What would you do?

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11 years 6 months ago - 11 years 6 months ago #25070 by Dabu
What would you do? was created by Dabu
You're a civilian (no leo) using the bathroom at gas station. You walk out there are two guys with guns pointed at the girl at the cash register. They cant see you from where you're located, and the cashier is out of your line of fire. Is it your moral obligation to engage or stop the threat? Would you react, if so how would you feel if you kill two 16 year old kids with airsoft guns? Would you feel worse for that, or if you didn't react and they shoot the cashier in front of you and leave. Or do you pull your weapon and just hope they drop theirs.

What would your reaction be to this situation?
Last edit: 11 years 6 months ago by Dabu.

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11 years 6 months ago #25072 by jtallen83
Replied by jtallen83 on topic What would you do?
If my gut says DANGER then they better hope I can stop the bleeding and the EMT's get to them fast. I seem to hit a little low and left when I hurry a shot so odds are they would live. :usa:

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11 years 6 months ago #25073 by Dabu
Replied by Dabu on topic What would you do?
So when you would engage?

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11 years 6 months ago #25074 by 13fcolt
Replied by 13fcolt on topic What would you do?
It's that whole 'indifference of good men' that comes to mind when questions like this get asked. There are strong, valid arguments for either decision. I think it boils down to culture and upbringing. Are you the kind that can let them do harm and get away to potentially do more?

We can 'what if' any scenario to death. What if the guns are fake?, What if the stupid tweakers didn't even have ammo?, what if Sasquatch is bleeding out behind the beef jerky?
Hindsight never saves anybody.

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11 years 6 months ago #25075 by Siscowet
Replied by Siscowet on topic What would you do?
A lot of if's. if you are out of voice range, I would call 911 on the cell and get ready to engage if their body english told me they were going to pull the trigger, otherwise I might refrain. If the cell is not an option, you have to assume that they would point their guns at you when you show yourself, so personally, I would have a difficult time shooting them without some kind of warning. My feeling is, you start to say "drop your weapons" and any movement towards you at all you start shooting. I can hit two targets in 1 second, but with the adrenaline in this scenario, If I start shooting, I don't stop until the threat is resolved, or I am out of ammo, or dead. Maybe I am off base, but legally I am guessing you could just start shooting as there was a threat to the cashier. Never having been in combat or shot a person, I would have a mental threshold I would have to break through for the first time in my life to do something like that. This is good food for thought.

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11 years 6 months ago #25076 by foxhunter
Replied by foxhunter on topic What would you do?

Siscowet wrote: A lot of if's. if you are out of voice range, I would call 911 on the cell and get ready to engage if their body english told me they were going to pull the trigger, otherwise I might refrain. If the cell is not an option, you have to assume that they would point their guns at you when you show yourself, so personally, I would have a difficult time shooting them without some kind of warning. My feeling is, you start to say "drop your weapons" and any movement towards you at all you start shooting. I can hit two targets in 1 second, but with the adrenaline in this scenario, If I start shooting, I don't stop until the threat is resolved, or I am out of ammo, or dead. Maybe I am off base, but legally I am guessing you could just start shooting as there was a threat to the cashier. Never having been in combat or shot a person, I would have a mental threshold I would have to break through for the first time in my life to do something like that. This is good food for thought.


That is what I would do, except I can't hit 2 targets in 1 second. I hope I would be in control enough to use the Matt Dillon approach...take the extra 1/2 second to take better aim, so when my clip is empty, all shots are on target. I also hope I never have to find out what I would do.

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11 years 6 months ago #25077 by jtallen83
Replied by jtallen83 on topic What would you do?
There are lots of ifs.......I see it as my obligation to put myself between the bad guys and anyone unarmed, I don't know why other than that it is how I was raised, always help others in need if you can.
Once in my mid 20's a disgruntled boyfriend of a gal that was "spending time" with my roommate kicked in the door on our trailer. I was close to the door in a chair with my back to him. I went for my weapon across the room and got caught with a chunk of chain the idiot was swinging, knocked me down but I fell on the magazine rack containing my pistol. He was very lucky to stop moving when he saw the gun, I intended to shoot but when he stood still I jumped on him and ended up with an arm around his neck and the pistol shoved in his mouth, chipped a few teeth. We walked to his car together this way, I swept his feet and separated. He got in his car and left. After some reflection I decided if I was going to live a little on the wild side I should remove any firearms from my immediate presence. So many things could have gone different and real bad. I decided to just rely on my previous training, feeling confident that I had the physical ability to handle whatever.
This all changed in 2003 when I became "disabled". Running or fighting were no longer good options for me so I got my CCP. I have no doubt I will defend myself, depends on what offensive play some idiot might try but I don't plan on giving much warning.

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11 years 6 months ago #25085 by magi
Replied by magi on topic What would you do?
I've noticed... When I've been in threat.. risk.. harm situations... I don't really think so much.... I'm running on instinct... The Muga Mushin state of mind.... I believe this is one of those things where i would have to be there to read the nuances of the situation......

I once was disappointed with myself in a hard situation...... I was 21.... a young woman friend of mine with her infant was visiting the father of her child..... I could hear them yelling.... The baby was crying... She was begging for help..... My mind was clouded and confused.. I had no life experience to relate to sensations of the event... I was going to leave... Then a breath cleared my mind.......
When I entered the bedroom...... He had a 12 inch screwdriver in his hand.... She begged me to get her and the baby out of there... That he was trying to stick it up her.... I talked him down.. I handled him.. He was confused and unstable...... I only had to put my hands on him aggressively once... As he grabbed her going out the door.........

Thinking about the incident later... I was displeased with the amount of time it took me to respond..... I told myself.. If something is wrong now.. You do it now... Seconds are a big deal in when things are going wrong...... I've usually have done ok since then... And I've been a serious handgun guy since that day.......

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11 years 6 months ago - 11 years 6 months ago #25086 by Siscowet
Replied by Siscowet on topic What would you do?

foxhunter wrote:

Siscowet wrote: A lot of if's. if you are out of voice range, I would call 911 on the cell and get ready to engage if their body english told me they were going to pull the trigger, otherwise I might refrain. If the cell is not an option, you have to assume that they would point their guns at you when you show yourself, so personally, I would have a difficult time shooting them without some kind of warning. My feeling is, you start to say "drop your weapons" and any movement towards you at all you start shooting. I can hit two targets in 1 second, but with the adrenaline in this scenario, If I start shooting, I don't stop until the threat is resolved, or I am out of ammo, or dead. Maybe I am off base, but legally I am guessing you could just start shooting as there was a threat to the cashier. Never having been in combat or shot a person, I would have a mental threshold I would have to break through for the first time in my life to do something like that. This is good food for thought.


That is what I would do, except I can't hit 2 targets in 1 second. I hope I would be in control enough to use the Matt Dillon approach...take the extra 1/2 second to take better aim, so when my clip is empty, all shots are on target. I also hope I never have to find out what I would do.

What I was trying to say, and doing a poor job of it, was that I have practiced at the range, and there I can put two rounds in two targets in one second, but with the adrenaline pumping of a real situation it is doubtful, so there would be a lot more rounds fired then that. And indeed, that extra half second would be a good idea.
Last edit: 11 years 6 months ago by Siscowet.

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11 years 6 months ago - 11 years 6 months ago #25088 by magi
Replied by magi on topic What would you do?
I don't think I would have trouble hitting... In this situation as I would be able to initiate the engagement..... I don't think I could do two shots in one second on two targets..... I'd have to work out... a lot....
If you can hit two targets in a second... That's really good sisco.....
Last edit: 11 years 6 months ago by magi.

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