WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. I will PAY for you to take a concealed carry class.
This kind of ignorance is perpetuated by non-gunners and the media.
"Oh, just shoot out a leg. Shoot the gun out of his hand. It's easy."
Complete hogwash.
...
You use a firearm when there is no other option of force available. It is the absolute last resort after harsh language and other physical implements fail.
When you pull the trigger on a firearm that is pointed at someone else...your intent is to destroy them. You shoot to kill, you don't shoot to wound.
You focus your front sight over the bad guy's sternum (center mass) and squeeze in short successions until he goes down.
This is both a philosophical and legal principle. Regardless of the outcome of your shot, the intent is, was, and should always be to kill.
If you have to unholster a firearm and point it at someone because of a life-threatening situation (the only viable reason)... you should be in the mindset that you are going to shoot your weapon with the purpose of killing them. There is no wounding, there is no grazing... the righteous use of firearms goes: "I am defending my life by taking yours." Serious shit.
We don't have any Star Trek "Set phasers to stun!" technology yet.
Firearms are
lethal weapons and should be treated as such.