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I wonder about altercations and how to correctly respond and what to say.

If someone is threatening me to the point I have to warn them and I might draw my weapon,

What do you say, hoping it might deter them where you don't have to draw.

Stop, I will defend myself if you come any closer
Stop or your gonna have a real bad day
Stop or this is gonna be the worst day of your life
Stop or you might not survive this situation


The LEO's could misinterpret what you say as a warning

Just Curious, what would you say?

mrm1955Tex wrote: Stop, I will defend myself if you come any closer

Just Curious, what would you say?

I would go with this one... but I am not sure how accurate this is, I do not want to tell them I have a gun on me as they could call the cops on you then.
Just my $0.02

--Daniel

I'm not exactly sure what you mean when you say the other person(s) is threatening you, but keep things short. Don't get too wordy. Is the other person verbally or physically threatening you? How close are they?

STOP
That's far enough.
Go Away.
Leave me alone.

Otherwise, if you mean this is already too close for comfort then it is not very likely that anything you say is going to help. The best thing for you to do is to either create or maintain some distance between you and the threat.

The need to deescalate is not the same as warn.. we have no requirement to warn someone we are about to use deadly force to stop a threat.. And I think a person who does so is ill advised..
By all means attempt if possible to deescalate the situation, from handing over the decoy wallet, to a “hey I don’t want trouble, just walk away”
But if you have decided deadly force is what you need to stop a threat, the LAST thing you want to do is warn that person threatening you, those are your intentions.
Opinions vary, some here will disagree,,,and say, .. Well I will show them my weapon.. or I’ll put my hand on my weapon to scare them,, or make comments like you have suggested above..

If that’s what works for them ,, ok.. but I strongly disagree..

May just be my upbringing, education, training and personal experience, but for me, and those I train, bottom line… my attacker will get zero warning I am about to draw an edged weapon or firearm and defend myself.


I’ve never faced a trial for using deadly force.. If I do I may find the Jury disagrees with me and convicts me for having not warned my attacker first... I hope to never find out... But If I do stand trail someday for defending myself.... The state will likely not have my attacker available as a witness.

bronco78 wrote:The need to deescalate is not the same as warn.. we have no requirement to warn someone we are about to use deadly force to stop a threat.. And I think a person who does so is ill advised..
By all means attempt if possible to deescalate the situation, from handing over the decoy wallet, to a “hey I don’t want trouble, just walk away”
But if you have decided deadly force is what you need to stop a threat, the LAST thing you want to do is warn that person threatening you, those are your intentions.
Opinions vary, some here will disagree,,,and say, .. Well I will show them my weapon.. or I’ll put my hand on my weapon to scare them,, or make comments like you have suggested above..

If that’s what works for them ,, ok.. but I strongly disagree..

May just be my upbringing, education, training and personal experience, but for me, and those I train, bottom line… my attacker will get zero warning I am about to draw an edged weapon or firearm and defend myself.


I’ve never faced a trial for using deadly force.. If I do I may find the Jury disagrees with me and convicts me for having not warned my attacker first... I hope to never find out... But If I do stand trail someday for defending myself.... The state will likely not have my attacker available as a witness.

I was going to wait and see what his response was to my questions, but was going to get to the point that verbal warnings are much like warning shots. There's only a slim chance that either will work and usually cause more problems anyway.

I am with Bronco on this one.

Silence in the face of a raging person can be a defusing dynamic. With proper body language it often causes the raging person to loose confidence because he is unable to get feed back from the intended victim. Silence allows the BG to vent his emotion and let his logic come into play....(ie, hmmm, I dont think this person is afraid cuz he is quiet.... is he quiet because he is confident and feels no need to appease me? )

Big dawgs dont bark that much.

"STOP."

After all, you only allowed to shoot to stop, not shoot to make that person have a bad day, or shoot to make that person go away. I'm not saying you have to shoot, only if that person doesn't stop. You can only legally draw if you have legal justification for shooting.

Now after the person stops, if the person doesn't run away, I might tell him/her to drop any weapons and lay down on the floor. I'll also tell the person that any other movements will be perceived as trying to harm me in which case I WILL shoot. I'll also let the person know that Texas has no law against shooting someone in the back. (I don't want to have to shoot someone, especially in the back, but they won't know that by the demeanor I present.)

If I fear for my life..BANG

bronco78 wrote:The need to deescalate is not the same as warn.. we have no requirement to warn someone we are about to use deadly force to stop a threat.. And I think a person who does so is ill advised..

Well, I agree that I am not going to warn someone that I am going to use any means of self defense. But I will -- and have -- told someone to "STOP".

I've been approached at convenient stores or at the gas pump, typical scenario. When I see them coming, I have held my left hand up, palm facing them, in the "STOP" gesture and told them to "STOP", or "STOP RIGHT THERE, DON"T COME ANY CLOSER".

I won't let someone in those circumstances get within knife range.

If they keep approaching after being warned to stay away, that is simply more data I can use to articulate why I was in fear of immediate bodily harm.

Big difference between telling someone to STOP, versus saying STOP or you will regret it. I don't make threats.

Thomas wrote:"STOP."

After all, you only allowed to shoot to stop, not shoot to make that person have a bad day, or shoot to make that person go away. I'm not saying you have to shoot, only if that person doesn't stop. You can only legally draw if you have legal justification for shooting.

Now after the person stops, if the person doesn't run away, I might tell him/her to drop any weapons and lay down on the floor. I'll also tell the person that any other movements will be perceived as trying to harm me in which case I WILL shoot. I'll also let the person know that Texas has no law against shooting someone in the back. (I don't want to have to shoot someone, especially in the back, but they won't know that by the demeanor I present.)

Im just guessing.... but..
You have never faced and or engaged a person needing deadly force? (THIS IS NOT A POKE OR A FLAME, but an observation based on what was written)

Oh and... your cite is a bit off....

"you only allowed to shoot to stop"

is not what the law states,, I'm sure you know that and were just taking the very specific verbiage of the law and personalizing it to say and mean what supported your opinion... but for the rest of us... That's not what it says.

Jumping Frog wrote:

bronco78 wrote:The need to deescalate is not the same as warn.. we have no requirement to warn someone we are about to use deadly force to stop a threat.. And I think a person who does so is ill advised..

Well, I agree that I am not going to warn someone that I am going to use any means of self defense. But I will -- and have -- told someone to "STOP".

Actually I don't have an issue with "Stop" I thought that was evident in what i did state above?

Sorry if that was not clear..

To me, "STOP" does not imply intent to do anything if they don't... So it's a way to tell the person your concerned, ..and if they truly have no bad intentions they will heed your request.
..

I do agree saying a short something to gain the attention of the person, in hopes they just don't realize they are making you feel uncomfortable..is a good plan.. Holding a conversation in a high stress situation and speaking several key scripted phrases, that WILL come back on you later is not likely to turn out well... if it comes out as more then gibberish at all.... People forget how to speak in situations like these.

For me, it is a LOUD "STOP!"

1. I want to make sure my intentions are clear.
2. I want to draw attention.

If stop doesnt work and he is getting too close, then another loud "STOP!" and I draw my weapon.

I want to draw attention.

Witness: "I was pumping gas and I heard this guy yell "STOP". I turned and looked and there was another guying walking up to him. I heard him yell "STOP" again and then....." (hopefully this is when I get the guy on the ground and hold him until the cops get there)

Just my 2 cents.

AB

There is a big difference between "STOP!" and "STOP OR I'LL [INSERT THREAT HERE]!"

What Bronco78 said.....never telegraph your intentions before the flag goes up the pole. There are some things that I just can't help. I confess that I'm likely to get a thumb hooked under the strong side edge of my shirt preparatory to sweeping the shirt aside if I have to go for the gun....stuff like that......but it is my opinion that too many words can make a bad situation worse, so adding threatening words doesn't help.

Yeah, "Go ahead, make my day"or "You feel lucky punk" would not be a good idea either.