It’s 1 am and you hear your neighbor (who has been threatening to harm you in the past) yelling for you to open the door.  You open the door and tell him to go away, he steps back into the yard and pulls a knife and demands you step outside so he can kill you.  Fearing for your life, you get your gun and fire off a warning shot into the sky telling your neighbor to get off your property.

The neighbor runs away and a short time later the police are at your house.

What do you think is the reason for them showing up?

1. They’re there to take your statement?
2. They’re there to let you know they arrested your neighbor?
3. They are there to charge you with negligent discharge of a firearm?

If you picked “C” you are correct!  In Colorado and most other States, firing a warning shot is illegal.  The only time you fire your gun in a situation like this is when you are in imminent fear for your life at that moment.

Question

If you are in fear for your life, firing a shot at the threat is to:

1. Shoot to kill?
2. Take careful aim and shoot the leg hoping he/she will run away?
3. Shot to stop the threat?
4. None of the above

I look forward to reading your answers.