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Oldgringo wrote:

Oldgringo wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:I know it sounds cold, but you only have to shoot one to get the others to back off. The couple in question reported that they were actually struck several times by several punks while trying to evade the situation, in which they were surrounded by as many as 100 of them. In my book, that is reason enough to draw the weapon, and reason enough to shoot it if drawing it doesn't stop the physical attacks.

Your partner should be calling 911 while you shoot the apparent leader and a couple more of 'em. The cowardly pack will likely scatter after they see that you mean business and you can di di out of there. As Tam said above; thinking time is over, it's SHOWTIME!

After the smoke clears, file large lawsuits against the theatre, the manager and anyone else who might be even partly responsible for allowing this to happen and/or continue. Why the lawsuits? Because that's what lawyers are for.

Y'all can debate the "what-ifs" until the cows come home. ITMT, I've seen no response that causes me to second guess my initial thoughts on addressing the situation. (I really, really hope that my NetFlix subscription keeps me from having to face such an encounter.)

I also watch most movies at home. There are few productions these days that are so fantastic I just have to see them before they come out on DVD.

When my wife and I do want to see a first run flick, we go to a theater in a very quiet neighborhood that doesn't have a significant thug population within miles, even when it's not the closest and most convenient. We also go during the daytime whenever that works for us. This strategy saves lots of headaches and lets us enjoy the entertainment we pay for.

esxmarkc wrote:But anyone who thinks they can whip out their handgun and immediately obtain crowd control over an angry mob need only recall what happened to Meredith Hunter (yes that's a guys name) at Altamont Speedway. He was almost instantly stabbed to death (in the head) and beaten to the point of non-recognition before he could get off a shot.

This is true.

A handgun is not a grenade launcher, and everyone in a mob knows it. Most of these folks have seen lots of people shot with handguns, and they know most handgun wounds are survivable. Many would be more afraid if they were confronted with a knife.

I've been in the position of having to draw a gun to protect myself or others from a mob more than once and can tell you that the best you can hope for is to buy yourself maybe thirty seconds to execute plan B and get out of Dodge before the mob gets over its initial surprise and some intoxicated individual yells, "Get 'em!". The tactic only works if you've got some distance between you and the perimeter of the mob (meaning a minimum of 20 feet or so.) Your options and likelihood of success will diminish in direct proportion to decreases in distance between you and the mob.

Beiruty wrote:911 should be your first call. I feel this issue escalaed due a racial slur. How can one summon some 100 young men/women to attack a couple? Where the whole gang watching the flick? Why weren't the couple escorted to back door exit? Did the armed bystander pull his weapom?

In certain neighborhoods, this is really easy because there are lots of folks around not doing anything in particular and happy to join in any excitement. In such areas, I can tell you from personal experience that getting 100 people together to cause serious trouble takes one agitator and about 90 seconds to empty every pool hall, bar and apartment house entryway within 2 blocks.