Quote Originally Posted by Syme View Post
Actually the latter situation is not necessarily better. A prosecutor can really go to town on you if you admit that you knowingly used what is legally lethal force (i.e. fired a gun) in a situation where you didn't believe lethal force was justified (since you didn't shoot to kill). You are basically saying "I used lethal force even though I didn't think it was necessary to kill", which amounts to handing the prosecution your ass on a plate. You should NEVER EVER "shoot him in the leg in an attempt to put him down" or anything like that; that's TV nonsense, it has no place in real life. If you shoot at all, shoot for the center of mass. Every professional self-defense instructor will tell you exactly the same thing.
QFT

If you are in a situation where you need to shoot, then it is a life and death situation, and you need to be shooting to kill. Dont give warning shots, or shoot in the leg. Ive actually heard of a criminal sueing a homeowner for shooting him and the homeowner had to pay all kinds of money to pay his medical bills, pain and suffering, etc etc. BS if you ask me, but thats the way the legal system works sometimes.