What would you do if your life is threatened?

[RobForaker]

What would you do if your life is threatened? The biggest story being the killing of TM where ones life was threatened. A pizza driver making a delivery only to have his life threatened twice. An accident, vehicle accident, or someone trying to disarm you. What would you do if your life is threatened?

[Crabby]

Those are all different questions with somewhat different answers.
The pizza guy? Give it up.The pizza and money aren't worth your life, just as bank tellers are told. What kind of accident did you have in mind?
If some one is really out-of-control-angry after a vehicle accident,try to stay away from the person, even by staying in the car if it's safe to do so,and especially if kids are involved.Or, depending on where the accident occurred, go into a store, restaurant or building where there are people around. Use your cell phone and call and explain the situation. If you are injured, be sure fire board knows that too.
Disarming someone? Really? If someone is armed and doesn't know the answer to that one, they shouldn't be armed in the first place! This is probably not the place to discuss passive restraint and all, but someone else can address that if they wish.

[longnecker]

If I saw a weapon or the person seemed crazed they could have what ever they want. Sure you can have my wallet if you don,t mind the fact that it is wet.
I do have a problem with someone walking up with their hand in their pocket and saying they need money .

[Tralee]

It all depends, my first action is flight, if not possible, I may be small but I'm feisty and I will fight dirty if I have to. Being short disarms people, they think I'm helpless, HA! I know just where to press my thumbs and fingers and will do it without qualm, not to worry, I won't worry that I might "hurt" someone trying to hurt me, because that's exactly what I will be trying to do. I remember when my husband was in the Navy in CA and I was pregnant with our first child, I figured I was fine all week with him out on the island because no one would hurt a pregnant lady. HA! again, Sharon Tate was killed just down the road from where we lived, I slept with a can of hairspray next to the bed after that. Laugh away, have you ever gotten a dose of hairspray in your eyes? Almost as bad as pepper spray, certainly would free up a bit of time to run away!

[M.Opaliski]

Even though the examples you mentioned are all over the place, if we're talking about a direct threat from another individual and there's no other option I wouldn't hesitate to defend myself.

[EpicWin]

Two in the chest and one in the head.

[max1]

I carry a gun, and if the time came to use it I would to defend myself or family. Taking a life is a huge responsibility anyone who sees it any differently is a person you don't want to be in league with as far as I'm concerned. In the 20 or so years I have carried a weapon I have never ONCE had to take it out and think about using it.

[daveindelaware]

I carry a gun, and if the time came to use it I would to defend myself or family. Taking a life is a huge responsibility anyone who sees it any differently is a person you don't want to be in league with as far as I'm concerned. In the 20 or so years I have carried a weapon I have never ONCE had to take it out and think about using it.

I agree with max1 that taking a life is a big responsibility. Anyone who carries a gun (or knife, or whatever) for self-defense has hopefully already decided that if their life was being threatened that they would draw and fire without hesitation. When split-seconds count, that's NOT the time to have a moral isue with shooting someone.

I wish I could say that I've been carrying for that long without ever needing to draw my weapon. I had only been carrying for about 11 months before I had to draw and fire to save my life from two armed attackers out for my wallet. I think my story is somewhere on this forum so I won't elaborate.

So, to answer the OP's question: I would defend my life with justified deadly force, and enough of it to stop the threat.

[max1]

I would defend my life with justified deadly force, and enough of it to stop the threat.

agreed :-)

[RobForaker]

agreed :-)

Then you would shoot someone on top of you beating you up? What if they went for your gun?

[max1]

Of course Rob, but first I would try not to be put into that type of situation. A person has more control over these things then you might think.

1. If you cant handle your own self defense, dont put yourself into a situation where there maybe violence.
2. Be aware of your surroundings, pay attention. It's no different then leaving some room in between your car and the guy in front of you in case you have to escape.

I am not going to allow anyone to take my gun, because when I pull it out to shoot I will shoot I won't hesitate because I will be sure it was the right thing to do.

Remember if you find yourself in a bad situation winning means to live to defend yourself another day, not to pull a Rambo and kill everything in sight.

[Joe Walther]

Then you would shoot someone on top of you beating you up? What if they went for your gun?

Mr. Foraker, if this is an attempt to stimulate discussion regarding the death of Trayvon Martin at the hands of George Zimmerman, your subtlty is lacking a bit.

If someone was piling on top of me while trying to beat me senseless, I’d defend myself in any way I could. But, the "going for your gun" interjection holds no validity in this case. It assumes facts not in evidence.

In the first place, were I to have been armed from the beginning and I saw the attack coming, I’d not be having some asshole on top of me. On the other hand, had it been a “sneak” attack ending with me being on the bottom with the attacker trying to take my weapon, I'd shoot to protect myself.

But, self-defense isn’t the issue in this case. When the 911-dispatcher asked Zimmerman if he was following Martin, he said that he was. The dispatcher followed his reply with, “We don’t need you to do that.” He acknowledged the instruction; but, he apparently resumed the pursuit.

And, this is where things become fuzzy. The matter of what led to the fatal confrontation is, so far, quite hazy. But, bits of evidence emerge with each day.

The police wanted to arrest him regarding this incident, but a prosecutor refused; Zimmerman had been arrested before on felony assault charges--against the POLICE, no less--but prosecutors ordered the charges reduced to misdemeanors; and the last interesting tidbit… Zimmerman’s father was or is a judge (released by CNN investigators) all seem to add up to impending trouble for Zimmerman.

I’m going to make a few comments regarding Mr. Zimmerman. However, PLEASE understand that this is MY opinion. And, as such, it doesn’t mean squat to anyone but ME. Your mileage may vary greatly; and, I certainly respect that.

Throughout my 7-PLUS decades of life, I’ve had my share of experiences with neighborhood watches and “civilian” police academies. Although I’ve never personally had a desire to attend one, I’ve observed several friends who have gone through such academies.

Civilian Police Academies give participants the opportunity to observe, FIRST hand, the intense training—physical, academic, and psychological—that this nation’s police officers go through during their own training.

And, even with the intense applicant screening that police departments use to pre-qualify POLICE applicants just to enter the academies, some of them will still wash out simply because they don’t have what it takes.

As well, some—less than 0.003% (three-one-hundreds of one percent)—will manage to slip through, even though they’re psychologically unfit for the job.

Neighborhood Watch groups—I have considerable experiences with these—are a different story. In my opinion, two types of people join these groups: sincere, rules-following law abiders and Rambo wannabes.

The former are conscientious neighbors on the perpetual lookout for their neighbors’ well-being. Whenever they observe suspicious activity, they notify the police and follow instructions.

Much of the time these people are unarmed, though not always. However, even the ones who ARE armed usually take no direct action unless their own lives, or those of other innocents, are in imminent danger.

Rambo was a fictional movie character who stood alone against the forces of evil. He made his own rules to deal with injustice. But, of paramount importance was the fact that IT! WAS! PRETEND!

Rambo WANNABES, however, are NOT pretend; they’re a dime-a-dozen class of human MALES who are attracted to quasi-military/police groups like flies are attracted to piles of excrement.

It’s a power thing where the carrying of a gun attempts to compensate such males for their fears of inadequacy relative to a specific part of their bodies.

Of course, they’d like to be REAL police officers. However, even if they could pass the physical requirements, they’d probably falter at the intellectual part of the qualifications, not to mention a likely wash out once legitimate police psychologists began even cursory probes of their twisted psychics.

So, being a “pretend” police officer is the next best thing. But, I suspect, this is only the case if they get to carry a gun—concealed or otherwise.

After all, sissy-ass Liberals invented police protocols to unleash an ocean of political correctness aimed at trumping law and order. And Rambo wannabes are universally dedicated to the task of single-handedly cleaning up Dodge. And, political correctness be DAMNED!

Again, this has been MY opinion. I have no idea how it’s all going to be resolved. It’s been a tragedy of monumental proportions for many innocent people, including members of BOTH the Martin and Zimmerman families.

But, I’m willing to wager a sizable amount of money that if qualified shrinks get around to probing Mr. Zimmerman’s head—the one on his shoulders—they’d discover that his actions had FAR more to do with his long-held fears regarding the length and breadth of the shaft supporting his OTHER head.

I remain convinced that had Zimmerman complied in totality with the 911 dispatcher’s instruction, broken off the pursuit, and gone his separate way, there would NOT have been a confrontation.

[longnecker]

Seeing the fact that Zimmerman's fatheris/was a judge sure answers a lot of questions about the way this is being handled.

[RobForaker]

Joe Walther said,Neighborhood Watch groups—I have considerable experiences with these—are a different story. In my opinion, two types of people join these groups: sincere, rules-following law abiders and Rambo wannabes.
Sir, I have been involved in crime related issues for many years this includes Neighborhood Watch in many communities in New Castle County. Neighborhood Watch consists of local citizens, police and many law breakers. I'm not sure if you've ever been to a real community meeting. The usual concerned people show up including the bad guys. Rambo wannabes are often reported to police.

[max1]

My issue with the whole thing is the fact that this man Zimmerman was tried and convicted in the press and if the new black panthers had their way he would be swinging from a tree right about now. Not everything is about race, sometimes an idiot gets a gun and uses it the wrong way. A lot is wrong with what happened here but sadly facts are lacking and the media is just making it worse. How does it look to a segment of the black community when the president of the united states speaks out about this but doesn't even bat an eye when a group offers a reward for this man.

[longnecker]

My issue with the whole thing is the fact that this man Zimmerman was tried and convicted in the press and if the new black panthers had their way he would be swinging from a tree right about now. Not everything is about race, sometimes an idiot gets a gun and uses it the wrong way. A lot is wrong with what happened here but sadly facts are lacking and the media is just making it worse. How does it look to a segment of the black community when the president of the united states speaks out about this but doesn't even bat an eye when a group offers a reward for this man.

Among the facts that the press reported were the 911 operated telling him not to follow and video of Zimmerman entering the police station with no signs of being in a fight. This is trying him in the press? I don't like to think about some of Obama's statements lately. Just think if he gets elected and doesn't have to worry about another election.

[max1]

Among the facts that the press reported were the 911 operated telling him not to follow and video of Zimmerman entering the police station with no signs of being in a fight. This is trying him in the press? I don't like to think about some of Obama's statements lately. Just think if he gets elected and doesn't have to worry about another election.

Facts as the press sees them dont make it truth....

There is a tape that was released today that clearly show injuries to Mr. Zimmermans head.

[max1]

How do you feel about him not saying anything about the black panthers?

[RobForaker]

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-769148

[longnecker]

How do you feel about him not saying anything about the black panthers?

Not happy.Words like disgraceful,discusting and racist pop into my mind and this is the POS.