Against The Unarmed: A Disparity Of Force Shooting

American Handgunner, Sept, 2001 by Massad Ayoob

The use of deadly force is never easy for good people, and it was particularly difficult in the circumstances of this case. At the same time, it was necessary. Perhaps the clearest lesson is that the presence of the pistol in a competent armed citizen's hands clearly saved a life here.

"I had prepared mentally for instant defensive action, for use of cover, and for giving myself time for effective deployment of an adequate weapons system," says Jim today. "Despite the fact that the situation advanced from dead silence with a possible attacker outside the house, to a shattered heavy door, to a rapidly closing attacker at point blank range, all in less than three seconds total, the defense proved adequate to the task."

He adds, "The situation was exactly as Jeff Cooper described in Principles of Personal Defense in that just the fact of the existence of a swift defense so startled the attacker that the defender gained the time and space to act effectively."

The author wishes to thank the Irving Texas Police Department and particularly Detective Mark Kimball, for their exemplary handling of this case and their cooperation in making this article possible.