So when does it start

Hey remember awhile back when there seemed to be lots of people who wanted to tell you that the zombies are already among us. That the news stories indicate there are actual zombies out there, eating people, and creating more of their kind. They tell me the "government" is suppressing evidence, and that they won't tell us anything of value until it is too late. That we are more or less left to our own devices to determine when to take action. At least some of these people apparently own firearms, of which they seem extremely fond. I see from the rest of the "news", that we don't talk about here, that shooting somebody just because they scare you will get you a ticket to the monkey house to play volleyball for the rest of your life.

So it got me thinking. as thinking, responsible, human beings, let me ask, "At what point do you intend to open fire?" How do you know if the person walking towards you is undead, as opposed to say a disoriented wino, or a person with a disability or an injury?  Do they need to be an actual zombie before you kill them, or just appear "zombie like"? What constitutes a threat worth shooting someone?

Now, let's keep in mind you can't afford to get scratched or bitten. Even a minor wound inflicted by a zombie would seem to guarantee infection and death. You have to maintain at least some distance. The chances are you aren't going to get a chance at a conversation. Also keep in mind that going in front of a judge saying "I thought he was a zombie," after you just smoked Harry the Homeless guy, is going to get you laughed at before they send you off for a life of savage man love in a state institution. Zombies are unlikely to threaten you, brandish a weapon, our otherwise give you excuse under existing law for the use of deadly force. So at what point do you shoot somebody, or bust them in the head with your tire iron, or whatever?

I am not trying to be a butthead here, but these are these questions that make the difference between a legitimate defense of one's life, and appearing on the news as another deluded jackass of a nutcase who is going to the slam for the rest of his life. If we consider any of this "real", it is my thought that if anyone is actually planning on picking up a gun they should have a pretty clear idea on what they intend to do with it, but I don't seem to hear much about that.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.