Noticed a drunk CCW'ing- what to do

[PT1911]

There is nothing lower than an informant.

and at just what point is an informant a good thing when someone is being assaulted, battered, robbed, being beaten, when someone is being killed, after they are dead?

Any reasonable person would say long before any of that happens. As in when you first notice something out of the ordinary.. like a drunk guy with a gun... If you want to put yourself and others at risk by allowing something so ignorant to go unchecked, have at it, however I certainly hope any reasonably minded people here will recognize that the time to intervene is when your gut tells you. I would rather call the cops for a false alarm than hold a dying loved one in my arms because I was too ashamed to tattle.

 

[mcdonl]

booze and guns do not mix. hell booze and most things don't mix.

'cept for other booze

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

There is zero evidence to suggest that, simply because the weapon was in his presence, he was going to whip it out and play mischief with it. On the other hand, unless he lives next door to the bar it's a good bet that he WILL endanger everyone else on the road around him.

I'd like to understand how this guy having POSSESSION of a weapon while drunk equates to an equivilent level of danger as actually driving while intoxicated.

Folks who insist that people cannot drink and be around firearms are using the same logic used by The Brady Bunch to push for weapon bans.

You're right, there is nothing to suggest that he is going to play with his gun.

That's not what I'm calling into question.

Alcohol affects your judgment, and vision, PERIOD.

No ifs ands or buts about it.


If you are too drunk to drive, then you can't see well enough to determine that someone is a deadly threat, much less hit that person instead of the person behind them.

 

[Joe Demko]

What should I do if I see a fat guy buying a Speedo?

 

[mcdonl]

Joe, see mixing of booze...

 

[CoRoMo]

I'll treat others the way I prefer to be treated.

I'll ask you to mind your own business, and I'll do the same.

 

[kd7nqb]

rogertc1- Everything kd7nqb noticed is an assumption.

I fully agree, I saw a man who appeared visibly intoxicated and still drinking in possession of a weapon. I am giving him the benefit of the doubt saying that he was a CHL holder.

I am ok with the actions I took, and I strongly disagree with what he did but until he shows at least some sign of being dangerous then I dont feel the need to take action.

 

[Lou McGopher]

I wouldn't be concerned.

He's drunk, he's got a gun. No harm done, no foul. He's not putting you in immediate danger.

If he starts waving the gun around like a maniac, then you've got something to worry about.

Does being drunk turn you into the kind of person who would point a gun at people for no good reason? If not, then don't assume it will do so to someone else. If it does, you have too little self-control, and probably shouldn't drink, as you're likely to do other reckless things as well.

I don't know about the rest of you, but the most reckless thing I'll do when drunk is take a fat girl home... and truthfully, I'll do that sober, just with a little more discretion than when I'm drunk. I think too many people use alcohol and drugs as a way to excuse doing the things they want to do when sober.

Drinking alcohol doesn't turn you a crazy a**hole anymore than carrying a gun turns you into a violent thug. Alcohol impairs your motor skills, not your personality. That's just the way you really are.

Learn to maintain, folks.

Drunks have a right to defend themselves, too.

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

the problem i have with this is not whether or not alcohol makes someone belliferent/ madman/ maniac.

The problem is that someonewho is drunk is going to be less able to determine what a perceived attacker is holding, what is behind the attacker.


I've seen my fair share of drunks pass out as well. What happens to the gun once he passees out?

Too many cons to carrying while drunk.

 

[MT GUNNY]

+on MYOB, Untill he or she pulls it out for something stupid!!

 

[AllAmerican]

Way to take the high road... I love being called a hypocrite. Why? Because Im not.

I dont have a problem with people drinking and carrying. I carry when I am drinking and I have never had the urge to whip out the gun and start shooting.

I do agree that everyone should know themselves well enough to know when they shouldnt carry.

We had this discussion on another board just recently.

Sorry, You're not going to disarm me because Ive been drinking.

Heck, even the law in SC recognizes the right to self defense with a firearm while under the influence.

So I say again, mind your own business.

 

[Seenterman]

Ok first off is it legal to be drunk while carrying in that locality?

If its not I may have called the police, depending on the way the guys acting. If he is getting loud, bombastic, or aggressive (because thats not unheard of while drinking) I would deff. call the police. If you've even been in a bar fight or been in a bar during a bar fight they usually urupt with little to no warning. I could be a getting bumped into or a spilled drink that causes this guy to go off.

If he was quite, polite, and behaving himself I would see no reason to call the police. It all depends on the persons behavior, and since no one but the OP saw him I'd probably say he made the right call of MHOB.

Would you be concerned if that same individual in the same condition got behind the wheel?

Some posters make it appear that they have no problem with the drunk guy carrying, but he's suddenly a risk when he gets behind the wheel?

Eathier his judgement is impaired or its not. You can't have it both ways.

And how does this guy being a cop have any bearing on his condition? Cops are human, they are affected the same why any other human is by alchol. Is it ok for cops to drive drunk? No. So if its not ok for a construction worker to carry while being drunk why is it ok for the police officer?

 

[Lou McGopher]

The problem is that someonewho is drunk is going to be less able to determine what a perceived attacker is holding

Maybe. Maybe the perceived attacker should stop doing whatever it is he's doing to be perceived as an attacker. Leave alone people you don't know, particularly if they seem to be frightened by you.

What happens to the gun once he passees out

Where is this person passing out? At home? At the bar? At the shooting range? If someone takes the gun from him, that person, not the guy who passed out, is responsible for what they do with the gun.

Too many cons to carrying while drunk.

Too many cons carrying while sober.

 

[Lou McGopher]

Some posters make it appear that they have no problem with the drunk guy carrying, but he's suddenly a risk when he gets behind the wheel?

Alcohol impairs motor skills. To what extent depends on the consumer and the amount consumed. I honestly don't mind people drinking and driving, as long as they are capable of controlling their vehicle safely. I don't worry about drunk drivers anymore than I worry about sleepy drivers, inattentive drivers, putting-on-makeup-in-the-mirror drivers, looking-behind-you-to-yell-at-your-kids drivers, or any of the other bad drivers out there.

Hold people accountable for their actions, not your fears.

 

[runrabbitrun]

Hold people accountable for their actions, not your fears.

I agree, what a novel idea huh?

 

[Joe Demko]

Hold people accountable for their actions, not your fears.

Now that's just crazy talk!

 

[Lou McGopher]

I remember once, I was walking out of a parking lot to a sidewalk. Near me was car was leaving the lot. Driving it was a young woman, looking for a clearing in traffic to pull out, and talking on her cell phone. Several cars were pulling into the parking lot, the last of which was driven by an elderly woman. The elderly woman sees the younger woman on the cell phone. The elderly woman slows down, sticks her face out the window, and starts yelling at the younger woman, "HANG UP THE PHONE HANG UP THE PHONE HANG UP THE PHONE!" The elderly woman was so focused on this dangerous cell phone user that she ran into the car in front of her (going about 5mph), which had come to a stop due to congestion in the parking lot.

I laughed so hard I nearly peed myself.

But the point is, anybody has the capacity for behaving stupidly at any time. Sixty-eight percent of fatal car accidents do NOT involve drunk drivers. I'll bet the stats for gun accidents are similar.

 

[RyanM]

If you are too drunk to drive, then you can't see well enough to determine that someone is a deadly threat, much less hit that person instead of the person behind them.

So let's say someone is drunk. They have their car keys in their pocket or holstered on their belt. They are standing next to their car, but showing no intention of driving said car. The car has gas in it, because they "loaded" it earlier.

By your logic, that's more than enough to call the cops.

And that situation is in fact more dangerous than having a gun. A drunk by his car needs a taxi or someone else to drive, to get home. A drunk with a gun does not need anyone's help to keep his gun in the holster.

 

[Seenterman]

Hold people accountable for their actions, not your fears.

I guess drunk driving laws have no basis in reality, just fear based. Not thats theres any evidence that drunk people have impaired judgements, slowed reaction time, and skewed perception. Not that any of that would translate to being unsafe while carrying a firearm.

 

[rainbowbob]

...question is if you see somebody visibly intoxicated carrying what do you do?

Nothing...unless he is assaulting you.

 

[REAPER4206969]

People carry guns on a daily basis because they look beyond the present to PREVENT personal injury, death, loss of property....etc.

I do not draw my sidearm and shoot people because they seem like they MIGHT try to assault me. I draw my sidearm and shoot people because they actually ARE trying to assault me.

 

[ArmedBear]

Ok first off is it legal to be drunk while carrying in that locality?

As I asked before, are you a trained expert in determining one's level of intoxication by observing him?

 

[REAPER4206969]

absolutely.. it is very liberal of me to actually think about what sort of influence my actions might have on others.

Liberals, Progressives, Socialists, Communists, Etc. seek to punish individuals or collectives because of what they MIGHT do. Conservatives, Libertarians, constitutionalist, Etc. seeks to punish individuals or collectives for what they ACUALLY DID do.

I guess the fact that you dont makes you a sociopath... much like many psycho's of the past and present.

You Liberals are so tolerant and polite.

 

[Lou McGopher]

I guess drunk driving laws have no basis in reality, just fear based. Not thats theres any evidence that drunk people have impaired judgements, slowed reaction time, and skewed perception. Not that any of that would translate to being unsafe while carrying a firearm.

What percentage of drunk drivers cause accidents?

 

[ArmedBear]

I guess drunk driving laws have no basis in reality, just fear based.

Drunk driving laws have a basis in reality.

The details of these laws can be unjust and inappropriate. They were, after all, the product of a single-minded activist group that has gone entirely off the deep end into shrill neo-puritanism.