This one just kinda occurred to me when I was plotting out a three-strip arc of Omar and Maria fucking in graphic detail. Thank my laziness to the heavens, readers. You did not want to see what I originally wanted to draw.
New job is interesting. We’ll see how it goes.
Fuck, I’m tired. And this is the 300th strip in FTF. Might only run for two and a half years at this rate – the plot progressed faster than I expected. Ah well. I think you’ll like where this story goes.
This is going to sound weird, but this gal… I think she should have fired into the dirt instead of the air. Firing into the air? What goes up DOES come down. I get that she only wanted a warning shot, and I don’t actually agree with that kind of shit (THANKS, BIDEN), but if you’re GOING to pull a move like that, FIRE INTO THE DIRT. I dunno. Your thoughts?
In other news: Life is fucking good. Get up and shake your ass to this shit.
Reckless endangerment, or some firearm-related version of the charge, aye.
My thoughts on warning shots: “A warning shot is what the SECOND jackass gets when I shoot his buddy.”
My thoughts, courtesy of Phantasm: You don’t point a gun at a man unless you intend to shoot him, and you don’t shoot at a man unless you intend to kill him. AND NO WARNING SHOTS. Warning shots are bullshit!
Also, Seeed: snappiest dressers ever, amirite? (aside from, you know, the whole musical geniuses thing.) I heard tell all their costumes are designed exclusively for each video and show, and the designer refuses to license them despite huge demand.
Bullet comes down and it’s surprising at what distance they can still injure. And if they can injure, then they can kill. I heard story of a bullet from Yugo M59/66 killing a man waiting for a bus more than kilometer and a half away from the army barracks. Afterwards the JNA built bullet stop berms for the sentries to empty the weapons.
The lady in the article was in bad position though, kids in group can go absolutely feral and mere sight of a gun might not dissuade them as they know their protected status. You are fucked if you shoot one of them and the warning shot is thus a less bad option. However it should be in the dirt if possible.
Seeed is always a good beat to listen to, though I prefer Music Monks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmK7LTcXaeM or Dickles B http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYK-NfOo7b4
Warning shots should only be conducted by ships at sea. Shooting into the air the round comes down who knows where at it’s max range (unless a building is in the way). Shooting at the ground risks a ricochet that could come back at the shooter.
I was drilled on this by my father until I was sick of hearing it: Never fire at anything you’re not willing to destroy. When you shoot into the air, you nave no idea where that spend bullet is coming down.
If you *must* fire a warning shot (almost always a BAD idea!), put it into the ground, or a tree… somewhere where you can *prove* you didn’t just accidentally kill or maim someone.
No coffee yet – Can’t speel to save life…
(that was deliberate)
No warning shots. If what you’re trying to kill – which should be the only reason you point a gun at a person, because you’re trying to KILL THEM – survives? The shot you fired was a warning shot. Don’t “aim for the leg” don’t “shoot to scare” don’t “try to graze” your target. Center mass.
I carry in VA. If you’re not justified in using deadly force, don’t even draw. That said, in her situation, I might’ve popped one into the ground. Into the air, forget it.
I looked up the address on google maps:
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Cridercrest+Place+Woodbridge&ll=38.65381,-77.268187&spn=0.00247,0.004356&hnear=Cridercrest+Pl,+Woodbridge,+Prince+William,+Virginia+22191,+United+States&gl=uk&t=h&z=19
Looks like there is some dirt available there, but it’s probably full of rocks and rubble. Builders are shit like that. Into the air, even ESE towards the Potomac, isn’t safe. She’s “in town” no matter how big the gardens between houses are.
If she had to shoot, she should have fired into the dirt. Specifically into the dirt that was attacking her daughter, and then into any other piece of dirt that tried shit.
I have fired warning shots once in my life.
Granted, I was also firing at a fucking BEAR.
Also, forgot my video link and I think it is entirely on-topic and appropriate for this discussion:
Whoops, no YT link…try again… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6nbFZtxAL4
In many states where there is a duty to retreat, firing a warning shot can spell disaster for your defense should you have to kill them. If you can fire a warning shot you can retreat. Whether true or not, the prosecutor WILL use that as evidence you were not in danger. Thank %DEITY% that I live in a state with no duty to retreat. But warning shots are still a bad idea in general. They waste ammo.
“Warning shots” are a situational necessity. Not all situations call for a warning, but sometimes it’s the better option.
Generally, if there’s enough range/time for attacker to ‘reconsider his fate’, then yes, a warning shot may give an out and/or look good in court.
Otherwise, let there be no conflicting testimony.
Also, growing up, I was taught that from the instant the bullet leaves the barrel to when it finally stops, the shooter is responsible for EVERYTHING hit, so yeah, aim for something, instead of the open sky.
Like the Swedish army taught me about guard duty. “Untill that bullet has come to a dead stop, you are directly responsible for any damage it causes.”
Why is firing into the air a problem? Yes, what goes up comes down, but when it comes down, it has only the force of gravity pulling it, not the force of an explosion. I’ve had buckshot land on my head from someone trying to break up a fight; didn’t even tickle..
Firing at the dirt, I’d worry about ricochet off a hidden rock or pavement.
But I’m not expert, so I may have missed something.
“Shots in the air” have killed people.* Sure, it’s rare as hen’s teeth, but it’s a real chance. And you have absolutely no idea where that spent bullet will land, or on what.
Rule 1: The gun is ALWAYS loaded until *proven* otherwise.
Rule 2: Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times.
Corollary to Rule 2: Never aim at anything you’re not willing to destroy.
Rule 3: Never place your finger on the trigger until ready to fire.
Rule 4: Be certain of your target, and what is beyond it.
So there you have it: Violation of the intent of Rule 2 (no idea where the bullet may come down, thus placing MANY things under threat without intent), and violation of Rule 4.
*Examples of ‘spent’ bullet fatalities:
http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=IVP19100924.2.15
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-07-05/local/40393703_1_stray-bullet-july-4th-fireworks-mortality-rate
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7996596
“Bullets fired other than exactly vertical are more dangerous, as the bullet maintains its angular ballistic trajectory, is far less likely to engage in tumbling motion, and so travels at a speed much higher than its terminal velocity would be in a purely vertical fall.”
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/12/31/20091231shannon1231.html
I was sitting in my truck one New Year’s Eve and had some reveler’s .22 bullet come down in the bed. Shook the whole truck, sounded like someone dropped a sledgehammer into it and left a nice dimple in the steel. And I ain’t steel
Because buckshot fired into the air will be coming down with the velocity of a .38 round. Even “only under gravity.” If it weren’t for air resistance, the shot would come down with EXACLTY the velocity it left the barrel. With air resistance, it’s still coming down pretty damn fast.
Point the first: You don’t know where that shot is going, thus violating Rule 3, not to mention generally being an irresponsible dick. Gun owners have quite enough of an image problem with the general public already, thanks.
Point the second: Shots coming off the top of a ballistic arc can and do kill several people every year. In third-world hellholes like most of the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa, where Firing Into The Air A Lot is a common expression of celebration, it’s several *hundred* people killed every year.
Wondering why my comment has been in moderation hell, like all day…
Sorry, was away from my computer.
S’ Cool… Eventually I got smart enough to figure that out. Typically takes me a couple days to wise up. :p
I didn’t know Seeed had done an English version of that song. My copy of the new album has that song all in German, called “Augenbling”. Thanks for the link! As always, they’re awesome.
cheers,
Phil
really omar? in a gun range? an indoor one at that?
with all the lead and unburnt powder, and god knows what else, sounds like a fantastic way to get dick cancer. no thank you.
If he was eating his lunch, it’s not dick cancer he needs to worry about…
Read that in a ‘wink wink nudge nudge’ mental tone of voice, for full effect.
😉
“Ptui. Spalling.”
*snerk*
Damnit, not when i´m drinking!!
Well yeah it should be in the dirt..IF there was any dirt!
If it was concrete? Maybe she was afraid of a ricochet?
Besides, who the hell knows about warning shots fired into the dirt? In all the movies and TV shows, they fire into the air. And that’s about all the “warning shot” training that many people get. The pervasive images of people firing into the air, from movies etc., is more of an influence in time of crisis than some contrary advice that is not common knowledge.
It’s interesting to note that while the woman got arrested for trying to avoid conflict and hurting anybody, while protecting her daughter against a gang of about 10 guys, we don’t read that said group of males ever got any action taken against them???
Hey I liked the joke in the last frame–a lot! Had to read it over several times though.
It might help if Omar’s “I” was italicized.
P.S. Warning shots? That’s what knees are for.
😀
What? You kneecap folks as a warning shot? o.0
Remind me to stay on your good side… 😀
Well sure.
I’d be “warning” that the next one will be closer to..um..center of body mass.
😀
Seriously I’ve never fired a warning shot in my life; not sure that I would. It’d depend on the situation I guess.
I love Omar.
Yeah, another crowing about ‘no warning shots’- I was also taught, if you have to draw, AND fire, you go direct for the kill, no warning shots, no attempt to maim. while dead people’s families can sue, it’s usually easier to prove they needed to be put down than to justify crippling them for the rest of their life, which will also cripple you financially for the rest of yours.
it would seem Mick needs better eye protection.
Welding goggles, maybe?