Test of my mental state: daughter attacked

[marksman13]

Doc, I think you did fine.

FCFC, I wonder how many times you have been in real situations such as this. All of your answers sound polished, text-book even. Sure the OP should have called 911 while en route, but I can tell you, I don't know if I would. Handling situations such as this require a person to be flexible. Text-book answers don't always fit into real-life events. Things don't always go as planned.

I think Doc would have been a fool to leave his firearm behind as he entered the scene. The firearm gave him options. It sounds as though he quickly realized the firearm was a last resort and handled the situation accordingly.

As for not asking more questions from his daughter, like a previous poster said, " The conversation can only be as effective as the most hysterical person." It does not sound like Doc's daughter was in a mental state which would allow her to effectively answer questions.

To wrap it up, FCFC, it sounds like you either need some real-world experience to go with your book knowledge, or you need to have a beer and lighten up.

 

[doc540]

"It does not sound like Doc's daughter was in a mental state which would allow her to effectively answer questions."

That is exactly the situation I faced, and I've posted the fact several times.

I could barely get her location out of her and nothing else. And, as posted before, I did make a judgment call that she was not being seriously hurt while she was making the call. (Had I thought that I would have, indeed, called 911 and probably come "spinning into the parking lot with gun drawn and the magazine clenched in my teeth like Rambo".) Just trying to add a little levity to the discussion, boys and girls.

I could tell from the way she was crying, sobbing, and talking that she wasn't in life threatening physical pain, just totally freaked out and calling out for her daddy.

Kind of strange that I'm only a stepdad, and she usually only calls for her mom when she's distressed. This time there was no doubt she was calling for me. And, by God, I was there before a minnow could swim a dipper.

btw: FCFC, I'm "Doc", not "the OP" if you care to address me directly. I respect your different take on things, just disagree with you on your overall read of my mindset and actions. No big deal.

And thanks to everyone for the civil discussion.

 

[rainbowbob]

When an angry "road rager" gets out of their vehicle and starts heading toward her vehicle, she needs to make sure her doors are locked, windows are up, and don't get out of the car. Dial 911 if the person starts banging on her car or begins jerking on the door handles in an effort to get in.

...And don't forget the gas pedal on that 2-ton escape capsule.

 

[Defensory]

Posted by rainbowbob:
...And don't forget the gas pedal on that 2-ton escape capsule.

All fine and good, IF fleeing is an option.

However, I've read of numerous incidents where the victims were blocked in somewhere by the perp's vehicle.

These situations also occur at stop lights where there are cars in front of you and behind you blocking you in.

My suggestions were UNIVERSAL ones that should ALWAYS be done.

 

[strambo]

Doc,

The lessons learned by you were trivial, the lessons learned by your daughter were priceless. Usually we hear about people learning those lessons from the media...posthumously.

 

[TuppyFinn]

I failed to call 911 myself, and to this day don't really understand why. I have friends who work patrol in our end of town. Looking back now, I should have called.

I've noticed this myself. Calling 911 right away is one of the most important things I've learned from these scenario threads. I think the reason that it didn't occur to you is that you're self-reliant. Carrying a CCW is an act of self-reliance. When you have a problem you think, "How am I going to solve this?" The majority of people think, "Who can solve this for me?"

TF

 

[HankB]

Glad the daughter is OK. Too bad she won't file charges.

1. Since the daughter was "pulled out of her car" I suggest you have a discussion with her about the virtues of door locks.

2. A person who is being choked usually has options - if from the front, the most obvious being a deep, penetrative eye gouge . . . aiming not for the eyeball itself, but the inner edge of the eye, next to the bridge of the nose. Use the index and middle fingers together. Or even a pen, pencil, nail file . . . whatever.

3. Stun gun/pepper spray may be options.

4. Don't respond to IDIOTS who try to provoke a road rage incident. I'm licensed to carry a firearm, and on the rare instances when a genuine road-rager tries to provoke something (maybe twice in the last 10 years) I smile, shrug, wave, and let the idiot think I'm apologizing for whatever he thinks I did. He drives off thinking he's Alpha Male King of the Road, and I don't have to shoot him. That's a good ending in my book.

 

[doc540]

You know, reflecting on this I think I may have doubted the severity of the situation, and while I knew something significant had happened, perhaps I wasn't sure it was "911 significant" until I assessed the situation which was just a couple of minutes away.

Or maybe I didn't call 911 because she might have gotten herself in trouble.

hmmmm.....sometimes I think I know why I do what I do and other times I'm not so sure.

 

[rainbowbob]

I smile, shrug, wave, and let the idiot think I'm apologizing for whatever he thinks I did. He drives off thinking he's Alpha Male King of the Road, and I don't have to shoot him.

Excellent advice. This technique also works very well to de-escalate a situation after you've had to honk your horn to get somebody's attention to prevent an accident. Honk...and then wave and smile. By the time they realize you aren't somebody they know - you're down the road.

 

[fjolnirsson]

Both the gun and the "extra magazine" would probably been unnecessary since it was an unarmed woman who was doing the assault. Was it known from the "yes/no questions" by OP of daughter that the assailant was a woman with no weapon?

Just because a person is unarmed, it does not mean they aren't a threat. Is an unarmed UFC fighter dangerous? An unarmed Navy Seal?
On to the next bit. Just because someone is a woman, that doesn't make them less dangerous than a man. Two of the most dangerous people I ever knew were women. Unarmed, no less, because I lived in CA. One was a prize winning kickboxer, the other was a cage fighter. I can tell you, I was a bouncer for five years, and I would much rather break up a fight between men than one between women.

Did the original poster make a few mistakes? Sure. When the chips are down, perfection goes out the window, more so if it is your child in danger.

 

[doc540]

"Both the gun and the "extra magazine" would probably been unnecessary since it was an unarmed woman who was doing the assault."

You gotta admire Carnac's amazing powers.

AND he even knew the other party in the car was also unarmed!

 

[seeker_two]

Everyone is dangerous until proven otherwise......

 

[rainbowbob]

We have a winner - Give the man a cigar!

doc540: You beat me to it and even manged to work Carnac into it - complete with a photo...nice.

 

[TuppyFinn]

Off topic, sorry.

Carnac says, "The answer is Siss Boom Bah."
Carnac opens the envelope and says, "What sound does a sheep make when it explodes?"

Johnny Carson said this was the longest laugh he ever received.