TexasCHLforum.com

nuparadigm wrote:Great story, but I guess I'll be the one to say it: it's a little too perfect.

Obviously, it could be a work of fiction. However, boiled down to the operative facts it was simply a case of thugs attacking a woman and child and being scared away by a man with a gun. No shots were fired and this is precisely the type of non-shooting event that would fall within the scope of the 2-3 million annual self-defense uses of firearms, according to the Kleck and Lott studies. They usually are not reported to the police, when they are rarely is an arrest made, and because of these factors and the lack of blood, they are almost never picked up by the media.

Yes, the story was artfully written, but with a little talent, time and perhaps help, most people can put their feelings into words; especially if they faced death and survived. We've all seen Internet hoaxes, but we have to remember that it's not possible to independently verify every event.

Chas.

For reasons I explain in my classes and seminars, I very rarely post what I would or would not do in a given scenario. Often times it simply because there are too many unknown variables to be able to respond, but there are also times when I know precisely how I would react. I know there many people on both sides of the issue of whether or not to intervene in an assault on an unrelated third party, and I respect those opinions as they are purely personal in nature. Perhaps the gentleman's comment was poorly worded, or perhaps he meant precisely what he said.

As a general observation, I believe his mindset was once commonplace in Texas, but it is disappearing as generations pass. I believe that is both a pity and shameful. While none of us want to see a CHL acting like a COP want-to-be, going to the aid of someone so clearly in mortal danger isn't an action I would place in that category. As the old saying goes, some people hear gunfire and run away, while others run toward the gunfire. Both responses are entirely normal; the former is not a coward and the later is not foolhardy. The former acts to protect himself, the later seeks to go in harm's way for the benefit of others. LEOs and firefighters aid others because it is their duty and we appreciate and respect them for doing so. How much more should we respect, admire and hopefully emulate the private citizen that places his life in danger not to protect his family or friend, but for a woman and child he never saw before in his life.

I tip my hat to this man and I long for the days when the response to his actions was, "why, of course he did."

Chas.