They didn't say "... a gun has been waved...", they said, "...threatened with a gun." In England and Wales, Section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 provides that a person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime. Common Law recognises that it is lawful for a person to use reasonable means in defence of another.

In addition it has been held that it can be lawful to take action pre-emptively against an anticipated attack (Beckford (1988); Attorney-General?s Reference (No.2 of 1983) (1984)).

In short, yes it is true - in the UK, if you point a firearm at another person in circumstances where there is a perceived threat to life, you will be shot by armed police to remove the treat to life. The likely inquest verdict is the rare finding of "lawful killing".

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