What would you have done?

[ErnieP]

The following is from today's Austin-American Statesman:

"4 beaten in Warehouse District

A man and his wife were severely beaten by four men in downtown Austin on a Saturday night in January, police said.

Police have identified suspects but are waiting to file charges pending further investigation.

The couple was walking at Fourth and Colorado streets Jan. 24 when they were attacked by four men in front of a Roppolo's Pizza stand, police said. The husband tried to fight back and suffered a broken leg, a broken ankle and a crushed hand, and he was knocked unconscious, police said. The woman was also knocked unconscious, police said.

The four men attacked another woman who tried to protect the couple and another man who was walking from the Warehouse District, police said.

The couple was taken to a hospital and has been released, police said. Police are still looking for the other two victims.

It is unclear what injuries the wife and two other people suffered."

Given the reported facts, had you been there and seen the woman who tried to protect the couple attacked, what would you have done? I think it would be instructive to hear the opinions of our fellow Forum members.

My response: I would have called 911 with my weak hand. No weapons were displayed, and given the fact I would be carrying, I would hesitate to get "physically" involved with four BGs due to the risk of my weapon being taken. Had the BGs approached me in a threatening manner, given the serious results so far (unconscious victims and broken bones), I would have felt threatened with serious bodily injury, drawn, verbally advised to "stop", and taken action if the threat became imminent.

Your response/thoughts?

[nitrogen]

IF i was going to intervine, I'd assume I didn't know who did what to whom.

You never know if you find some guy beating the tar out of someone else because he found him trying to rape his daughter or something.

For tht reason alone, Id be hesitant to intervene. I would probably if I thought someone was in danger of more than a fight, i.e. a real beating.

I'd absolutely call 911 and be a good witness.

[DoubleActionCHL]

The "what would you have done" is a great question, but a loaded one. We don't have enough information and are required to make a few assumptions. Even if we were really standing in front of the altercation, chances are we wouldn't have enough information and would have to make assumptions. Assumptions, as we all know, are dangerous.

Number one, you have to realize that, as a private citizen, there is no legal requirement to get involved. You may possess a moral or ethical compulsion to get involved, but that's another thing, entirely. Next, we have to assess the situation to the best of our ability and with the time available. This could be 2 minutes or 2 milliseconds.

"Be a good witness," is always good advice, regardless of whether or not you choose to get involved.

I'll automatically make one assumption: a woman being beaten by a man usually needs help. Beyond that, you need to consider the nature of the confrontation; is this a robbery, an impromptu beating by thugs, a domestic dispute, a drug deal gone bad, an undercover police operation (which one is the good guy?), or any one of thousand other scenarios?

Bottom line: There is no right answer. Understand the ramifications, risks and responsibilities, then do what you can live with.

What would I do? If women are being beaten by men, I'd probably get involved. If it was exclusively men, it would depend on my take on the situation. It might sound callous, but I'm a big fan of Charles Darwin. If it's a fight between two societal cockroaches, I'll let them fight it out.

[pedalman]

Yay, Darwin Awards.

[Purplehood]

The "what would you have done" is a great question, but a loaded one. We don't have enough information and are required to make a few assumptions. Even if we were really standing in front of the altercation, chances are we wouldn't have enough information and would have to make assumptions. Assumptions, as we all know, are dangerous.

Number one, you have to realize that, as a private citizen, there is no legal requirement to get involved. You may possess a moral or ethical compulsion to get involved, but that's another thing, entirely. Next, we have to assess the situation to the best of our ability and with the time available. This could be 2 minutes or 2 milliseconds.

"Be a good witness," is always good advice, regardless of whether or not you choose to get involved.

I'll automatically make one assumption: a woman being beaten by a man usually needs help. Beyond that, you need to consider the nature of the confrontation; is this a robbery, an impromptu beating by thugs, a domestic dispute, a drug deal gone bad, an undercover police operation (which one is the good guy?), or any one of thousand other scenarios?

Bottom line: There is no right answer. Understand the ramifications, risks and responsibilities, then do what you can live with.

What would I do? If women are being beaten by men, I'd probably get involved. If it was exclusively men, it would depend on my take on the situation. It might sound callous, but I'm a big fan of Charles Darwin. If it's a fight between two societal cockroaches, I'll let them fight it out.

I tend to agree.

[mr.72]

I would have not been down there in the first place.

This is actually one of the reasons I don't play gigs in downtown Austin. Place is turning into Houston.

[Rex B]

I'd have to say I'd be calling 911 and then taking photos with camera or phone from a safe distance.
If that prompted them to turn toward me and I could not evade the 4 to 1 odds would warrant a defense.

[03Lightningrocks]

I'd have to say I'd be calling 911 and then taking photos with camera or phone from a safe distance.
If that prompted them to turn toward me and I could not evade the 4 to 1 odds would warrant a defense.

LOL....I would not have thought about taking photos. Great idea....that would have been some great y-tube footage. Better than the old sight...bums fighting.com.


I agree with those that say it is hard to know which side to get on. I watched a couple ghetto houchie mamas beating the dickens out of each other in front of wal-greens one afternoon. These two women were each big enough to whoop most guys. The funny part was that these ladies kids were watching the spectacle and screaming at them to hit each other. i didn't even call the cops. I just laughed and drove off. I figured it was Darwinism at work. I considered arming them both with sticks.

On the other end of the spectrum I was in downtown Dallas around Deep Ellum a few years back and saw a grizzly looking biker dude slamming a woman against a metal garage door(big commercial one). She kept hollering at him to leave her alone and he kept cursing her and calling her names. My buddy said, "we have to do something". I looked down the road about 100 yards and saw a cop so I told him we should go get the cop and let him deal with it. The cop runs down there and half a dozen other cops descend on this guy. His girlfriend ends up getting arrested for assaulting the police officers and he drives off to find bail money. She turned on the cops when they tried to help her. Started defending her boyfriend from them. You never know who or what is going to happen when you get involved in someone elses fight. It's risky to intervene. Unless someone is about to die or a woman is getting raped or something that severe, I don't think I would do much other than call a cop.

[PArrow]

Call 911, take pictures of everyone I could, shoot anyone who approched me, reload if needed.

[03Lightningrocks]

Call 911, take pictures of everyone I could, shoot anyone who approched me, reload if needed.

LOL...this gave me quite the visual. Reminds me of the Old Yosemite Sam cartoon character.

[t_kopecky]

Hello all. This is my first post on the forum, and I felt compelled to comment on this issue.

I like the comments above, and wanted to offer a small piece of advice...be careful. I stopped my neighbor from beating his wife by standing on my side of our property line with my pistol behind my back. Had already called the police, and when they showed up, she turned on me and claimed I threatened to kill everyone. I was arrested for Deadly Conduct.

I won't get in the middle of a fight between others, but I will call the police and let them break it up. I enjoy the site...

[Rex B]

A conflict between a man and a woman is definitely off my "Will intervene" list.

[Purplehood]

Hello all. This is my first post on the forum, and I felt compelled to comment on this issue.

I like the comments above, and wanted to offer a small piece of advice...be careful. I stopped my neighbor from beating his wife by standing on my side of our property line with my pistol behind my back. Had already called the police, and when they showed up, she turned on me and claimed I threatened to kill everyone. I was arrested for Deadly Conduct.

I won't get in the middle of a fight between others, but I will call the police and let them break it up. I enjoy the site...

Another reason I love this board...who'd a thought?

[03Lightningrocks]

Hello all. This is my first post on the forum, and I felt compelled to comment on this issue.

I like the comments above, and wanted to offer a small piece of advice...be careful. I stopped my neighbor from beating his wife by standing on my side of our property line with my pistol behind my back. Had already called the police, and when they showed up, she turned on me and claimed I threatened to kill everyone. I was arrested for Deadly Conduct.

I won't get in the middle of a fight between others, but I will call the police and let them break it up. I enjoy the site...

Another reason I love this board...who'd a thought?

From all the stories I read and hear, domestic violence situations often end up like this.

[DoubleActionCHL]

From all the stories I read and hear, domestic violence situations often end up like this.

No doubt. Domestic disputes are perfect examples of the old adage, "No good deed goes unpunished." Still, I'm not sure I can sit back and watch some guy beat a woman to death, domestic or not.