Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: So I am in Florida visiting and Florida recognizes my Ohio CCW permit soI am [View all]Atypical Liberal
(5,412 posts)I suggest you read some of the books by Ayoob Massad on when to defensively use a firearm.
The first thing you need to understand is that in spite of ever-more progressive self-defense laws around the country, if you are involved in a self-defense shooting you are probably going to be on the hook for several, if not tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees.
CCW reciprocity does allow you to carry a concealed firearm on other states than your home state, but it does not change the laws of the other states. So if you are going to carry in another state, you better be aware of what their laws are and what the consequences are of using your firearm may be. Of course there is always the axiom that says it is better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6, and maybe you think it is best not to worry about the law and rely on your own judgement of a violent situation instead. But you asked "what would the law do down there?"
In spite of what many are saying about self-defense laws being a license to shoot anyone who looks funny, all self-defense laws specifically say that you have to reasonably believe you are in danger.
And that is the key. You have to reasonably believe you are in danger, and you have to be able to convince the authorities that you reasonably believed you were in danger.
It seems to me that you are safest "standing your ground" if there is physical evidence to corroborate your story. If the guy really does have a gun or some other weapon, for example. Or if you are bearing injuries from your attacker. Or if there are witnesses that can verify the attacker's violent behavior.
But if someone just "jumps out of their car" and you feel threatened and you shoot them, are you going to be able to convince the authorities that you reasonably feared for your safety? Maybe yes, maybe no. It's a risk.