Keep an eye on the gentleman in grey t-shirt and khaki pants.
The video is not the best in terms of quality, but I could swear the guy is just carrying the gun in his pocket and the butt is sticking out. This is the testimony of a witness:
According to Smith, the man who was shot was “trying to be a good samaritan” and break up the fight that had ensued. University police appeared, Smith said, but did not appear to try to stop the fight.
Smith said the victim, who had a gun attached to his right side, tripped while trying to break up the fight.
“The gun slipped out of the holster when he had fallen, and I think he may have tried to retrieve it,” Smith said. “Then they said ‘gun.’”
That’s when police fired, she said.
“There was absolutely no hesitation at all,” she said. “[The officer] went straight for his gun.”2 PSU Officers Placed On Paid Leave Following Fatal Shooting
If you are going to carry, do so in a secure manner and I mean in a way that the gun will remain secured to your body and not scamper around. Next, if the gun should happen to fall, don’t go chasing after it as sometimes during the grab you may pull the trigger or in like this case somebody pulled the trigger of his sidearm.
And there and very important: if you carrying, you must remember Jim Cirillo’s advice “You are not sworn to endanger your life to apprehend a dangerous criminal, nor you are paid to do it.” And that goes double if you involve yourself in a confrontation where at least one gun is present: Yours.
(I stole that last bit from Michael Bane)
The guy in the blue shirt was an asshole and I don’t care if he was my friend, he deserved an educational beatdown for his behavior. Instead, he is alive and his friend or good Samaritan is dead.
A carry permit doesnt permit you to play cop. Too many think that.DONT get involved in a fracus that has nothing to do with YOU.
Another reason why you should stay out of bars if you carry. Some states like mine, will prosecute you if you are drunk and carrying a firearm. it is a HUGE responsibilitie mainly to yourself first. THIMBK!!! as dear ol Dad used to say.
What do you mean by “play cop”? Arrest people? No, it does not permit that. Defend innocent third parties? I don’t know about your state, but in civilized states such as NH, the natural right to self defense applies not only to yourself but also to innocent third parties.
“You are not sworn to endanger your life to apprehend a dangerous criminal, nor you are paid to do it.”
According to the Supreme Court, neither are the cops.
Miguel had a post about 10 years ago with a lot of wisdom about concealed carry. He told his friends who were thinking about getting a concealed carry permit that, “…when you do start carrying, your whole attitude has to change. You can no longer afford to be in a scuffle, or try to win a boasting match, or even drive by bad neighborhoods, or hang out in bars. You have to be circumspect and upright.” (Miggy, please forgive the paraphrasing. That was such a damn good post, it bears repeating!)
Anyway, those among you who are carrying know what I mean. I’ve been carrying since 1982, and have never even been close to being in a jam. Don’t want to, either!
I don’t try to break up fights.
I go out of my way to avoid confrontation. So should you all.
Now, we carry because, in the gravest extreme, when taking action is not only the only option, but is the goddamned right thing to do, we are prepared and ready, and refuse to be victims.
[…] Miguel touched on the Portland shooting of Jason Washington Sunday […]
[…] I can tell you that it looks like the gun was stuck in the guy’s pocket or something. I’m not the only one who thinks that, either. If it was a holster, I’m willing to bet it was a crap holster. Why would I bet that way? […]
[…] Listen, I understand the nobility of trying to solve a situation in a peaceful manner. But if the cops are already trying to perform an arrest, you simply don’t get in the mix. You do not play United Nations (minus the whole child trafficking/raping thing) or you risk the very real possibility of ending up dead as it happened in Portland earlier this year. […]