They do not need to be shot at whatsoever. guy who lived near me was stopped walking down the motorway with an decorative samurai sword. the police approached him and ordered him to throw the sword down. When he refused they shot him with rubber batton rounds from from over 20 yards away. When he got up they shot him dead.
Police marksman?? like fuck!! Shoot him in his legs. He died at the scene.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/4371071.stm