What would you do if this happened to you?

[t1m0thy]

I'm sure some of you have seen these videos, but I came across them the other day and it made me think...what would you do if the police showed up at your door and demanded your firearms? Would you comply or stand your ground? If you fought off the police with deadly force would you be within your rights since they were violating your rights? If a criminal comes after me to take my life or liberty I can shoot them but what happens when the criminals are the police? What should you do?

I have to say I would be hard pressed not to blockade my door and tell them if they step into my home I will use deadly force to protect my home, family, and property. Even though I do feel this way I admit when faced with this situation I am still uncertain of what exactly I would do.

What would you do?

[gnbrotz]

Originally Posted by t1m0thy

If you fought off the police with deadly force would you be within your rights since they were violating your rights?

Probably wouldn't matter, since there's a pretty small chance you'd be alive to debate the issue.

Many of us who have asked ourselves this question have done so with that consideration in mind, and we don't usually announce the decision we've arrived at.

[ReconLdr]

I refuse to answer this question and wish to excersize my rights afforded me by the 5 ammendment.

[ssnyder87]

First off this is a massive NRA advertisement. All that aside I think what happened is absurd. They didn't have a right to take innocent peoples' guns. They should have been taking guns from the criminals looting and committing murder. Ultimately what are you gonna do? Give up your revolver and live to see another day or barricade your house into a fort so they bring the heat on you and you're killed by 25 officers with automatic weapons. I'd be handing my guns over real quick.

[t1m0thy]

Originally Posted by ReconLdr

I refuse to answer this question and wish to excersize my rights afforded me by the 5 ammendment.

I can see the paranoia in answering this honestly on a public forum, but what bothers me is the fact that I even have to contemplate this question. I guess a better way to phrase it would be where is the line drawn when you stand up for your rights or comply and fight back in court? If there are criminals running around rampant and the police are using their resources to disarm law abiding citizens and letting the looters and criminals run rampant I might be persuaded to deny the authorities the ability to violate my rights. Especially when my family would be put in danger by being left defenseless. I hate that I even have to consider this as an American.

[GuyMontag]

Originally Posted by t1m0thy

I guess a better way to phrase it would be where is the line drawn when you stand up for your rights or comply and fight back in court?

I've had this discussion before. My opposition explained that if big brother came to disarm us all, we should just give them what they demand and we will sue them to get our guns back.

Sooooo, were you going to back up those tough lawsuits and big words with? Spoons? Maybe rocks like we see in the news from the middle east?

Once you give up ground, you will never get it back.

[ungawa]

Originally Posted by t1m0thy

I'm sure some of you have seen these videos, but I came across them the other day and it made me think...what would you do if the police showed up at your door and demanded your firearms? Would you comply or stand your ground?

There's a lot of talk here. But if you DID stand your ground, the forum would turn on you in a heart beat, and send prayers for a fiery Hell your way.

[gnbrotz]

Originally Posted by ungawa

There's a lot of talk here. But if you DID stand your ground, the forum would turn on you in a heart beat, and send prayers for a fiery Hell your way.

Quoted for truth. (and because the damn button is broken)

[ReconLdr]

Originally Posted by t1m0thy

I can see the paranoia in answering this honestly on a public forum, but what bothers me is the fact that I even have to contemplate this question. I guess a better way to phrase it would be where is the line drawn when you stand up for your rights or comply and fight back in court? If there are criminals running around rampant and the police are using their resources to disarm law abiding citizens and letting the looters and criminals run rampant I might be persuaded to deny the authorities the ability to violate my rights. Especially when my family would be put in danger by being left defenseless. I hate that I even have to consider this as an American.

I am guessing since the looting references you are refering to disaster relief type scenario? I couldn't view the videos here at work. My reply is based on a Katrina type event. I will view them when I get home tonight. That being said, I have had this discussion with others (not on a public forum) with a wide range of results and responses.

When I deployed to La in the wake of Hurricane Katrina we were told to stop, detain and confiscate anyone with a weapon of any kind. The exact verbage used by my Lt was "if you see someone with a pistol, rifle, shotgun, pocket knife, scissors, you will stop them, take posession of the weapon and wait for LEO to arrive."

I applied some discretion to his "orders." I saw quite a few people driving around with shotguns in the back window of their trucks, people printing, "Rambo" knives on their belts etc... I/we stopped quite a few people, and after a short conversation, let them go on their way. Urging them to keep their weapons at home, the next "authority types" may not be so understanding.

I hope, should something like this happen again, LEOs and US Military personnell would behave similar to the way I did. (I know this is a pipe dream, but a guy can hope right?)

I have even incorporated this type of scenario into training for my advanced students. I added this to my courses, hoping to avoid an event like this. I train my students to be leaders and see the big picture, not to blindly follow orders.

[t1m0thy]

Originally Posted by ungawa

There's a lot of talk here. But if you DID stand your ground, the forum would turn on you in a heart beat, and send prayers for a fiery Hell your way.

Originally Posted by gnbrotz

Quoted for truth. (and because the damn button is broken)

Well, good thing I don't base my decisions on what people on an internet forum will think of me. That said I am amazed at that sentiment.