In a situation!

[NineseveN]

Yeah, you did wrong...you shouldn't have put yourself into the situation (legally speaking), but you did the right thing as far as morality is concerned. It's a tough call, is standing up on principle important enough to risk going to jail or killing someone? Some people are indeed raised that way, it's not legally smart, but I wouldn't call it wrong to stand up for your fellow human.

[Severe]

I shop at the Save a Lot and Cousin's food market in Philly so I've encountered that situation a couple of times, but I wasn't carrying. I say, if it doesn't escalate into to a physical argument, don't get involved because your jumping in isn't gonna change anything. That situation could have gotten very ugly pretty fast. Someone could have lost a life and for what? Domestic issues are too complex for the average citizen to intervene. Leave that up to the Police. Now if it did get physical, I wouldn't have let it go any further.

[Siobhra]

Remember the most important thing to know if you are going to carry a gun.

The first person to call 911 is the victim. All others are the villains. Regardless of the evidence.

[jack76590]

I hope you did not use a credit card to pay. That guy who used a credit card at 5:08 pm and bought x, y and z is the one who stuck a gun in my face officer.

[D-FENS]

Urban Terrorists are always screaming at each other, hollering, blocking sidewalks, jaywalking, etc. I wouldn't risk my life on account of them unless it was life/death for someone.

[Chevmeister]

It was a good thing you did, standing up for another human is a noble act. It may also have been the dumbest thing you could have done. I cant say what I would have done, but i know by showing him your gun and telling him it was not a good idea you just put together 2 of the three necesssary pieces of the puzzle.
to quote another post

Originally Posted by MarcS

http://members.aol.com/StatutesP8/18PA505.html

Case law would take too much time to go over. If you look in an annotated text of PA title 18, the annotations under Homicide are half the book.

To sum it up, if you blast someone you're going to need to articulate Ability, Opportunity and Intent. That's the Ability of the guy you blasted to cause you great bodily harm/death (he had a gun, he had a knife, he had a club, he was frickin' huge). The Opportunity of the guy you blasted to do you harm (standing 100 yards away with a knife presents no opportunity to use it. the threat must be imminent). The Intent of the guy you blasted to do you said harm (what he said or did that put you in imminent fear of your life.)

you had the ability, you had opportunity, if you would of touched your gun, and he was armed, we may not be second guessing your actions right now. not that he could plead self defence because he was in an arguement.

If i were in your shoes i dont know what i would have done. with the training i recieved i was taught when there is any kind of arguement go the other way. however if it were my wife and kid i would be glad someone stood up for them.

[RoyJackson]

Frankly, he was being obnoxious, but not threatening. As soon as you said it would be your problem (if he didn't stop), you became the aggressor.

Sad but true...

And, when you showed your gun, you were brandishing. Good way to lose your license. If you had to use it, there's no doubt in my mind you would have been charged with a crime...and rightly so.

We can't control other folk's assholiness. But unless the other guy shows intent to do harm (yelling at a kid doesn't make the cut), you'd better leave that gun in the holster.

Now, you've got to think about what you did. You pulled a gun in a situation that did not require it. Are you sure you want to carry a gun?
Please do not take offense at my comments, but you did ask opinions.

[Chevmeister]

From what I read he did not pull the gun merely flashed it. If he had pulled the gun things could have got ugly fast. If the situation had escalated and he had pulled his gun, his self defence plea would have been toilet paper. If the wants to he could have him charged with terroristic threats.
Ive been thinking and since i have had hours to consider it (wouldnt that be great) what i would have done, if i had grown brass balls and stepped in, right after i realise what i did, and when he reached to his belt i would have said it wasnt a good idea and stepped back. Yelled for someone to call the police. if he produced a knife run, knock things over, get away. If he produced a gun crap your pants then hope it wasnt loaded and draw and fire. Save teh pants you may need them in court soon.
I carry, and every day when I pick up that gun i think, if this leaves its holster before i get home i may not come home. Thats going to have to be my decission when that day comes. Im not going to jail cause some jackass was shouting at some lady. For all anyone knows it could have been his wife and he just found out shes sleeping with the bag boy.

Not trying to start anything just bringing more thoughts to the table.

[Pukindog]

There is an important lesson for everyone here: You do not have to "slap leather". Merely showing the gun is enough to warrent losing your permit. Even an accidental flash ( climbing a ladder and reaching for something above your head) for instance is enough to lose your permit.
Jeff

[axmdr40]

Originally Posted by Pukindog

Even an accidental flash ( climbing a ladder and reaching for something above your head) for instance is enough to lose your permit.
Jeff

Uh....in what dream world, since OC is legal, can you say that this is true?