I read the following in a magazine and thought that parts of the question would be interesting for this forum. Question is not directed at LEO's but for CCW holders. 'Are YOU worth ME using my weapon to defend or protect you? Why would I or anyone else want to risk losing everything for an unknown person?'
Interesting question. What if you were that unknown person. Would you want me to stop and ask myself if you were worth it? Or what if that person were a child? Not trying to dis your post, just adding a few additional things to consider. In any event, I would do what I could to help as long as I didn't become a danger myself. Enjoy!
I carry so that I have a chance to be able to protect my family and/or myself should something bad happen. In most other cases I have a CEL phone for 911 calls.
My family and myself are worth it. As for you, maybe you are and maybe you're not. Lethal force, in my opinion, is always a viable option for anyone who attempts to carjack you, invades your home without a warrant or probable cause, or uses a deadly weapon or brute force on you or your friends or family that you can't easily stop or flee from. Now let's say I'm watching from across the street as a half dozen M-13 gang members are beating a rival from the Black Gorilla Crime Family into the ground. In this case I would not bother confronting these people with my 9mm CC handgun. I would instead take some pictures, head to safety and call the police.
In my concealed carry classes the object was to protect ourselves or another person from the threat of deadly harm in a manner which would not endanger others. And any threat with any kind of weapon constitutes deadly. So guess you guys are worth it.
It is a good question. If I was put into that situation, my mind set would be too end the threat as soon as I can. Whether or not that requires deadly force depends on the situation. But if you are in the mindset of wanting to end the great threat as soon as possible, you indirectly protect those you may not know. Every situation is different, but I think there are those out there who have the guts and the honor to defend a stranger who is in trouble. With more people like that, we could have a better world I think
Good question. Thanks to the Travon Martin fiasco, you have to be very careful. The general thought in Florida is that if you are a white guy and shoot a black guy, depending upon where you live that shot could cost you $50,000 at least in legal fees. If you are in a "progressive" place like Broward or Miami, your chances of getting an extra aggressive DA or Sheriff trying to make political points means you could easily face media driven harassment, time in jail, possibly even charges and bond. Even if you use your firearm to save a stranger and all the facts are on your side, in this environment facts are no guarantee of justice. Is saving a stranger worth ruining your life and bankrupting your family?
HYPOTHETICAL: Suppose you hear a scuffle in a parking lot, and you come upon a man on the ground with another man pointing a gun at him. Clearly, the one with the gun is threatening deadly harm. What do you do?
Good topic. You would have to answer that for yourself, I suppose. As a general rule for me, I would only draw to protect myself or my family (who generally can draw faster than I do). I can't honestly say that if I saw someone raping a child or something like that that I would be able to just stand by and dial 911, though.
My objective as someone who carries everyday is not to parade around masquerading as a hero. My only focus is the safety of my family and that is first and foremost. Everyone and everything else including myself falls secondary. With that being said, I really don't know how I would react to a situation as in Aurora or bearing witness to something of that nature. I have never experienced it so it would be hard to say what I would do. I would like to say I would intervene as long as my family is safe, but until something like that we're to happen to me it would be hard to answer. Tell you what though, I would NOT come to the aid of say, someone getting carjacked that has one of those bumper stickers bashing gun ownership or an Obama 12 bumper sticker.
Pretty hard to tell, does the aggressor look like a gangbanger? Does the one laying on the ground look like a gangbanger? Does one of them look like an everyday normal joe while one looks like a gangbanger? In most cases I would probably pull my gun and call the police, let them sort it out. If the man with the gun becomes aggressive towards me then he's done.
I'm not sure their looks would influence me. because undercover cops look like gangbangers. If I could kneel behind a car I would announce my armed presence and see the reaction of the guy with the gun. If he is a cop he will say so. If he points the gun at me or shoots the guy on the ground I shoot. All this time my phine is on speaker on 911. I hope never to find myself in this situation.
