What should be the appropriate thing to do in this case

[joeintexas]

None of us knows jest exactly what we would do in a similar situation.

At the end of the day, I would hope, I would do the right thing.


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I have to agree with keith on this one, I don't know for sure what I would do but like he said, at the end of the day I would sure hope I did or didn't do the right thing. You do have to look yourself in the mirror everyday. Can't see a black and white answer here.

 

[Dvan34]

Now ask a relevant question, like what would you do if you had heard shots while you are in the parking lot, and a person came out of the restaurant and aimed a gun at you? You are LEO trained.[/QUOTE]


That is still difficult question to answer based on insufficient information. He might be an LEO looking for a perp. There is a lot to consider here just in this situation. First thing to sensibly do is to get to cover and find out just who he is and what his intensions are. Once in cover I would draw and stay covered until I assessed his intensions, either identify himself as an LEO or? A few extra minutes might provide enough information to find out. We would certainly communicate! Anyone else have any views?

 

[Dvan34]

If you rush in (play cop in gun-haters lingo) to a situation that did not and does not involve you, your potential criminal and civil liability is HUGE. In the real world that might not be an issue, in CA it is.[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, this situation exists here. I totally agree with your answer. Every time I carry I consider the consequences. Yesterday I decided not to carry after suiting up and removed my CCW. It took a lot of thought. We aren't supposed to discuss politics here, but they have brought this situation upon us. I'm totally disgusted. A lot of people are likely to suffer the consequences of these restrictions. and every time they do the media cries out wanting to understand the 'motives' of the shooter.

 

[mbok]

Lots of wind here, less substance. This happened about two miles from my house. The guy was still an active shooter posing an immediate threat, loaded firearm in hand after having shot three people. The two interveners were both well trained (one military, the other security) and both gave verbal commands to the shooter to disarm before firing when he either fired at them or made gestures to indicate he was about to. Here in Oklahoma the law is clear -- you may deploy deadly force in self defense or in defense of others, both of which apply here.

Sorry but I spent too many years on the street with the cops seeing the realities out there to ever get in synch with the mindset of "my gun is only for me and my immediate family and otherwise I will run away!"

No one can predict every possible situation or eventuality but in a situation like this one I would not hesitate to do what the two guys did. Had they not acted when they did there could easily have been multiple additional innocent victims. Sorry, but flight is not an option.

 

[Dvan34]

Some statements like on Twitter have a tendency to come back and 'bite'. I would imagine that they regularly troll blogs and message boards like SW's. We all know by now the prosecutors check 'posts' whenever a shooting occurs. These statements can end up in court. It might be better to not make them. rather than later attempt to explain them.