# Common movie hostage situation: Would you take the shot? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 6, 2018, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123 "2018-03-06T17:04:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123/41 "2018-03-07T17:52:53Z")
> [@Crazy\_Canuck](#): > > One question I have for everyone who is saying they would take the shot. > > If the hostage was your child, would you still shoot? How old’s the child? If the child is like, four, he’d be lousy cover. Maybe go for the exposed crotch shot. If he’s an adult and only my child in the sense I was present during conception, I’d do what I would do for person’s I’m not at fault for: stall for time, try to talk him down, and don’t lower the gun. (Except to aim for the crotch shot.) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123/42 "2018-03-07T18:05:51Z")
> [@Crazy\_Canuck](#): > > If the hostage was your child, would you still shoot? It’s the only way he’s going to learn not to be taken hostage. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123/43 "2018-03-07T18:09:26Z")
There was a real-life situation like this not long ago. Sadly, the police ended up killing the hostage (and the criminal). > **[No Charges for Officer in Hostage’s Death (Published 2014)](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/03/nyregion/officer-in-hofstra-hostage-shooting-will-not-face-criminal-charges.html)** > > The Nassau County district attorney’s office said it had found no legal grounds to charge Nikolas Budimlic, who accidentally killed a student last May while confronting an armed hostage taker. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123/44 "2018-03-11T06:25:22Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Nonsense. Their copiers can’t fire a bullet worth shit. 😉 > > ETA: Neither Pachalbel’s nor Tallis’ canon were a 25mm canon. I checked. 😛 I disserved that. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2018, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123/45 "2018-03-12T15:31:33Z")
I can’t remember the title of the movie but it had a bad guy holding a hostage taunting the cop who had the drop on him. “Even if you kill me, my reflexes will get off the shot!” She shot him in the mouth then calmly told the goggle-eyed hostage, “Not when you hit the brain stem.” Doubt the veracity but it was a cool scene. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123/46 "2018-03-13T17:43:35Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > There was a real-life situation like this not long ago. Sadly, the police ended up killing the hostage (and the criminal). > > [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/03/nyregion/officer-in-hofstra-hostage-shooting-will-not-face-criminal-charges.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/03/nyregion/officer-in-hofstra-hostage-shooting-will-not-face-criminal-charges.html) Hmm. Seems like a good reason not to shoot. If a seasoned cop can miss, so can anybody. The only off-premise thing here is the gunman was alternating pointing the gun at the hostage and the cop. If he hadn’t done that, they’d probably be alive today. ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123/47 "2018-03-13T18:05:42Z")
I’m a _BRUTAL_ shot with a handgun. Just pathetic. Trouble getting a .22LR onto a 8" target at 25 yards in a relaxed, stress free scenario. I think I hit the target clamp more than I hit the paper. I would not be taking that shot at any distance. I am a very good shot with a rifle. Can put 95% of my shots in the 1" bullseye at 50 yards using a Chinese made .22LR rifle and a no-name $13 4x power scope. Toss me a shoulder stock for the handgun, and the hostage taker is in real danger (If the ATF doesn’t get me first)! ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123/48 "2018-03-14T11:59:26Z")
> [@Crazy\_Canuck](#): > > One question I have for everyone who is saying they would take the shot. > > If the hostage was your child, would you still shoot? How tall a child? ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123/49 "2018-03-14T13:21:31Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > How tall a child? Four hundred sixty-eight feet. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2018, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123/50 "2018-03-16T23:03:16Z")
> [@wevets](#): > > Four hundred sixty-eight feet. Then no. I expect a 468’ foot child to stomp on the gunmen him/herself. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2018, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123/51 "2018-03-16T23:13:17Z")
I wouldn’t shoot, but I definitely wouldn’t drop my weapon, either. Because dropping my weapon is an open invitation for the gunman to shoot me. It always bugs me that movie cop characters never seem to see that coming. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2018, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123/52 "2018-03-17T04:25:08Z")
With a handgun? Absolutely no way I’m going for the head shot. I might shoot at their feet though. If you mean any gun of my choosing, with a good enough rifle there’s a tiny chance I’d take the head shot. I don’t know that I’d be able to, but in the moment I do know where my bullet is going. I don’t have the stamina anymore to stand there for hours waiting for the right nanosecond, but if it came while I was still solid and I _knew_ I had him in the sights I would go for it. The chances of all that happening are vanishingly small. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2018, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123/53 "2018-03-17T22:08:01Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I wouldn’t shoot, but I definitely wouldn’t drop my weapon, either. This apparently is the correct answer, as time is generally on the good guy’s side. (You _are_ a good guy, right? :D) TV Tropes: [Put Down Your Gun and Step Away](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PutDownYourGunAndStepAway) [INDENT][INDENT][INDENT][INDENT] The heroes will do _exactly_ that, and it’s usually only a stroke of luck that saves them from the villain just plugging them right then and there. That or a case of Bond Villain Stupidity. It’s implied that karmically this is the right thing to do, though, so that stroke of luck will happen nearly every time as a “reward.” Even trained police and military will do this, which goes against every rule and all logic in real life in regards to this situation. [/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT] More: [Shoot the Hostage](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ShootTheHostage): not a great idea, as shots to the leg can kill. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2018, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123/54 "2018-03-17T23:42:43Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Nonsense. Their copiers can’t fire a bullet worth shit. 😉 > > ETA: Neither Pachalbel’s nor Tallis’ canon were a 25mm canon. I checked. 😛 Though I have seen 1812 Overature with an artillery unit backing the orchestra… ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123/55 "2018-03-18T00:34:52Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > … > If you apply enough kinetic energy to someone’s head in a short enough amount of time, it will behave like a watermelon hit with a baseball bat but that has little to do with the precise spot… Sidetrack: My hunter - safety instructor was blind. Shot himself in the face when he tripped while rabbit hunting. For range day I watched him use a rifle to shoot a watermelon at 75 yards. His spotter and he are a good team. > [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Many Dead Deer video clips show the deer being shot in the heart area, running for a number of yards, and only then collapsing and dying. I’ve tracked heartshot deer through an 80 acre cedar swamp and had them leave the far end. Even after the blood trail stopped they still can go 30-40 yards. That is one reason, when the opportunity presents itself, I go for the head shot. They don’t go far with half a head. BTW, it still takes a few minutes even then for the body to stop spasming. I’ve never fired a handgun so in the OPs situation, hand me my shotgun or rifle. I would aim at the hand holding the weapon if it as to the side of the hostage. Especially with the shotgun (deer slug not pellets) the force would move the gun away from the hostage faster than the jerk could jerk. AND he’d have to use his other hand to pick it up. Otherwise the possibility of the death spasm pulling the trigger would most likely hold my trigger finger. I am a good enough shot at that range to not accidentally hit the hostage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-movie-hostage-situation-would-you-take-the-shot/810123.md?page=2)