This points out a subtle legal doctrine about guns that speaks to the psychology of gun use, and something I advocate that gun users be aware of.
That is, it is a psychological trap to think of guns as somehow magically imparting “control” in a situation. Far too many people assume it does, and get in trouble because of it. Instead, it is best to think of a gun as just “part of the equation” in a situation.
Police encounter this a lot, especially with people who are so drunk that they don’t even register that the officer is brandishing a gun and pointing at them. Their mindset is not a lethal confrontation—they want to wrestle or brawl. If you talk to a street cop, they will likely admit to more brawling than they can remember. Not because they couldn’t have shot them, but because they didn’t want to, thinking it inappropriate.
(And this is a reason police often adore Tasers, because it gives them a less lethal option. Guns, however, have only three major modes: holstered, brandished, or firing.)
Now granted, it is obvious that in *some* circumstances, guns can impart *some* control, for *some* amount of time. But it takes a lot of experience, even training from experts, to get it just right. And most people do not have the time or opportunity to get such experience.
So the best recommendation is to try and minimize your gun use in a situation, so that its effects are optimized. And this goes to my profound support of concealed carry, because it imparts huge advantages in a situation—most of which are before it has been exposed.
The woman in this case brandished and barked an order because her husband and the other two were focused on their fight, and she needed to break that up in a hurry. That is a good use for a handgun. The retreat of the other two proved that.
“Minimal use” is actually a very good legal defense, because while it is judgment based, it suggests that you were both trying to avoid escalation beyond stopping a crime, and that you were keeping a calm head. Both judges and juries like that.
I am in agreement with everything you mentioned.
Of course, its easy for me to agree.... I was an LEO for 30 years. ;>)