I was in my apartment around noon today. I heard screaming and looked out the window. In the parking lot was a woman lying on her back. A man straddled her while beating her face with his fists. The victim struggled while another woman stood nearby screaming for help. I reacted by grabbing the Kahr PM40 and phone as I ran out the door. I dialed 911 while running down the stairs. I put the Kahr in my front pocket.
While making my way outside and waiting for the 911 operator, I was thinking to myself: what am I going to do with the gun? I'm not a big guy, and I'm not a fighter. The other guy looked big. Chances are the best I could do was get in the way while the cops were en route. Maybe the gun could intimidate the man into stopping the beating? But in the back of my mind was the thought that I really hope the gun doesn't come into play. I didn't want to take it out, and I really didn't want to use it. Even farther in the back of my mind was a thought that from what I saw, the situation did not warrant taking the gun out, so just stay cool.
By the time I got outside and around the building where I could see the location of the beating, I had the emergency operator online, and the man was gone. The two women were still there. They said the man ran away; probably had a car parked somewhere. The victim looked rough and bloody. But she got up, and told me she didn't want an ambulance. She wanted to be left alone. By the time the cops arrived, all was quiet. I don't know if she pressed charges, but I got the impression she would not. My guess is they had a history, and this wasn't the first time.
In hindsight... maybe I overreacted a bit? I've never been faced with a situation where I thought I might have to use a gun. It was chilling. I haven't been around violence much. In hope of making this a learning experience, please share your thoughts. What would you have done? What could or should I have done differently? More importantly, what could I have done if the man were still beating the woman when I arrived? What would you have done?
On a side note, I need to move out of this neighborhood. It's gone to hell.
Thanks for your input folks - much appreciated.
While making my way outside and waiting for the 911 operator, I was thinking to myself: what am I going to do with the gun? I'm not a big guy, and I'm not a fighter. The other guy looked big. Chances are the best I could do was get in the way while the cops were en route. Maybe the gun could intimidate the man into stopping the beating? But in the back of my mind was the thought that I really hope the gun doesn't come into play. I didn't want to take it out, and I really didn't want to use it. Even farther in the back of my mind was a thought that from what I saw, the situation did not warrant taking the gun out, so just stay cool.
By the time I got outside and around the building where I could see the location of the beating, I had the emergency operator online, and the man was gone. The two women were still there. They said the man ran away; probably had a car parked somewhere. The victim looked rough and bloody. But she got up, and told me she didn't want an ambulance. She wanted to be left alone. By the time the cops arrived, all was quiet. I don't know if she pressed charges, but I got the impression she would not. My guess is they had a history, and this wasn't the first time.
In hindsight... maybe I overreacted a bit? I've never been faced with a situation where I thought I might have to use a gun. It was chilling. I haven't been around violence much. In hope of making this a learning experience, please share your thoughts. What would you have done? What could or should I have done differently? More importantly, what could I have done if the man were still beating the woman when I arrived? What would you have done?
On a side note, I need to move out of this neighborhood. It's gone to hell.
Thanks for your input folks - much appreciated.
