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Question for CCW members: Would you have engaged the Virginia killer today?

Posted on 8/26/15 at 4:14 pm
Posted by weagle99
Member since Nov 2011
35893 posts
Posted on 8/26/15 at 4:14 pm
You happened to come up on the event just before, during, or just after. You are carrying your weapon. What would you have done?
This post was edited on 8/26/15 at 4:15 pm
Posted by fisherbm1112
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2010
6567 posts
Posted on 8/26/15 at 4:17 pm to
If I came up before when he started to point the gun at the people I would have drawn and attempted to diffuse, when he inevitably would have shot at who he was aiming at or turned to shoot at me I would have shot. That is how I feel I would have reacted I know myself and most on here can't say what they would have done until they were in that situation.


If you haven't seen the first person view of the shooting then most probably don't know what I am talking about.
Posted by Broke
AKA Buttercup
Member since Sep 2006
65050 posts
Posted on 8/26/15 at 4:27 pm to
More than likely I would have thought it was part of the news piece. And not engaged. Until after shots were fired.
Posted by weagle99
Member since Nov 2011
35893 posts
Posted on 8/26/15 at 4:29 pm to
I have seen it. Chilling that there is such evil.

The question is one to ask: Do you carry to protect yourself and your family only? Or others also? Should you risk your life and possibly deprive your family of your existence to help strangers?

Philosophic questions related to CCW.
Posted by Shexter
Prairieville
Member since Feb 2014
13965 posts
Posted on 8/26/15 at 4:31 pm to
quote:

I would have thought it was part of the news piece. And not engaged. Until after shots were fired


Would have thought he was part of the news crew and just dicking around with a prop. I probably would've thought he was carelessly handling a firearm, and said "Hey dude, you really shouldn't point that thing at people."
Posted by Bleeding purple
Athens, Texas
Member since Sep 2007
25315 posts
Posted on 8/26/15 at 4:37 pm to
quote:

Philosophic questions related to CCW


honestly in some states these are legal questions too.


I would have likely not realized he planned to shoot anyone until the first shot rang out.

Had I realized his intent I would have tried to stop him and would have likely shot him when he turned gun on me.
Posted by civiltiger07
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2011
14037 posts
Posted on 8/26/15 at 6:47 pm to
The guy pointed the gun at the reporter then lowered it while standing only a few feet from her, and got zero reaction from them. From a distance I would of found that odd, but wouldn't of seen a reason to get involved. I probably would of still started moving in the opposite direction.
Posted by Bulletproof Lover
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2008
1900 posts
Posted on 8/26/15 at 7:42 pm to
If I saw someone pointing a gun at someone else. I would at the very least point my gun at them and give them verbal commands. If he turned to point it at me, I would fire first and only stop when he was no longer a threat.
Posted by BiggerBear
Redbone Country
Member since Sep 2011
2924 posts
Posted on 8/26/15 at 8:08 pm to
quote:


If I saw someone pointing a gun at someone else. I would at the very least point my gun at them and give them verbal commands. If he turned to point it at me, I would fire first and only stop when he was no longer a threat.



A spin-off questions, I guess, but if you had your gun so drawn on someone and started receiving verbal commands from someone behind you to put your gun down, what would you do?
Posted by Bulletproof Lover
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2008
1900 posts
Posted on 8/26/15 at 9:28 pm to
I would have to hear exactly what they said before I made that decision. Distance, exactly what they said and how they said it would come into play. Maybe I would fight. Maybe I would put it down. I guess you never know till your standing there.

Cops have a code phrase and I would certainly say that phrase.
This post was edited on 8/26/15 at 9:32 pm
Posted by prplhze2000
Parts Unknown
Member since Jan 2007
51485 posts
Posted on 8/26/15 at 9:46 pm to
Sure but he had the jump. That's the issue: your eyes are more important than your weapon
Posted by BFIV
Virginia
Member since Apr 2012
7752 posts
Posted on 8/26/15 at 10:01 pm to
Hard question to answer. I can honestly say, though, that when I carry, it's not to protect the public. Just like a cop, I carry to protect myself and MY family.
Posted by skuter
P'ville
Member since Jan 2005
6144 posts
Posted on 8/27/15 at 6:22 am to
quote:

I carry to protect myself and MY family.


And people I am in company with at the time
This post was edited on 8/27/15 at 6:23 am
Posted by aVatiger
Water
Member since Jan 2006
27967 posts
Posted on 8/27/15 at 6:32 am to
I was on my wat to put that POS down myself...

so, yes
Posted by bapple
Capital City
Member since Oct 2010
11913 posts
Posted on 8/27/15 at 6:47 am to
quote:

Just like a cop, I carry to protect myself and MY family.


While this is the main reason behind carrying concealed, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I had a means to stop a violent situation and I did nothing.

But as for this case, it's very hard to tell because I wasn't there. I have no idea how I would have reacted. If a weapon comes out (blade, firearm) I would be a lot less likely to wait to put shots on target. Assertive verbal commands are good if you have a reason to believe the perp isn't armed. But it takes little-to-no time for someone to swing the gun around and shoot at you first.

If you want to get yourself involved in another situation, you are not required to in this state. There is no good Samaritan law that says you have to. BUT if you do get involved, the first thing you'll need is information. What exactly is going on? Who are these people? Why is he waving a handgun around at her? And unfortunately, since CC is reactionary, we are expected to make these decisions VERY QUICKLY.

As an instructor my advice is to not get involved. As a human being my advice is to try your best to learn what is happening and react accordingly. The decision is up to you.
Posted by aVatiger
Water
Member since Jan 2006
27967 posts
Posted on 8/27/15 at 7:13 am to
quote:

I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I had a means to stop a violent situation and I did nothing.



most wouldn't, man

the only thing I worry about is legal ramifications, but in this modern day and age with cameras everywhere, I think less about it because I know if someone is trying to harm another individual and I have to out him/her down then so be it

I could never live with myself knowing i did nothing and someone's life was taken when I could've prevented it.
Posted by bapple
Capital City
Member since Oct 2010
11913 posts
Posted on 8/27/15 at 8:09 am to
quote:

the only thing I worry about is legal ramifications,


Exactly. Therein lies why it's so difficult to know - we have to make split-second decisions that can affect the rest of our lives. Don't get involved - watch someone die. Get involved - have a bad trial and live your life behind bars.

It's a huge responsibility carrying concealed. Most people think it's something taken lightly.
Posted by Ole Geauxt
KnowLa.
Member since Dec 2007
50880 posts
Posted on 8/27/15 at 8:12 am to
quote:

quote:

I could never live with myself knowing i did nothing and someone's life was taken when I could've prevented it.


Posted by aVatiger
Water
Member since Jan 2006
27967 posts
Posted on 8/27/15 at 8:13 am to
quote:

Get involved - have a bad trial and live your life behind bars.



Every single time, you have to ask yourself,"could I prove self defense in court?"


the end must justify the means
Posted by BiggerBear
Redbone Country
Member since Sep 2011
2924 posts
Posted on 8/27/15 at 8:35 am to
quote:

Every single time, you have to ask yourself,"could I prove self defense in court?"

the end must justify the means


In Louisiana you are free to use whatever force the person you are defending could have used in their own defense. In this situation, if it had happened in Louisiana, anyone with a legal weapon could have shot Flanagan in defense of the three victims. But there still is a proof problem if Flanagan had been shot before he fired any shot. If he lived, he could say he never intended to shoot anyone, just to scare them, etc.
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