My biggest fear

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mugsie

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I always wondered about this because it could be very real - no doubt I could envision it happeneing;

I'm in a store, suddenly shouting breaks out and there's a man with a machete who has already hacked one person, presumably to death because of all the blood, and he's coming at more. Anyone he can and anyone he sees. I pull out my cell phone and dial 911, as have others in the store. I also pull out my conceled S&W 642 and confront the person. I yell at him to drop the weapon. He stands there with it held above his head, ready to swing at a moments notice. I'm talking into the cell phone to the dispatcher, telling them what I look like and that I have a gun on the guy. I also say I'm a licensed conceled carry holder. At this time a police officer rushes into the store, sees me and yells at me to drop the waepon. I'm screwed. If I drop the gun, the crazy with the machete rushes me and takes my head off, or my arm etc. If I continue to hold on him, the officer will no doubt shoot, if he hasn't already decided to do so.

The way I see it - this is a lose lose situation all around. No out for me at all. The only thing I could think to do differently was to drop the guy immediately.

That's my biggest fear - being caught trying to help, only to be mistaken as the bad guy. So what do I do?
:confused:
 
I'm in a store, suddenly shouting breaks out and there's a man with a machete who has already hacked one person, presumably to death because of all the blood, and he's coming at more. Anyone he can and anyone he sees. I pull out my cell phone and dial 911, as have others in the store. I also pull out my conceled S&W 642 and confront the person. I yell at him to drop the weapon. He stands there with it held above his head, ready to swing at a moments notice....At this time a police officer rushes into the store, sees me and yells at me to drop the waepon....If I drop the gun, the crazy with the machete rushes me and takes my head off, or my arm etc.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what thought process would ever lead me to "confront" an oncoming person swinging a machete, yell at him, and do nothing while he "stands there with it held above his head, ready to swing at a moments notice" and in a position to rush at me and take my head off, much less pull out my cell phone, dial, and enter into an explanation before drawing a weapon.

In the situation you describe, if I understand correctly, you are in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm. By the way, do you really believe that a couple or three or maybe even five shots from a 642 would necessarily save you at that point, absent your moving backward and to the side very, very rapidly at the same time? According to your description, you are in extreme danger already. I should think that, in the words of the old song, "the time to hesitate is through."

I can't imagine that the fear of what a police officer might do would overshadow the fear of what the man with the machete would do.

And I cannot understand why any police officer would direct a command to "drop the weapon" at me rather than at the man with the large, bloody blade held above his head.

That's my biggest fear - being caught trying to help, only to be mistaken as the bad guy. So what do I do?
Click to expand...

That can be one of several valid concerns when a citizen intervenes in situation involving third persons, but I would not characterize pulling a gun on a man swinging a machete and capable of rushing and swinging at me as "trying to help."
 
One of the things I've noticed hearing parents of small children say occasionally when their children are at a loss: "Use your words!" Sometimes when the adrenaline hits hard, we should remember that's still good advice...

lpl

ETA- In case it isn't taken for granted- shoot the perp. Talk to the cops.
 
mugsie said:
I'll yell at him to drop the weapon.
Click to expand...

Here is where you went wrong. If he has already hacked one person to death, take the shot. There is no need or legal/moral requirement on your part to "capture him alive" and/or give any warning/quarter.

You are not in a "fair fight" with a human, you are in a fight for survival with an animal. Treat it as such.
 
You have no duty to give someone a chance to kill you; your goal in the situation is to stay alive, not make an arrest.

Personally, I wouldn't have waited until I was singled out, and I definately wouldn't tie up one of my hands with a phone.
 
Give him two in the chest and one in the head, holster your weapon and have your CCL out when the cops arrive.
 
+1 On firing.

The guy is obviously nuts and has not just announced but shown his intentions; there is no doubt that he means to kill people. You have have no obligation to give him fair warning and there will be plenty of other people calling 911...

Show him the Black Flag and let someone else call the police.
 
About the time you're telling this wild eyed maniac to "Drop that machete and reach for the ceiling!," he's gonna lop off your head.

As stated above, other customers have already called the police: you have far more important things to do... such as staying alive. Forget the movie/teeeveee show theatrics. No warnings! Three, four, five in the chest and head ought to handle things.

(By the way, you do carry an extra speedloader for your five shot, don't you?)

L.W.
 
Personally, this sounds like a wild nightmarish fantasy to me. You are basically taking every element of a worst case scenario, and combining them into a 5 second period of time. Not very likely, honestly... even in the "worst case scenario".

What you initially described is akin to an "active shooter" situation, the only difference being that this particular attacker is carrying an edged weapon rather than a gun. You described a situation where this guy is ACTIVELY wounding/killing people, and then turns his attention on you. To put it bluntly, in such a situation you should be shooting this guy, not dialing 911, and not trying to negotiate his surrender.

Moreover, if you did somehow end up in a stalemate with this guy, just as an officer who wasn't aware of your description walked in the door, I don't think you would necessarily end up dead. First, there is a high probability that the police were already getting a bunch of calls describing your machete-wielding attacker. Plus, if I was responding to a call, or merely stopping in the store out of pure chance, I'd still instantly have my attention drawn to the crazy looking guy with a bloodly machete.

While I think that this is a highly unrealistic scenario, I will provide some advice to you if you ever are faced with a situation where an officer confronts you as you have your gun drawn on someone:

1) Don't make any sudden moves!
2) Attempt to identify yourself and the situation, in as much of a non-threatening manner as you can.
3) Follow the officer's instructions, and communicate that you intend to follow his instructions.

Responding officers will likely treat everyone with due caution, assuming that things may not quite be as they seem (things often aren't). But, if you use some common sense when confronted, the officers will likely pick up on this fact in no time at all. Honestly, in the middle of an engagement such as the one you described, do you really think there are very many reasonable people who wouldn't be able to identify who the attacker was?
 
Let other people call 911. You have the gun. Shoot him- repeatedly & in the face if possible.

If you end up caught between a cop & a psycho your best bet may be to run. Not at the cop, & make sure your weapon is pointed in a safe direction but if your words fail this may be the best end of the turd to pick up.
 
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