To get involved or not?

[bigandy1966]

put on your creepy clown mask and a baseball bat attitude adjustment tool to the kneecap, no one said you gotta kill the mofo, just make it easier for his victim to get away
Kitty Genovese
truth here

[allenr]

I would have acted, but I would not have shot him. The story says the man was on top of her and choking her. That would most likely mean he was kneeling over her. I would have come up behind him and boxed his ears. While he was recovering from that pain and disorientation I would have pur a rear strangle hold on him, exerting just enough force to cut off air until he let her go. It is real easy to knock a person out with that hold. If that did not work and he stayed aggressive I would have used mt all metal pocket 380 as an impromptu black jack. Only as a last resort would I have shot him.

[sota]

Until the day comes the System is no longer designed to screw people who in good faith attempt to render aid, I will solely focus on protecting me and mine. Issue a national Good Samaritan law that contains the words "immunity from all prosecution" and I'll think about changing my tune.

[Gun]

This is why the default is "don't get involved." To overcome that default requires careful consideration.

In the case you cited - if I were THINKING, I would not have done what the GS did. Just wait for the police to show up and let whatever happens, happens, because, hey, when you try to help, you FUCKING GET ARRESTED!!

Unfortunately, my gut instinct, which often overrides my thinking instinct, would have been to plant my motorcycle booted foot right in the guy's face if possible, in the chest otherwise. That could go bad for a whole host of reasons. Assuming it didn't, and were successful in ending his attack on her, I'd only pull the gun if he came after me - and if I shot him, it would not be in the leg.

The closest I have come to what you describe is as follows:

• Early morningish, 2am or something, I get banging on my apartment door (this is a place with an interior hallway with different apartments)
• Peephole examination reveals scantily glad girl, pleading for me to let her in, to escape abusive boyfriend
• Carefully, I let her in, lock the door behind her
• We call police (well, I do - she's crying and scared shitless)
• Boyfriend comes beating on my door, demanding his girlfriend
• I warn him police are on the way, and suggest he go home
• Had he come through my door, I would have shot him dead
• Police show up. She does not want to press charges (surprise!), but because he pulled phone out of the wall, preventing her from calling 9-1-1, he goes to jail

Wanna guess how many ways THAT could have gone wrong for ME?

Had this happen at a store I managed. A girl walks up, disheveled, pleading to use the phone to call the police, at 6:30 am.

Gang-banger-wanna-be boyfriend shows up, telling her to get the fuck back home.

Told him to leave cuz the police had been called.

He left, police came and picked her up.

Saw him a week later, as a customer. Never said a word to me.

Being a samaritan doesn't mean one has to get physically involved, especially if they think they aren't capable.

But, pulling a gun, a reasonable person has to believe that someone's life is in jeopardy to find those actions justified.

[Yoder]

"Most likely won't be charged". That's why people are afraid to get involved.

[wellcraft]

It's a tough call, to easy for things to go south quickly for the good guy. In some jurisdictions, like Philly, the cops would probably charge you along with the bad guy and seize your weapon. Other places, not dominated by liberals, you might only be questioned and sent on your way. I think most people don't know what they'd do or not do until they find themselves in a crisis situation.

[McSull]

That is why evil has the big advantage.

Evil is generally more proactive.

[free]

Evil is generally more proactive.

Evil's rewards are generally more immediate and provide more sensory satisfaction...hence the proactiveness in seeking them out.

[Exbiker]

All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

Exactly, Ill always trust my judgement and get involved. If it was your daughter, wife kid would you want somebody to step in?

[thebearpack]

"Most likely won't be charged". That's why people are afraid to get involved.

Yep. Good Samaritan got arrested. That should never have happened and there should certainly be no threat of charges. Couldn't blame the guy one bit if the next time it happens he just turns the volume up on the TV a little.