This started in Salt Lake City, of all places - if an armed assailant could get within 21 feet of an officer and still refused to drop his weapon, the officer was authorized to shoot him. I saw a video - there are many of them - where this rule was ignored. A psycho with a large knife was slowly stalking one of two officers who were about 30 feet apart. They BEGGED him to drop the knife repeatedly, but the nut got closer, and finally rushed one of them, who actually let him make CONTACT, forcing his partner to shoot and kill him. The “rushee” should’ve been fired, or spend the next 6 months on the “rubber gun squad”, flying a desk. FYI
I have stated this before but if a teenager can run 100 yards in less than 10 seconds, he can cover twenty yards less than two seconds. How fast is your gun draw and firing with accuracy? In a high stress situation?
At 10 yards you have less than a second and that is thirty feet to draw your gun, aim and fire. Did you take it off of safety?
Now I have to ask, how many shots will it take to stop someone charging you? Then how long after shooting them will it take for them to actually stop being a threat?
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Where is the logic for firing or taking the officer off the street? Bad guy rushed officer with knife, partner ended the conflict. Good guys go home at the end of the day.
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21 feet doesn’t authorize anybody to do anything. It was presented to show what can happen within 21 feet distance.
Safe distance can be 3 feet.. or 50 feet - all depends on situation - environment, age and physical conditions, weapon.
The situation described has nothing to do with Tueller Principle. LEOs will ask to drop the knife million times, till the knife is dropped, secured or threat neutralized. Nobody is measuring the distance. They know (or at least should know) what is a safe distance for them at the moment.
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Knife in hand, Police with gun yelling “DROP THE KNIFE”!, Guy with Knife moves toward Police, police shoot guy with knife. SO, What’s the question here?
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I’m not sure 1% of humans could accurately identify 21’.
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I bet, 1% of men can accurately identify 6 inches… 
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Fixed that for you!
Though, depending on your personal preference,… it may be difficult for some men as well.
Ohh never mind.
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