Would you help a civilian and/or LEO?

[Firefighterchen]

Would you help a civilian?

Would you help an LEO?

Would you help both?

Wouldn't help either?

Common sense: We are NOT talking about opening a door, rather a more aggressive scenario. In life, you won't have all the information, so base it off of what you feel you would do in any given circumstance.

Ok...so generalization was completely missed.

Instructions: Take the scenarios word for word. If it's not in the scenario you do not know the information. If I did not put that other people were around, then no one was around.

Scenario 1: You walk outside a restaurant after dinner. You turn the corner to head towards your car. Upon reaching your car, you see 25 yards away, in the next parking lot a police officer on his back, with 2 people surrounding him trying to strike him. Officer looks to be of medium build, while the two attackers look to be of large build. The officer is protecting his head. What do you do?

Scenario 2: You walk outside a restaurant after dinner. You turn the corner to head towards your car. Upon reaching your car, you see 25 yards away in the next parking lot, a civilian on his back, with 2 people surrounding him trying to strike him. Victim looks to be of a medium build, while the two attackers look to be of a large build. Victim is protecting his head. What do you do?

 

[corndog]

It depends on the situation.

 

[S&W645]

It depends on the situation.

Ditto............

 

[Nightmare45]

Following recent discussion here and elsewhere, I would help the LEO if he ask, a civilian should use his phone to call his anti gun neighbor and ask him what to do, I would seek cover, protecting myself and my family, dial 911 and give a report, in the past I might have helped but the police are available via 911.

 

[Nightmare45]

You should also add, would you inform the person you are stopping to help that you are carrying?

LEO Yes, Civilian will shout from behind cover that I had called 911, continuing to protect myself and family while we wait the 15 to 20 minutes for the police/ambulance to respond.

 

[Saltcreek]

As a retired LEO, I would not help the civilian. From experience, I have had men and women fighting where you think you are stopping a domestic, and they BOTH turn on you when you "help". A civilian has no experience to judge or know in most cases, who is the real victim and who is the perpetrator. You may end up in jail with them. Tell them your calling 911 and stay out of the way. Help the Cop if you can, but don't make your wife a widow.

 

[Grapevinebill]

Thanks for the insight Saltcreek. Makes a lot of sense.

 

[BC1]

NYS Penal law requires you provide assistance to a LEO if he asks.

 

[corndog]

I didn’t want to say this because it sounds more along the lines of something Bruce Lee would say but, “everyone must decide how they will choose to handle the situations set down in the poll”.
It’s about what is in your heart, what’s in your soul, how might your decision effect your life, what matters the “most” in your life. Everyone must weigh these things before they make a decision.
First point, the way you view these choices will change and become more refined the longer you carry. So what was the total truth and made perfect sense to you yesterday might be become a bunch of crap to you tomorrow. THINK an WEIGH, then think some more
Second point, if you decided to carry in hopes that you might someday become a hero then you need to put the gun and the license in the draw until you become focused. Entering into a gunfight with an un-focused mind leaves to much room for error. You need to know why you would choose to be in a shooting situation before you start popping caps.
If you carry concealed it’s like, The Good, The Bad, and the Interloper” with you being the Interloper in any situation. The bad guy could shoot you, The Leo/Good guy could shoot you, or they could both shoot you.
Lots to think about.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Depends entirely upon the situation.

 

[Providence Ranch]

Depends entirely upon the situation.

AGREED. My tendency, though, in general, would be to first see to the safety of my loved ones, then call 911. After that, the situation will dictate what I must do. At a minimum, I would try to be a good set of eyes for responding LEOs, and pass on as much intel as possible.

 

[pathfyndr]

What to do, what to do??

I would always help the LEO. If he is stilll in control I would wait until asked. If he has lost control I'm on it. I am from NC and here is the law. If the LEO is in a fist fight I can not use deadly force, but I do have pepper spray. If the LEOs life is being threatened with a weapon then I will tell the to drop it or be shot if I have time, if not, well then the person intending to inflict possibly deadly force will be shot.

As for a domestic. If there is a fight and the one who started the fight (lets say at home or outside a bar) attempts to use deadly force, and I know that, I can stop it.

However, if the one who started the fight like a fist fight, threatens with a weapon like a knife, and the person being attacked pulls a gun, and the one that started the fight says "hey...it's off" and backs down, if I shoot him I go to prison. It is a fine line and sometimes confusing...and my SWAT Team trainer said it well. In domestic situations just become a good witness.

 

[wallyb]

I would not help either a civilian or a LEO. The weapon is for my protection and the protection of a loved one who may be with me if something bad happens that involves me or my party. If the situation does not involve me or a loved one who is with me, I am ducking for cover and calling 911. There are too many situations where I could end up killing an innocent person and I will not find out my error until afterwards. This is a very serious (deadly) business and we are not licensed to practice law inforcement.

 

[stingray2100]

I'm going to agree with SaltCreek on this one.

I would help the LEO if he ask for my assistance. Also in Texas you have no obligation as a CCW holder to assist.

 

[tuts40]

As a retired LEO, I would not help the civilian. From experience, I have had men and women fighting where you think you are stopping a domestic, and they BOTH turn on you when you "help". A civilian has no experience to judge or know in most cases, who is the real victim and who is the perpetrator. You may end up in jail with them. Tell them your calling 911 and stay out of the way. Help the Cop if you can, but don't make your wife a widow.

Darn! Took the words right outa my mouth, er, keyboard! I would help a cop. Even tho a percentage of cops are as crooked as the rest of us, if one is fighting for his/her life then the odds are usually in your favor that the cop is the good guy...

 

[Tucker's Mom]

Isn't calling 911 and being a good witness while you make sure that your love ones are safe "helping" both without exactly determining who is the good or the bad guy? I think it is...

 

[stingray2100]

Wallyb brings up a real issue here.

He is correct in a way. The firearm is for your protection and your family, and he is also correct that you do not have an obligation to assist.

But what is the moral thing to do?

would you be able to live with your self after something like this happends and the LEO is killed?

on the other hand, what would happend if you injure an inocent during your aid and assistance?

he is also correct a CCW does not give you the option practice law enforcement.

 

[Seeya]

The circumstance of the given situation would dictate my response for whoever needed help. I did not vote as the poll is to vague.

 

[Firefighterchen]

Edited OP. Added instructions and scenarios. I was going for a generalization, not a specific situation. It's okay, we will go this way for now.

 

[Pinnacle Safety]

I help the LEO the civi gets a 911 call the guy on the ground could be the BG I would hate to help the rapist or worse get away