Tyler, TX – Quick thinking and incredible shooting by a Wood County constable ended an hour-long standoff Sunday when he shot the gun out of a suicidal subject’s hand.
Vance said Shadbolt was approximately 30 yards from the man when he fired a round from his rifle striking the man in his hand causing him to drop a handgun.
Full Story – HERE
Every time I hear some cop shot a gun out of a suicidal person’s hand I am struck with disbelief that they actually ever attempt that, and secondly I think of the clip above from the 1997 movie The Jackal.
This is the part that surprises me:
“Shadbolt was in the process of trying to negotiate with the subject when the subject suddenly posed a threat on the constable and he disarmed the subject,” he said.
So this guy who you think wanted suicide by cop, raises his gun to shoot you (or “pretend to”), and your first though is OH I SHOULD TRY AND SAVE HIS LIFE? Yea, I guess this guy is a better man than I am, because I personally would rather just put one in his chest and go home have a beer, eat a nice supper, and guarantee that I live to see another day.
Thoughts?
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When I saw the title, I thought you were referring to this incident: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff4XuPtAOUk
Something tells me that the Constable’s shot was luck. Never said he was intending to disarm, just that he did
I like how he thinks the SWAT officers were military. In the US, we can’t use military personnel on citizens within US borders.
by “he” i mean the guy in the video
It’s fine when it works out, but the downside is it gives the uninformed masses the impression that real-life works just like the movies and that the cops should be pulling off this sort of feat all the time. There have been examples already where trick shots like this have failed and the end result was disastrous.
Such a fucking awesome scene. I need to watch that movie again.
A 30 yard shot with a rifle during the daytime with a relatively static target (i.e. not a deer running in the woods) is not that hard.
Now the question that will probably never be answered: Was it intentional, or fortune?
When I say fortune, it could have been that the BG was bringing the firearm up past the aim point and accidentally intercepted the round in his hand. Could the BG have getting into a weaver or isosceles.
Regardless it was good thing.
A quote from one of my favorite movies came to mind when I read this (Boondock Saints).
“Television. Television is the explanation for this – you see this in bad television. Little assault guys creeping through the vents, coming in through the ceiling – that James Bond shit never happens in real life! Professionals don’t do that!”
I’ve seen a few real videos of guns getting shot from bad guys. It’s always fun to watch, but risky business.
I like how you assume that if you had to shoot someone you would be able to just go on about your life as if nothing happened. I am all for doing what needs to be done to protect others and/or myself from someone with bad intentions, but taking a human life (even a wacko’s) probably has a much deeper impact on your life than you want to admit.
Yeah, even with out the psychological impact, I’m sure there’s a shit ton of paper work and meetings the officer would have to go through.