Lesson 24: Don’t fire warning shots.

The law treats an unjustified gunshot as the use of deadly force—even if no one gets hurt. Firing a gun into the air or toward the ground can be reckless and dangerous. If you’re not legally justified to use deadly force, you’re not legally justified in firing a warning shot. If you are justified, a warning shot may only embolden your attacker. Regardless of your intent, a warning shot is not a legally viable less-lethal option, and it creates new legal and tactical risks.