I appreciate the views expressed so far. Didn't the off duty Odgen LEO have more of a obligation to pursue, put his life on the line, and be more aggressive in attacking the killer? He was trained for that and I appreciate his courage. If I was hunting down a killer I would want tons of ammo and as many BUGs as I could carry. As a CCW citizen I personally don't think a BUG is necessary.
A CCW citizen has a different responsibility with respect to the laws. We are not authorized to do what the Odgen officer did but must follow every avenue of avoidance before using our guns. That's how I interpret the Utah law on this. Maybe if a CCW citizen chased down and killed the killer they wouldn't have charges pressed but what if that citizen accidentally shot and killed an innocent bystander? I'm having trouble understanding the gray line between aggressively searching out a deadly threat and avoiding using my gun at the last resort. There are a couple of security guards in my office that would just love the chance to draw their weapon and shoot someone. They look forward to that day. They scare me.
Don't be another Olden Polynice?
A CCW citizen has a different responsibility with respect to the laws. We are not authorized to do what the Odgen officer did but must follow every avenue of avoidance before using our guns. That's how I interpret the Utah law on this. Maybe if a CCW citizen chased down and killed the killer they wouldn't have charges pressed but what if that citizen accidentally shot and killed an innocent bystander? I'm having trouble understanding the gray line between aggressively searching out a deadly threat and avoiding using my gun at the last resort. There are a couple of security guards in my office that would just love the chance to draw their weapon and shoot someone. They look forward to that day. They scare me.
Don't be another Olden Polynice?
