(October 18, 2021 at 4:36 pm)onlinebiker Wrote:(October 18, 2021 at 4:18 pm)HappySkeptic Wrote: Okay, I've read through the whole thread, which was originally about people not intervening.
I think Brian37 originally pointed out a fact - people in groups do not usually stick their neck out or take responsibility. They assume someone else will. That's why when someone is in distress that you are helping, you don't say "someone call 911" -- it won't happen. You have to actually tell some particular person to do it.
How hard can it be for people to have said - "I am calling 911" out loud to this guy? If you make him feel afraid, he will get limp and try to get away.
The problem with the "I'd kick his ass" crowd is -- you're either full of shit, stupid, or you better have skills. If you engage in physical violence with some stranger, you better be willing and able to put them down fast. A fight such as that has no rules, and could easily get you killed. You intend to brutally win, or you don't start it.
It is the same with a gun - you never pull one out unless you actually intend to kill someone with it. That also means it must be legal to do so. You don't wave guns around -- that will either get you shot, or arrested.
Concerning bold -
This is absolutely incorrect.
You NEVER " shoot to kill".
You shoot for center mass - and keep shooting until the threat stops.
So - if you pull your gun - and the bad guy quits - you are done. You have NO LEGAL STANDING TO SHOOT SOMEONE WHO IS NO LONGER A THREAT. If the bad guy keeps misbehaving - fire away. YOU KEEP SHOOTING TILL HE STOPS. If he happens to die - it' s not your problem - as long as a reasonable person finds you had no other recourse.
I thought that phrase was meant as a caution not as an actual prescription of where to shoot. If you take out a gun, whether you're trained to use it or you have intentions just to threaten, anything can happen. Mistakes, accidents, malfunctions, etc. Someone could die from a bullet being fired. That's what that saying means. You are taking the risk that someone could potentially die if you take out a gun, so, it is a caution to be able to handle that responsibility.