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mamabearCali wrote:How would you "know" someone was being kidnapped. Well a screaming child being torn out of an apparent mothers arms with the mother screaming for help that would be a situation I could see myself actively intervening in...hopefully not drawing but certainly calling the cops as I advance and tell the person grabbing the child to stop immediately. A person attacking a child (not disciplining) but attacking a child that is screaming for help ( really screaming...not the half hearted help the little girl gave). Surely you can think of sure signs that would indicate something is amiss and needs immediate intervention.


I am not saying we should play cop, but simply that we should be our brothers keeper. If someone especially a child appears in extreme distress we (simply as human beings) should try to help.

A screaming child that is being torn out of the mothers arms could be being saved by a father who is taking her from a deranged mother that is mentally unstable. Drawing on the father would now have you being in the wrong.

Someone attacking a child is not a possible kidnapping, that is assault and totally different situation and could possibly justify drawing depending on the situation

Bottom line, these are situations that you will not know how to handle until the EXACT situation is presented. There will be multiple other factors that have to be considered. Hypothetical are just that and will never play out in real life like you think they would.

So, be a good witness, try to intervene only to the point to stop the situation long enough to let law enforcement sort it out, and don't put yourself in a sticky situation of unjustified assault with deadly weapon by drawing unless you have NO other options to save a life.

How do you know she's the mother? Maybe she's the kidnapper and that's why the child is screaming.

Getting into other people's domestic issues is a tricky thing.

Keith B wrote:Hypothetical are just that and will never play out in real life like you think they would.

It's funny how the real world finds ways to throw wrenches in the smoothest of hypothetical theorizing.

Keith B wrote:So, be a good witness, try to intervene only to the point to stop the situation long enough to let law enforcement sort it out, and don't put yourself in a sticky situation of unjustified assault with deadly weapon by drawing unless you have NO other options to save a life.

Words of wisdom all would be better off heeding. I'm totally on the same page here. As I said in my opening post, I would have stuck around the scene to monitor and gather info, possibly dialing 911 at some point. Yes, the little girl is screaming "Someone help me, you're not my dad," but that's not conclusive evidence that the man is really not her dad (or step-dad) and that she's not just being bratty. I would need to see something more to get involved, and the involvement would be in gradual levels of escalation, as the situation warranted. If the man slapped the little girl, I would walk toward him and let him know that's not going to happen in public without me calling 911.

Now, let me throw a bit of a wrench of my own. What would you do if the man attempted to violently stuff the girl in the back of his car as she was still screaming "You're not my dad, someone help me?" Is this the time to step in and take physical action? Those who preach caution, as I do, what say you?

matriculated wrote:Now, let me throw a bit of a wrench of my own. What would you do if the man attempted to violently stuff the girl in the back of his car as she was still screaming "You're not my dad, someone help me?" Is this the time to step in and take physical action? Those who preach caution, as I do, what say you?

Nope, still not. You do not know if the girl maybe has emotional and/or mental issues. Just because she is screaming and yelling doesn't mean she is really being kidnapped. She may just be a total brat throwing a temper tantrum.

Get a really good description, license number, call 911, and if you can do so safely, follow them and keep the 911 center on the phone to try and get law enforcement to stop them and sort it out.

Let's not get too far out in the broccoli patch here. In a situation such as in the video, we must stop & run through the OODA Loop. Getting involved does not mean getting physical. A simple, non-confrontational question such as: "Excuse me, but can I help?" will reveal a lot & save us many sleepless nights. Your child is worth the time.

Jim Beaux wrote:Let's not get too far out in the broccoli patch here. In a situation such as in the video, we must stop & run through the OODA Loop. Getting involved does not mean getting physical. A simple, non-confrontational question such as: "Excuse me, but can I help?" will reveal a lot & save us many sleepless nights. Your child is worth the time.

Best reply so far!!!! Doing something doesn't always mean physical involvement.

Jim Beaux wrote:Let's not get too far out in the broccoli patch here. In a situation such as in the video, we must stop & run through the OODA Loop. Getting involved does not mean getting physical. A simple, non-confrontational question such as: "Excuse me, but can I help?" will reveal a lot & save us many sleepless nights. Your child is worth the time.

If I saw something like that happening I would have to do something. I'm not wired to stand and watch. Does this mean i automatically jump into attack mode? Of course not, but I would have to do everything in my power to make sure that child is safe. Usually if the child is being a brat, be understanding, but let the parent know what the situation looks like. If it's a genuine kidnapping attempt, the kidnapper is probably not gonna stick around to talk.