants, close quarters, threat to others, or other complications, I have fear that the use of less than maximum force may endanger whoever I am protecting. Some other concerns with the device are addressed in the next bit.
Doctorr Fabulous wrote:Assuming, then, that the law evolved to protect those using LTLs in place of lethal force, would you consider other LTL alternaitves as a "first strike" in HD or carry scenarios? Why or why not?
Here I'm a bit confused so I'll answer this in two parts.
In the case of the specific device mentioned I would not use it in any situation ever. Even were it recognized as LTL and LTL were legally protected, the device only functions once
and the next repetition of the same action becomes lethal force.
This creates a complex multi-part problem. First, I have no idea what is really going to happen the first time I am in a situation where I feel forced to point a gun at someone and pull the trigger. Will I act as I have in other emergencies and maintain enough mental distance to analyze the effect of the LTL device before deciding if the situation has become lethal? Or will adrenaline take control of my finger and continue pulling the trigger unit the threat is so obviously not a threat that I calm down? This would tend to produce a corpse - somewhat awkward in a LTL situation. Second, I'm not sure training could exist that would satisfy
me of my ability to fire a first, nonlethal shot, then absolutely not for any reason shoot a second time without reassessing the situation. Last, what does the joker at whom I just pointed a gun and pulled the trigger think of things? He may now be in such fear of his life (does he even recognize the device as LTL? does he have an acquired or trained automatic response to being shot at?) as to cause the situation to unnecessarily move away from LTL to one where lethal force is lawful (possibly lawful for
both people!).
With respect to other LTL devices or forces there are other concerns. Anything that may trigger firearms habits (does that tazer work like a firearm? did I just draw my pistol and put holes in this poor bastard?) is a potential training problem. Things with fewer innate problems like pepper spray could have its place. Of course, martial arts training definitely has its place when one can meet the situational requirements for keeping such skill honed. The use of these as a "first strike" is where things really get sticky in my view.
In home defense no; my first strike is yelling real fucking loud that miscreants had best expeditiously hug the floor or make non-threatening haste towards the egress. If a villain is in my occupied home the situation is already too hot for using and then assessing the effects of LTL; I have family nearby to protect and the threat has shown either exceptional (even for a criminal) lack of judgement in entering an occupied dwelling or exceptional (even for a criminal) disregard for the lives of others in entering said home while armed to take what he wants.
In a carry situation I might consider some LTL options but the problems of training (time, money, proximity to quality educators or training facilities) are still there, the situations can be very complicated, and I'm kinda running out of steam after all this writing, so this one gets a "maybe" and my apologies for not doing this category the service I did for the others.
I think this is my longest post of original content on ZS so far. I hope it is readable.
