tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post426870064430009790..comments2023-10-31T03:18:26.963-07:00Comments on Great Guys Weblog: "Run Them Down"Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063508651955739056noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-36387592596152718782016-09-28T17:59:54.762-07:002016-09-28T17:59:54.762-07:00No. Political riots like at Trump rallies, some Oc...No. Political riots like at Trump rallies, some Occupy Wall Street rallies, etc. are somewhat more common.<br /><br />I wouldn't want to be in the middle of any of them either.Brethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063508651955739056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-52388871720082203712016-09-28T17:31:13.393-07:002016-09-28T17:31:13.393-07:00So, every riot you have in America nowadays is som...So, every riot you have in America nowadays is somehow race related?<br /><br /><br />Clovishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08921327103613284595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-64073087003966748732016-09-28T12:42:47.451-07:002016-09-28T12:42:47.451-07:00Clovis,
You're correct that I didn't expl...Clovis,<br /><br />You're correct that I didn't explicitly identify the riots as race related. That was on purpose, as I wanted to focus on interactions of parts of the brain. The link I provided about the specific event that got Instapundit in trouble did mention that it was a Black Lives Matter protest turned riot because of a black guy getting shot by a cop so it was a race related event.<br /><br />I don't think they were "hunting white people," but still, to be the only white person in the midst of a black riot is not wise, in my opinion. I'd really stand out. Even in the dark.<br /><br />I was fast once, but I'm not sure I was ever fast enough to outrun a riot.Brethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063508651955739056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-2249640884993126322016-09-28T10:54:06.600-07:002016-09-28T10:54:06.600-07:00Bret,
I did not think (nor you posed) the Riot as...Bret,<br /><br />I did not think (nor you posed) the Riot as a race related issue. I just thought of the situation where they want to stop traffic (and destroy and burn a few things), instead of hunting white people. <br /><br />And my notion of "leave the car and run" is really about the "run" part. It is your call if you are fit enough to make those first 500 meters in good time.Clovishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08921327103613284595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-43553901432951820362016-09-27T08:39:31.736-07:002016-09-27T08:39:31.736-07:00Clovis,
I think leaving the car would be a huge m...Clovis,<br /><br />I think leaving the car would be a huge mistake. They're looking for soft targets and there's little softer than an old isolated unarmed guy (did I get the adjectives in the right order? :-) outside of his car. I'd also be kind of an obvious target being the only white guy not in a car.Brethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063508651955739056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-11455513365369553352016-09-26T11:26:19.574-07:002016-09-26T11:26:19.574-07:00Bret,
I only missed that line where you would com...Bret,<br /><br />I only missed that line where you would comment that, unlike the Trolley problem, the Rioting problem does not mean certain death.<br /><br />Yes, it is scaring enough to justify extreme action to save your family, I agree. But back to your "I am alone" case, I guess I could take my chances, leave the car and run. Chances are good that you will only lose property and money.<br /><br />Clovishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08921327103613284595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-47210004435231972952016-09-26T02:20:48.037-07:002016-09-26T02:20:48.037-07:00[Bret:] You've had military training, right? I...<i>[Bret:] You've had military training, right? Isn't a significant part of that learning to pull the trigger without hesitation and a minimum of guilt?</i><br /><br />Not a part of any training I've had. Perhaps because fighter pilots tend to be very self selected, that minimum of guilt can be very much taken for granted.<br /><br />Also, unlike soldiers, we operate at a much further remove from the consequences of our actions.<br /><br /><i>Even if I did have access to a gun, I wouldn't use it to save myself. </i><br /><br />Did you consider that you might not be the only one you are saving? After all, the self defense justification for the 2A is based, in part, on the salutary disincentive widespread gun ownership has on individual decisions. There have been at least several beating victims in the Charlotte riots. Would the second and third have happened if the first meaningfully retaliated?<br /><br />Impossible to know for certain, of course, but it mobs act the way they do because they feel like they can act with impunity.<br /><br /><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIGMUAMevH0" rel="nofollow">I just don't know if I would or could do it and I really hope I never find out. </a></i><br /><br />True, that.Hey Skipperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10798930502187234974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-52703129358365159582016-09-24T11:12:25.583-07:002016-09-24T11:12:25.583-07:00Hey Skipper asked: "...you would be overcome ...Hey Skipper asked: "<i>...you would be overcome with guilt if you defended yourself ...?</i>"<br /><br />If someone was killed? Well, I certainly couldn't be sure unless something like that actually happened but I suspect I would be. NOT if I was saving wife or kids or others close to me.<br /><br />You've had military training, right? Isn't a significant part of that learning to pull the trigger without hesitation and a minimum of guilt? I haven't had such conditioning.<br /><br />Hey Skipper asked: "<i>... with a gun?</i>"<br /><br />As people who read this blog know, I'm pretty supportive of 2nd amendment rights. However, I personally am utterly useless with a handgun and I find guns noisy, stinky, and annoying and I have absolutely no interest in putting in the time, effort, and expense to become competent. Given that I'm not competent I'm not gonna carry. Even if I did have access to a gun, I wouldn't use it to save myself. Even if there were some situation that I might possibly try to use it (to try and save a child), there's no way I'd attempt it in a crowd.<br /><br />I am, however, quite competent at driving a car, and that would be my better bet in that sort of situation. I just don't know if I would or could do it and I really hope I never find out.<br /><br />Hey Skipper wrote: "<i>...as happened with George Zimmerman...</i>"<br /><br />That was exactly the example I had in mind when I wrote "crucified."<br />Brethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063508651955739056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-51148542511115550282016-09-24T08:34:13.756-07:002016-09-24T08:34:13.756-07:00Correct Skipper and after thinking over what Bret ...Correct Skipper and after thinking over what Bret said, those interfering with you by blocking your way on a public street are overtly opting to be injured or killed. <br /><br />You are not trying to injure or kill them. Only trying to get outta there safely!<br /><br />I have no objection to those who know how to use them, using a gun to protect themselves, except that gets you into a passel of trouble with the compassionates.erphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09826044412670324694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-20931703739492639432016-09-24T08:13:30.061-07:002016-09-24T08:13:30.061-07:00[Bret:] My hesitation if it were just me is that t...<i>[Bret:] My hesitation if it were just me is that the guilt I would feel if I ended up killing someone, even a violent rioter, would be crushing to me.</i><br /><br />So if a violent rioter was to attack you personally -- as happened at least twice in Charlotte -- you would be overcome with guilt if you defended yourself with a gun? How about if that person was shouting "Allahu Akbar"?<br /><br />YMMV, but I sure wouldn't. <br /><br />Further, I think your premise is flawed: you take it as given -- without supporting evidence -- that you would be crucified for injuring a member of an officially aggrieved group. Your life might be disrupted, as happened with George Zimmerman or Darren Wilson, but for me, that sure as heck beats the very plausible alternative. Besides, the context of a riot is wildly different than not a riot.<br /><br />The problem with a car is that using it to escape a situation where its passengers are vulnerable is very likely to injure or kill people who are part of the crowd, as opposed to those who intend to harm you.<br /><br />Which is why concealed carry is so important. A couple gunshots might well scatter the attackers, and if that doesn't work, then the follow up rounds will be much less likely to end up on people not part of the immediate problem.<br /><br />But, if you don't have a gun, how badly should you feel about doing what you can to avoid having your wife and children be a widow and orphans?<br /><br />Hey Skipperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10798930502187234974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-87308176105687098582016-09-23T18:32:25.419-07:002016-09-23T18:32:25.419-07:00That is unfortunately the reality, but we sane peo...That is unfortunately the reality, but we sane people including all skin colors and ethnicity are far in the majority and it pains me mightily that we have abrogated our heritage of freedom and equality under the law and given in to the crazies.erphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09826044412670324694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-24872018400305918262016-09-23T18:25:57.680-07:002016-09-23T18:25:57.680-07:00erp,
Keep in mind that as a white male I would be...erp,<br /><br />Keep in mind that as a white male I would be crucified for injuring, much less killing, one of the rioters. I suspect my family would be better off with me dead than to be dragged along with me through the crucifixion.<br /><br />Instapundit's advice may still be pretty bad. Not necessarily because it's evil but rather because the rioters can literally get away with murder while those of us in the cars cannot even get away with using force for self-defense.Brethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063508651955739056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-13402481391631642722016-09-23T15:39:51.005-07:002016-09-23T15:39:51.005-07:00Bret, not sure I understand that because you'r...Bret, not sure I understand that because you're not alone, but part of a family, community, etc. that need you.<br /><br />I need to ponder that.erphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09826044412670324694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-30356116698307563792016-09-23T14:05:38.130-07:002016-09-23T14:05:38.130-07:00I don't know what Reginald Denny wishes he had...I don't know what Reginald Denny wishes he had done.<br /><br />My hesitation if it were just me is that the guilt I would feel if I ended up killing someone, even a violent rioter, would be crushing to me. I'd rather feel that guilt than allow harm to come to wife or daughter but I'm not sure I'd rather feel that guilt than die.Brethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063508651955739056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-25652794327572904142016-09-23T13:11:58.098-07:002016-09-23T13:11:58.098-07:00I wonder what Reginald Denny wishes he would have...I wonder what <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiz7tTHpabPAhVGLZoKHTHXB0wQtwIIKDAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DUMP6bXnXdZM&usg=AFQjCNEO_GDxKtxIa1aVky4z0ub3F9sKpw&sig2=qeAwNOq8kafTbA1_AZPyfw&bvm=bv.133700528,d.bGg" rel="nofollow">Reginald Denny </a> wishes he would have done.Hey Skipperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10798930502187234974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-67472948498863940162016-09-23T12:53:39.503-07:002016-09-23T12:53:39.503-07:00It's the option of those surrounding your car ...It's the option of those surrounding your car driving on a public roadway whether they get run down or move away when you blow your horn and move forward, so Bret, while if you had passengers, especially your family, it would be a no brainer that you'd run them down, why would you value your own own life less? Don't you think it would be devastating to your loved ones?erphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09826044412670324694noreply@blogger.com