It depends on the situation.
Yes, I would help both
I would help the civilian, not the LEO.
I would help the LEO, not the civilian.
I would not help either.
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?
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It depends on the situation.
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.
You should also add, would you inform the person you are stopping to help that you are carrying?
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.
Help your own self - the Government is busy takin' care of itself!
Retired LEO
Thanks for the insight Saltcreek. Makes a lot of sense.
NYS Penal law requires you provide assistance to a LEO if he asks.
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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.