Overreaction or Not? That is the question.

I've just recently applied for my SC CWP, so I don't carry concealed yet. Even if I had my permit, I was in Georgia, just across the river from my house, when I had an Orange almost Red event, so my situation wouldn't have differred.

My family and I decided to go out to one of the best little Italian joints in Augusta, Ga. This restaurant has been in the same spot for more than 40 years and over these years, that section of the old downtown has become overrun with strip clubs, seedy bars and homeless people.

My wife, 2-month-old son and I drove in one car and her parents and my 3-year-old son were in another. We arrived first and got seats. I sat my wife and baby down then went outside to wait on the others.

Two doors down, at a hole-in-the-wall bar, an obviously drunk homeless guy was ranting at another obviosly drunk homeless guy "MF" this and "MF" that and "I'll kill you MF!" And he threw a beer bottle into the street.

During this, my son and inlaws arrived and I escorted them inside and sat down. My son asked "Why was that man yelling?" I told him that he was drunk and angry.

Five minutes later, the guy was in front of the restaurant yelling and swearing. One of the owner's daughters went outside and told him to leave because there were small children inside and they could hear him yelling. He turned to go, and the lady walked inside. As soon as the door shut, he turned and started for the door.

I immediately jumped up and met him at the door and blocked him from entering. Her husband joined me at the door and I asked him if he had a problem, then I told him he needed to leave. He kept saying to me, "MF, you gonna get hit." I told him to leave again, or he could leave in an ambulance. He turned and walked away, mumbling "You gonna get hit, you gonna get hit..."

The situation was diffused fairly quickly, and I sat back down with my family. What gets me is that we were the only two who even noticed the guy turn around and head for the door.

And what concerns me to no end is that my wife kept yelling at me to sit down that I was escalating things. She had no clue that the situation escalated as soon as I saw him throw that beer bottle into the street, and second when he turned toward the woman in the restaurant.

Needless to say, as we checked out, the woman thanked me for my help, and we walked to our car unassaulted. But don't think I didn't have my tactical folder in my hand under the leftovers, and as soon as I got the car unlocked, my Glock was in my belt.

Did I overreact? Should I be concerned about carrying?
My wife (a psychologist) still won't talk to me rationally about it. Go figure.

Let me know what you think.

Well it seems like you had a little more info on the whole start of the confrontation than she did. So seeing how she did not see all the things you saw I say she may have had a different reaction if she saw the whole thing from the beginning. It is just not the same to be told what happened then if you saw it yourself

First off welcome! :smilez:

I expect you were both more informed on things than anyone else - plus you are probably like most of us, attending to all details however small thru awareness - your senses kick in as you see threat potential.

Hard to analyze 100% but from your account it would seem you did what had to be done. Not over reaction and had you been carrying I'd doubt you'd have needed it or even gone for it unless you were under greater threat from the bum.

It might however have been a tad ''comforting'' - as a just-in-case measure.

You did the right thing.

First of all welcome to the forum.

I think you did well. I think I would have reacted in much the same way. You did well in keeping your eyes open and trained on the threat. I'm sure the store owner appreciated the help.

It would have been completely different had you went for your weapon. What you have done had you been armed?

BTW did you get free dessert?

"Should I be worried about carrying?" sounds like you are asking if others are concerned with your mental coolness or temper. If that is the question, my answer is "you married a psychologist, you're probably fine." If the story was you ran up to the door and nothing happened it might have been a tad overzealous, but obviously he was looking for trouble.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by a_kayaker

First of all welcome to the forum.

It would have been completely different had you went for your weapon. What you have done had you been armed?

BTW did you get free dessert?

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I was armed ... with my Benchmade ... but didn't touch it (until leaving with my family), so I don't think I would have reached for my gun. I was very aware of his hands and had he put something in his, I would have put something in mine.

I like to consider myself a level-headed, rational person with a very easy temper.

My wife's reaction blew me away. I'll give it a few days then talk to her. I imagine she was just scared for my safety and didn't understand why I would intervene. I'm not a bystander.

No dessert. Maybe next time?!

Sounds like you did fine.

The way I see it is: You know you can defuse a situation without resorting to the gun. And that is the way we want to resolve any conflicts if we can. In my experince with drunks as Security Officer, I found out that they get less brave when 2 males face him that one male alone or with females so that might be why the drunkard left at the end.

Things to work out? Have a soulful conversation with your wife and explain to her what happened and come up with a plan or plans for possible future incidents. If faced with a similar situation in the future (and I am assuming she is not gonna carry) her job should be to secure the kids and call PD if necessary while you distract the BG away from her and your kids. Go through other scenarios and come up with alternative responses together. I bet you dollars to donuts she acted that way because she was scared and did not know what to do.

You did fine. I think your wife, being a woman and being a psychologist might think that you should have "talked things out" and everyone would have been happy.
I'll be the first to tell you that you cant reason with a mental or a drunk on the street. When you combine both of those, you have a keg of powder just waiting to be lit.

No arguments with what you did. You avoided violence and kept the aggressor away from potential victims.

You acted.

I am impressed...:35: :hand10: :wave:

You acted. She analyzed. Action always wins.

More than appropriate... Too many people fail to do the right thing.

You were more than right to go and support the staff in that situation.

Read the posts from last month under the thread "Why I Won't Go Back To NYC" or worded very close to that.

And Welcome Aboard... I hope you stay and continue to post here.

Being unarmed you did fine. But would you have intervened if you were carrying?

I'm sure she was more scared than anything else. My wife is rather clueless at what is going on around us. In fact her being clueless will cause me to stay closer to protect her. I've got to work on her some, but its a slow process.