It's interesting that you mention this.
Since I'm not exactly on the up-and-up as far as the culture of urban youts is concerned, how likely is it that if one urban yout is severely wounded, that the others will try to get him "to the rear," so to speak, out of the line of fire?
If not likely, then go ahead and take as many killshots as you can - thin their numbers as quickly as possible.
On the other hand, if they are likely to do so, then take as many gut shots as you can. Make them spend two guys hauling the third back, and let them all see what it looks like to have a guy's intestines dragging the ground.
Let's face it - street thugs are not fighters. They are bullies. They wouldn't last a day in the face of sustained, determined resistance. If they came up against armed citizen militias who had made up their minds to defend their homes, the urban youts would crumble, run away, and try to find easier pickings. This will be accelerated if they start seeing nasty gunshot wound casualties by the scores.
“On the other hand, if they are likely to do so, then take as many gut shots as you can.”
I was thinking of a little below the gut :)
If we are fighting muzzies, then making a kill shot against a muzzie only accomplishes what the muzzie wants. Cripple his manhood and protect his goats.
If we are fighting street punks of the dark skinned persuasion whose manhood is everything, the morale factor comes in with the screams of the wounded ringing in the ears of their fellow thugs. They won’t be able to put up much resistance with one hand covering their private parts!
In an unlikely scenario where we are fighting UN troops, they will take care of the wounded, and you get a twofer for every shot. Win, win in every situation!