Originally posted by: Nebor
Originally posted by: BigJ
So you'd rather be dead than paralyzed?
So the officer obtaining cover, calling in for backup, and confronting the thugs would do no good for you?
Not to mention you combined all the scenarios into one big one.
If it's one officer versus two thugs, with the officer already calling in backup, taking cover, and confronting the thugs, he'd be useless to you? Especially when only one is actively armed, since the other is giving it to you good.
Or if it's only one assailant, and he's stabbed you and is proceeding to rob you. Since you're paralyzed, might as let him go anway, right?
Yes, I would rather be dead than paralyzed, but that's not the point.
Any one of those scenarios represents a HUGE failure to observe your surroundings and avoid the situation.
In the event that you ARE at gunpoint, police officers, tacticians and experienced combatants the world over will tell you your best chance is still to draw your own weapon and shoot. It's a much better situation than being at the mercy of someone else. You take them by suprise because they don't expect you to disobey them. And if you're talking about "street thugs" then they're not very likely to be able to hit you, and may not even be willing to shoot you. Regardless, experience has shown it's better to take action than be a hostage.