Your shot vs. the BG's trigger

[Ruark]

We've all seen the scenario on TV where the BG is holding a gun to a hostage's head and everybody puts down their guns. Or he's standing in a bank or convenience store pointing a gun across the counter at an employee.

I've heard numerous times that if such a BG is shot through the head, that he will NOT pull the trigger, that his fingers will reflexively extend, not contract. But I've heard just the opposite, too. This is one of those questions where "everybody is an expert."

One variable might be the type of gun. I would assume that if he's holding a DA revolver or a semiauto with a long DA trigger pull, and you put a round through his head, he probably won't make the shot. But what if he's got the hammer back and his finger is resting on a light SA trigger pull?

Does anybody have any reliable information on this topic?

[speedsix]

...no...

[RPB]

We've all seen the scenario on TV where the BG is holding a gun to a hostage's head and everybody puts down their guns. Or he's standing in a bank or convenience store pointing a gun across the counter at an employee.

I've heard numerous times that if such a BG is shot through the head, that he will NOT pull the trigger, that his fingers will reflexively extend, not contract. But I've heard just the opposite, too. This is one of those questions where "everybody is an expert."

One variable might be the type of gun. I would assume that if he's holding a DA revolver or a semiauto with a long DA trigger pull, and you put a round through his head, he probably won't make the shot. But what if he's got the hammer back and his finger is resting on a light SA trigger pull?

Does anybody have any reliable information on this topic?

...no...

Situation:

BG is holding a gun to a hostage's head

A) If BG shoots hostage, he no longer has a shield from your bullets unless he tries to drag the limp body around, so he'd be a fool to shoot the hostage.
B) If uncocked revolver, why doesn't hostage grab cylinder to prevent it from rotating so it can't fire
B)1) if cocked revolver, I suggest hostage place finger in front of hammer
B)2) If SemiAuto, perhaps hostage should rack the slide out of battery so the firing pin doesn't reach the cartridge/ and drop the mag if it has a mag/safety

I wouldn't risk shooting a hostage instead of a BG if my hand shakes a bit, but a BG would be foolish to shoot a hostage, I might tell him that .... if he hears me from across the street while I'm on the 911 phone ... I can still exit a building pretty fast if I have to ...

I've seen an elephant fly on TV ... big ole' ears ... and my niece watches this talking dog on TV, Martha Speaks ...apparently the alphabet soup letters "lost their way" from the stomach and went to her brain ... I suggest Martha only eat the G P S letters next time.

[C247]

I've heard of this on another site. Here is the link to the Wikipedia info:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaccid_paralysis_(shooting" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)#_

Granted, it is Wikipedia but it's been mentioned before on various sites and it is considered a "technique" by certain people.

I've never tested it.

Edit-
Found another mention: http://forums.uechi-ryu.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21510" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ( I know nothing about the site and didn't read it over, don't know about language or content)

[RoyGBiv]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaccid_ ... (shooting)#_

Something wrong with that link.... Might just be that my browser doesn't like the format...

This one worked for me..... LINK

[The Annoyed Man]

It absolutely depends on what part of the brain you hit. It also depends on whether your shot destroys the brain stem. It also depends on whether or not your shot transects the spinal cord at the base of the brain stem. Personally, I wouldn't take the shot unless I saw the BG's trigger about to break and I had nothing to lose. Too many variables.

[fickman]

It may not work, but it's worth a shot.











*Seriously, I agree with others. . . it's really based on a lot of factors:
- Is BG focused on you or not?
- Do you have a clear, dependable shot at BG?
- Do you believe the BG is imminently intent on killing (in which case you might take more decisive, riskier actions)?
- etc.

[RSJ]

Wrong on all accounts!
It was a gun free and 30.06 zone! It is phyiscally impossible for him to have a gun there in the first place!

In reality, I respectfully disagree with a few posts above me about putting finger infront of hammer, or trying to manipulate the weapon. I just don't see myself or another being able to make the gun malfunction faster than the BG can pull the trigger. This is even harder IMHO when the gun is behind or beside your head and locating the piece or part is VERY hard to find and eye-hand coordinate in time. If you are the hostage, and worried death is imminent, then why not go for it, you've got nothing to lose. otherwise, aside from doing one of these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQNDMfOVV8M" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (should be safe for work, note: it is a fake scenario of BG with gun to GG's head, subsequent disarm) I'll pray the LEO or GG can take out his functioning brain ASAP

[Purplehood]

I was once told by a Federal guy that a shot in the head would probably stop him from pulling the trigger.
Take that for what it's worth.

Was it a TSA Agent?

[JJVP]

BG is holding a gun to a hostage's head
A) If BG shoots hostage, he no longer has a shield from your bullets unless he tries to drag the limp body around, so he'd be a fool to shoot the hostage.

BG are usually not members of the Mensa club, so shooting the hostage might be a possibility.

B) If uncocked revolver, why doesn't hostage grab cylinder to prevent it from rotating so it can't fire
B)1) if cocked revolver, I suggest hostage place finger in front of hammer
B)2) If SemiAuto, perhaps hostage should rack the slide out of battery so the firing pin doesn't reach the cartridge/ and drop the mag if it has a mag/safety

Most hostages will do good to just not pee in their pants/skirts. Unless it is a trained person, he/she will not know how to do any of those.

[Ruark]

I guess I should have made the focus of the OP clearer. I'm referring more specifically to the effect of a head shot - whether or not it will (or won't) prevent a BG from pulling a trigger when he has a gun pointed at a hostage or robbery victim. I've read that a round through the head, particularly through the eye socket, will cause the fingers to extend, not contract, for example.

I don't think the "area of the brain" would make that much difference, e.g. hitting the brain stem, etc. The hydrostatic shock wave of a decent-sized hollow point blasting through the cranial cavity is NOT going to allow the brain time to send a message saying "pull the trigger," whether you hit the brain stem or not.

[recaffeination]

hydrostatic shock wave

If you shoot him with an AR15 or other rifle round...

[74novaman]

I don't think the "area of the brain" would make that much difference, e.g. hitting the brain stem, etc. The hydrostatic shock wave of a decent-sized hollow point blasting through the cranial cavity is NOT going to allow the brain time to send a message saying "pull the trigger," whether you hit the brain stem or not.

Really? I'd be interested to see the studies/examples of that.

There are lots of cases (unfortunately, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have provided more proof of this) where someone is shot in the head, suffers brain damage and still retains some level of function.

I don't think we can really definitively say that a cranial hit is a 100% guaranteed man stopper, especially with a pistol round.