You guys watch too much TV. In the real world, we have been trained to follow the first rule by shooting center mass until the threat is no longer. There is no limit to the number of rounds that can be fired to terminate the threat. The principle that the Law Dog refers to is known as the "21 foot rule" and it is for real. If the threat is closer than 21 feet, you are toast. Rent the video "Surviving edged weapons". It is required viewing for all law enforcement personel. Each Agency has a use of force continuum to guide the escalation of the use of force. For example, It may start out with "mere presence", like when you are called to a gang fight and when you show, the little cretans scatter. No more problem. The next step might be verbal comands. The next step might be physical control holds. Full sized men like myself can get a lot of mileage out of this one, especially once the "angle of cooperation" is reached (easily recognized when the subjects heels come off the ground). The next step might be aerosol restraints (Oeloresin Capsicum). There is actually tremendous entertainment value in this one. There are not enough holes in the human head for all of the snot to come out of. Most people who need to be hosed will communicate this need to be hosed verbally, like "I'm gonna kick your *ss!". Great. It's good to set goals. They should be realistic goals, but it's a start. Here, have some pepper with that. The only downside is that everybody gets hosed, it's just shades of hosedness (I think I just made up a word). The next step would be impact weapons. The PR-24 is a great tool with many uses, but most people won't train with it enough to be truly proficient, and they get kicked across the street often when bailing out of the car in a hurry. The ASP is a very simple tool, but after my in-service on blood born pathogens, I am not so sure about the idea of whacking someone with a steel club. I don't need someone's blood spattering on me. The final option would be deadly physical force (usually a firearm, but anything that works is okay). Police officers are not in the business of losing fights. The police are not there for an evenly matched contest of physical combat. The police are there to win (I refer you back to the first rule). In order to win, the police are generally authorized to use one or two levels of force above the level of force being used on themselves or a third person. So if you raise a club at a police officer, expect to get turned off.
