Your vehicle's path is blocked by stranger. What would you do?

Logistar · February 11, 2002, 01:30 PM

You are driving your vehicle and come to a stop. There is no one around. Out of nowhere a man jumps in front of the vehicle waving his arms trying to "flag you down". You see no weapons and he makes no menacing gestures at the moment. What would you do?

Steve Smith · February 11, 2002, 01:52 PM

I voted "Run him down!" but only because I'm a "Wild and Crazy Guy." I'd probably push him out of my way with the car...really fast. Sorry, did I say that? I meant to say I'd help him across the street...with my bumper. Dang! I did it again!

tag · February 11, 2002, 01:58 PM

Back up and go around him, if possible. Call the police and alert them to the situation. If the man needs help, the police are better suited to handle it than I am. My first concern is for my safety and the safety of my loved ones.

Brian48 · February 11, 2002, 02:09 PM

I'd gently push him out of the way if I couldn't go around him. Then again, my idea of "gentle" might be very different than other folks

jimsbowies · February 11, 2002, 02:09 PM

A simple 180 degree turn should solve that......despite the visceral urge to either run him down or just shoot his stupid ass., I'm kinda-sorta guessing that'd get me in trouble....

**Mike Irwin** · February 11, 2002, 02:12 PM

This actually happened to me once, years ago, in Pennsylvania.

Ugly night, cold, sleety on and off.

Guy's car broke down (I had passed it about a mile previous).

Gave him a ride into town.

I can't remember whether I was armed or not. I probably was.

gwalchmai · February 11, 2002, 02:16 PM

I guess it's the "out of nowhere" language that makes this difficult. I've stopped to help people on the street before, but in this day and age I would consider his appearance and I'd definitely have my weapon where I could access it if needed.

longeyes · February 11, 2002, 02:46 PM

There's something sad about this poll. When it comes to this...

Not that we shouldn't be on the alert.

eviltravis · February 11, 2002, 02:59 PM

Around here there are a lot of people driving old cars that break down. There are also subzero temperatures in the winter. Often the plows don't get the roads right away, so people go off the road. I always stop to help. Most people in Montana have the, "It might be me next time mentallity." I carry my gun, and I am mindfull of danger, but I always stop to help. I haven't had to run down, or shoot anyone yet. Law enforcement are few and far between here. If we waited for them to solve all of our problems, it would simply never get done. I carrry a tow chain, tools jumper cables, blanket, etc... in my truck. I can't count how many times I've pulled someone out of the ditch. Self defence is great and all, but I don't use it as an excuse to not help people. Sometime I might need a ride to town when it's 40 below zero, and I hope I won't get shot for it.

DLL · February 11, 2002, 03:08 PM

Depends on where I was and what he looked like. I guess I would follow my instinct.

Brian Busch · February 11, 2002, 03:31 PM

No harm in rolling down the window and asking what's up. After all, your in a 3000lb hunk of mobile steel, he's just a guy in the street. Whats he gonna do?

Whats up with you folks???

Quartus · February 11, 2002, 03:58 PM

Guess it depends on where you live. Here in Utah, or in Montana with eviltravis, you try to help.

Bad parts of most of our large cities? Hmmmm.

Don't go there in the first place!

Steve Smith · February 11, 2002, 05:33 PM

Longeyes, I think that most TFLers know that I'm a real easy going person, and that I see humor where others do not. If you can't take a little "Run him down!" humor, that's ok.

I've done more hitching than most TFLers will do in a lifetime. Sorry I have such a dark sense of humor.

Erik · February 11, 2002, 06:46 PM

Given the circumstances described, I'd investigate wihtout touching my weapon. If a threat arises, it can come out PDQ as necessary.

Mike in VA · February 11, 2002, 07:03 PM

I see what's up with window only part way down. I've never really had a bad experience, and have have a couple of situation where I had to help. I guess I'm into benefit of the doubt, assuming all other things being equal. I've also seen a few situations where I didn't even slow down, it were pretty obvious. Go with your gut.

longeyes · February 11, 2002, 07:35 PM

You misread me. It wasn't personal my comment and it wasn't aimed at anything in particular or, in fact, at you. It's just that on the one hand I believe we want a helpful, pull-together community and on the other to be safe. You make your judgements based on the context. I'd decide what I'd do by where I was. The truth is that it's just situations like these that are going to be the most challenging from a CCW point of view because a lot of encounters are not going to present themselves as immediately threatening. The BG may be waiting to get you off-guard. I'd be open to being a good neighbor but would also be "at the ready."

I still think it's sad that we're finding ourselves having to think about this kind of stuff at all.

Eric Larsen · February 11, 2002, 09:51 PM

Interesting poll.....

Depends on who I have with me? Alone or with family? Is the stranger a male or female? I would probably check it out but have my gun gripped if it "felt wrong"..if you know what I mean. Shoot well

youngun · February 11, 2002, 11:46 PM

I once had to approach an older gentleman for help jumping my car. I'm not the handsomest, and I guess he was trying to be "tactical," but how bizzarre that he rolled down his rear driver-side window to talk to me!
He was trying to get me at an angle, I guess, so he wouldn't have to confront me directly, but I ended up in his blind spot, with him craning back to see part of me in his periphery!

He was in no mood to help, and I found it elsewhere, but boy was that weird!

So, I can say, I definitely wouldn't do that!

C.R.Sam · February 12, 2002, 12:19 AM

High alert without brandishing weapon. Watch mirrors for another one. Find out what is the problem.

I have helped and I have been helped.

Use brain, your best weapon.

Sam

fix · February 12, 2002, 09:13 AM

In my hometown...

Look in rearview mirror for others. Roll down window and say, "How ya doin' buddy?".

Small town life is nice.

KSFreeman · February 12, 2002, 09:28 AM

I would/have:

1. Back up car while looking all around;
3. Roll down window in a tactical manner, of course;
4. Give in the command voice "Hi, what's wrong?" or "Hola, que pasa, amigo."
5. Decide what to do then. It may be leave, it may be "no se mueva!" Depends. Once it was throw frags and deploy HK54 the other time it was call for a tow truck (easy to get those situations mixed up--I have same problem Steve does).

johnbt · February 12, 2002, 10:13 AM

"Two teen-agers were arrested yesterday in what police described as the senseless killing of 19-year-old Jocelyn S. Stanley, who was shot to death on a North Richmond street Wednesday as she was driving two of her boyfriend's children home from school."

It's been a few weeks and I can't get the entire article from the Times-Dispatch's archive, but she took a wrong turn in broad daylight and found two punks standing in the middle of a residential street. They shot her when she stopped and didn't even rob her. Tips from the neighbors led to their arrest.

Whatever my response to a similar situation would have been before, it's much, much different now.

John

ankara36 · February 12, 2002, 10:17 AM

Years ago a friend of mine told me a story about his wife driving through a less than desirable part of Philadelphia. She came upon a young man laying in the street, completely motionless. She slowed down with the intention of stopping to see if he was OK. But at the last second she saw, out of the corner of her eye, a couple of young men rushing at her minivan from behind some parked cars. She gunned the engine and took off. The man lying in the road jumped up and out of the way to avoid being run over.

It would all depend on where I was. If its the inner-city, he'd better get out of my way.

striderteen · February 12, 2002, 12:27 PM

I'm single, so I have no family to worry about. I'd probably roll down the window and see what's up. I'd be in a position I can easily draw from, but I wouldn't draw -- if he's supsicious enough for me to draw on, I won't be picking him up.

Rickmeister · February 12, 2002, 03:25 PM

Plenty of "ruse" scenarios here. I'll leave well enough alone.

On the other hand, suppose the stranger was...you. Your child lay in the brush, just beyond sight, mauled by a mountain lion and bleeding profusely. You need an ambulance---ASAP!!!

Now let other people take the poll.

View Poll Results: Your vehicle's path is blocked by a stranger flagging you down. What would you do?
Run him down!	8	9.64%
Back up, drive around, or "gently" push him out of the way.	18	21.69%
See what he wants, (concealed weapon drawn).	10	12.05%
See what he wants, (firing grip) concealed weapon holstered.	27	32.53%
See what he wants, don't touch concealed weapon until you see undeniable threat.	20	24.10%
Voters: 83. You may not vote on this poll

February 11, 2002, 01:30 PM	#1
Logistar Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2001 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 298	Your vehicle's path is blocked by stranger. What would you do? You are driving your vehicle and come to a stop. There is no one around. Out of nowhere a man jumps in front of the vehicle waving his arms trying to "flag you down". You see no weapons and he makes no menacing gestures at the moment. What would you do?

February 11, 2002, 01:52 PM	#2
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	I voted "Run him down!" but only because I'm a "Wild and Crazy Guy." I'd probably push him out of my way with the car...really fast. Sorry, did I say that? I meant to say I'd help him across the street...with my bumper. Dang! I did it again! __________________ Favor the X. Steve Smith NRA Life Member

February 11, 2002, 02:09 PM	#5
jimsbowies Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2002 Location: Charlotte Posts: 332	circumnavigate? A simple 180 degree turn should solve that......despite the visceral urge to either run him down or just shoot his stupid ass., I'm kinda-sorta guessing that'd get me in trouble....

February 11, 2002, 02:12 PM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	This actually happened to me once, years ago, in Pennsylvania. Ugly night, cold, sleety on and off. Guy's car broke down (I had passed it about a mile previous). Gave him a ride into town. I can't remember whether I was armed or not. I probably was. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 11, 2002, 01:58 PM	#3
tag Senior Member Join Date: September 3, 2001 Location: Middle TN Posts: 111	Back up and go around him, if possible. Call the police and alert them to the situation. If the man needs help, the police are better suited to handle it than I am. My first concern is for my safety and the safety of my loved ones.

February 11, 2002, 02:09 PM	#4
Brian48 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2001 Location: Boston, People's Republic of MA Posts: 1,616	I'd gently push him out of the way if I couldn't go around him. Then again, my idea of "gentle" might be very different than other folks

February 11, 2002, 02:16 PM	#7
gwalchmai Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2001 Location: outside the perimeter Posts: 333	I guess it's the "out of nowhere" language that makes this difficult. I've stopped to help people on the street before, but in this day and age I would consider his appearance and I'd definitely have my weapon where I could access it if needed.

February 11, 2002, 02:46 PM	#8
longeyes Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2000 Location: True West Posts: 1,350	the Age of the Good Samaritan - over? There's something sad about this poll. When it comes to this... Not that we shouldn't be on the alert. __________________ "You come far, Pilgrim." "Feels like far." "Were it worth the trouble?" "Ah...what trouble?" ~Jeremiah Johnson

February 11, 2002, 02:59 PM	#9
eviltravis Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2001 Location: montana Posts: 283	Around here there are a lot of people driving old cars that break down. There are also subzero temperatures in the winter. Often the plows don't get the roads right away, so people go off the road. I always stop to help. Most people in Montana have the, "It might be me next time mentallity." I carry my gun, and I am mindfull of danger, but I always stop to help. I haven't had to run down, or shoot anyone yet. Law enforcement are few and far between here. If we waited for them to solve all of our problems, it would simply never get done. I carrry a tow chain, tools jumper cables, blanket, etc... in my truck. I can't count how many times I've pulled someone out of the ditch. Self defence is great and all, but I don't use it as an excuse to not help people. Sometime I might need a ride to town when it's 40 below zero, and I hope I won't get shot for it.

February 11, 2002, 03:08 PM	#10
DLL Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2002 Location: California Posts: 135	Depends on where I was and what he looked like. I guess I would follow my instinct.

February 11, 2002, 03:31 PM	#11
Brian Busch Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2001 Location: Southeastern United States Posts: 360	No harm in rolling down the window and asking what's up. After all, your in a 3000lb hunk of mobile steel, he's just a guy in the street. Whats he gonna do? Whats up with you folks???

February 11, 2002, 03:58 PM	#12
Quartus Senior Member Join Date: May 8, 2001 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,823	Guess it depends on where you live. Here in Utah, or in Montana with eviltravis, you try to help. Bad parts of most of our large cities? Hmmmm. Don't go there in the first place! __________________ . Better to know what you don't know than to think you know what you don't know.

February 11, 2002, 05:33 PM	#13
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	Longeyes, I think that most TFLers know that I'm a real easy going person, and that I see humor where others do not. If you can't take a little "Run him down!" humor, that's ok. I've done more hitching than most TFLers will do in a lifetime. Sorry I have such a dark sense of humor. __________________ Favor the X. Steve Smith NRA Life Member

February 11, 2002, 06:46 PM	#14
Erik Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 1999 Location: America Posts: 3,479	Given the circumstances described, I'd investigate wihtout touching my weapon. If a threat arises, it can come out PDQ as necessary. __________________ Meriam Webster's: Main Entry: ci·vil·ian Pronunciation: \sə-ˈvil-yən also -ˈvi-yən\, Function: noun, Date: 14th century, 1: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law, 2 a: one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force b: outsider 1, — civilian adjective

February 11, 2002, 07:03 PM	#15
Mike in VA Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 1998 Location: Santa FE, NM Posts: 2,163	I see what's up with window only part way down. I've never really had a bad experience, and have have a couple of situation where I had to help. I guess I'm into benefit of the doubt, assuming all other things being equal. I've also seen a few situations where I didn't even slow down, it were pretty obvious. Go with your gut. __________________ M2 The Second Amendment IS homeland defense!

February 11, 2002, 07:35 PM	#16
longeyes Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2000 Location: True West Posts: 1,350	Steve Smith You misread me. It wasn't personal my comment and it wasn't aimed at anything in particular or, in fact, at you. It's just that on the one hand I believe we want a helpful, pull-together community and on the other to be safe. You make your judgements based on the context. I'd decide what I'd do by where I was. The truth is that it's just situations like these that are going to be the most challenging from a CCW point of view because a lot of encounters are not going to present themselves as immediately threatening. The BG may be waiting to get you off-guard. I'd be open to being a good neighbor but would also be "at the ready." I still think it's sad that we're finding ourselves having to think about this kind of stuff at all. __________________ "You come far, Pilgrim." "Feels like far." "Were it worth the trouble?" "Ah...what trouble?" ~Jeremiah Johnson

February 11, 2002, 09:51 PM	#17
Eric Larsen Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2001 Location: Bountiful....Ut. Posts: 3,226	Interesting poll..... Depends on who I have with me? Alone or with family? Is the stranger a male or female? I would probably check it out but have my gun gripped if it "felt wrong"..if you know what I mean. Shoot well __________________ If they dont know you have a gun.....then I did alright! If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice......Rush

February 11, 2002, 11:46 PM	#18
youngun Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 2001 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 324	shoe on the other foot I once had to approach an older gentleman for help jumping my car. I'm not the handsomest, and I guess he was trying to be "tactical," but how bizzarre that he rolled down his rear driver-side window to talk to me! He was trying to get me at an angle, I guess, so he wouldn't have to confront me directly, but I ended up in his blind spot, with him craning back to see part of me in his periphery! He was in no mood to help, and I found it elsewhere, but boy was that weird! So, I can say, I definitely wouldn't do that! __________________ New firing pin: $12. New extractor: $15. Ballistic fingerprinting: worthless.

February 12, 2002, 12:19 AM	#19
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	High alert without brandishing weapon. Watch mirrors for another one. Find out what is the problem. I have helped and I have been helped. Use brain, your best weapon. Sam

February 12, 2002, 09:13 AM	#20
fix Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2001 Posts: 919	In my hometown... Look in rearview mirror for others. Roll down window and say, "How ya doin' buddy?". Small town life is nice.

February 12, 2002, 09:28 AM	#21
KSFreeman Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2001 Location: Lafayette, Indiana--American-occupied America Posts: 5,418	I would/have: 1. Back up car while looking all around; 3. Roll down window in a tactical manner, of course; 4. Give in the command voice "Hi, what's wrong?" or "Hola, que pasa, amigo." 5. Decide what to do then. It may be leave, it may be "no se mueva!" Depends. Once it was throw frags and deploy HK54 the other time it was call for a tow truck (easy to get those situations mixed up--I have same problem Steve does).

February 12, 2002, 10:13 AM	#22
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,004	Did this make the national news? "Two teen-agers were arrested yesterday in what police described as the senseless killing of 19-year-old Jocelyn S. Stanley, who was shot to death on a North Richmond street Wednesday as she was driving two of her boyfriend's children home from school." It's been a few weeks and I can't get the entire article from the Times-Dispatch's archive, but she took a wrong turn in broad daylight and found two punks standing in the middle of a residential street. They shot her when she stopped and didn't even rob her. Tips from the neighbors led to their arrest. Whatever my response to a similar situation would have been before, it's much, much different now. John

February 12, 2002, 10:17 AM	#23
ankara36 Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Posts: 257	Years ago a friend of mine told me a story about his wife driving through a less than desirable part of Philadelphia. She came upon a young man laying in the street, completely motionless. She slowed down with the intention of stopping to see if he was OK. But at the last second she saw, out of the corner of her eye, a couple of young men rushing at her minivan from behind some parked cars. She gunned the engine and took off. The man lying in the road jumped up and out of the way to avoid being run over. It would all depend on where I was. If its the inner-city, he'd better get out of my way.

February 12, 2002, 12:27 PM	#24
striderteen Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2001 Location: Pasadena, California Posts: 590	I'm single, so I have no family to worry about. I'd probably roll down the window and see what's up. I'd be in a position I can easily draw from, but I wouldn't draw -- if he's supsicious enough for me to draw on, I won't be picking him up.

February 12, 2002, 03:25 PM	#25
Rickmeister Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 797	Plenty of "ruse" scenarios here. I'll leave well enough alone. On the other hand, suppose the stranger was...you. Your child lay in the brush, just beyond sight, mauled by a mountain lion and bleeding profusely. You need an ambulance---ASAP!!! Now let other people take the poll.