Over at Brillianter.com, MostlyGenius discusses Third Party Intervention.
He's not the first, of course (is anything really new on the internet anymore?), but the question remains: As a gun carrier, would you intervene in a violent situation that doesn't concern you?
My answer is - it depends. If I had a realistic chance of ending something bad - let's say a mall shooting, I would like to think I would take those steps. I don't know. Never been there. I do believe, however, that it would be my duty to try. Most folks usually say "get you and yours safe, don't play hero". I understand that. If I were armed with a mousegun and the shooter had an SKS, I would most likely do just that.
But, if I were to have one of my larger guns with me, I'd have to consider taking action. Situation awareness would be critical. Rule #4 would be foremost in my mind. If all those things were in place, I'd take the shot. I hope.
It's not a hero thing. I've been to war. I know some heros, but I'm not one of them.
Monday, January 28, 2008
To Shoot or Not to Shoot
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3 comments:
I'd have to be absolutely positive that I understand the situation. Something as clear cut as a whacko randomly popping passers by or something similarly obvious.
I wouldn't want to intervene in a situation that I didn't understand fully and wrongly pop the good guy.
But if I encountered a situation like that was obviously going badly for the good guys, I'd like to think I'd be brave enough to get involved. I would make sure anyone that's with me is safe first, make sure that they call 911 and get the cavalry on its way, but at that point, as far as I'm concerned, I'm "dispensable" as the article in Touchstone that you linked to earlier today put it (great article by the way...damn I wish I could write like that).
My kids are grown and out on their own, I've got plenty of life insurance to keep the wife solvent. I've probably done most everything important that I'm ever gonna do. I'm dispensable.
I agree completely with everything you say.
Two people in a fight? I wouldn't intervene. Maybe get some popcorn at watch, but not intervene. =)
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