AZ "Riots" and your Safety Question

[Ksail101]

So I am sure by now everyone has seen some clip of the Demonstrations in AZ. Some of the footage I have seen looks closer to a riot than peaceful Demonstration. (and they said the Tea Party demos were bad...) Anyway my question is that if you were a normal person say downtown, in one of the cities affected, at work and you were trying to get home or out of the area do to the increasing violence what do you do if you are attacked? I know that this question has been posed in many other settings, but this one I feel is unique do to the oddity of the half way riot.

In this situation I dont know if it was full blown Riot but there were some people throwing rocks bottles and chasing police and other pedestrians. Lets say you get caught up in this and 10 or more angry people are coming at you making threats and you have ran and done all you can to try and get away safely but safety is unobtainable. Is this a shoot or no shoot situation. Or even a situation where you present your gun.

Really you have no idea how far in danger you are. You have not heard or any murders or anything like that but a group of people are in a sense armed with crude weapons and coming at you do to the color of your skin or just cause you are in the wrong place at the wrong time and targeted as someone who you are not. You cant shoot all ten or more people in the group can you? So what are your options.

In Seattle we have had many of these little riots and in one case someone was killed. So what are your rights in a sense. And should you just stay at work in your building even if its in the hot bed of the action? So I guess maybe an idea of what to do in this cause I work down town now and this can happen.

[ratcatcher55]

The crowd would have to show intent to do you or some one else harm or injury. Walking around with clubs or weapons may show ability but not necessarily opportunity and intent.

That being said it is preferred to just be some place else. If I knew there were going to be a demonstration near my place of work I would take the day off. My family would not be allowed near anything that emotional.

I have been in the middle of 3 riots, 2 in the US and 1 in the Romania.  People do things they would never do otherwise and that include the police.  The one in Romania ended up with both sides shooting at each other.

Your scenario, I would move away from the crowd and keep moving. I do not believe in brandishing a weapon in hopes that people will be scared away. In a crowd of 10, some dumb ass won't believe you'll shoot and then the real trouble begins.  I thought BDS covered this really well.

Not a lawyer and did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night

[Solus]

I'd say you are justified since you have tried to escape but cannot.

That you are being chased constitutes intent and ability.  That you are overwhelming outnumbered constitutes the ability to do deadly harm.

Present your firearm and take aim at the closest and if they don't stop and retreat before you have time to fire, continue and fire and keep firing until you are out of ammo or they run off.

Just hope you picked up your 15 shot Glock that morning rather than your 1911.....

[ratcatcher55]

Solus,

Are they moving in the same direction you are or they following you?

Have they made any threats to you or are they just mouthing off at the world?

You better to be able to articulate that to your lawyer.

+1 on the Glock 

[Hazcat]

So I am sure by now everyone has seen some clip of the...

Clip!, CLIP!


oh......wait.....never mind! 

[Sponsor]

[Solus]

Ratcatcher, you are correct.  My assumption was they were actively pursuing you.

If not, getting far away or inside someplace secure would be best.  I'd not leave work if they were on the street outside.

If you find yourself outside, and are not actively threatened, head out of town.

All of a sudden, the question that comes to my mind is  ....  

What would I do if I saw a group of 10 or so beating someone across the street...

Try to stop them and take the chance of having the mob turn on me or save my butt and run.

[McGyver]

First off, KSAIL, if you carry and your life is endangered, fire until the gun is empty!  Then, reload and run like HELL!  Chances are you are firing at ILLEGAL aliens and any lawyer would be happy to represent you (aka: take your money!)

[rojawe]

Seems like Obama and the Attorney General Holder should be investigation those Hispanic Congressmen that are inciting the illegals to Social disorder, Illegals that are demonstrating   should be picked up on the spot and deported.

[m25operator]

Hey Ksail, if you are in imminent danger, protect yourself, if someone else is, you make the call, get out of there, as quickly as possible, I do not believe in threatening, it can elevate a situation, if it is time to shoot, then that's what it is, people dropping to the ground, will usually take the bravado out of the others, but don't linger, get out of there, if behind you was ok until you got there, then behind you is the direction that might be best, whether in reverse or doing a forced U turn, go go go.

If you are trapped in a building when this kind of event happens, be good friends with the security and ask them if they have a plan, if not come up with one, that protects you, I know you are working for the VA, so get to know the security force there, and know where to hide, since I'm sure you are not allowed to be armed while working. Get an improvised weapon, mop handle, or 2, scalpels, perhaps to bring with you in your hiding place.

[tombogan03884]

 I am going to leave the area. If that means I have to shoot 10 people, Bummer, I hope they get nice flowers.
If I have to drive over them , or anything else it takes to leave the area safely.