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HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)

43. I was at a fireworks display when my (now 21) eldest daughter was an infant.

Fri Jul 20, 2012, 05:11 PM

Jul 2012

A group of teens was shooting off bottle rockets about 50 feet away. The security guards did nothing. I finally went down and bitched them out about it. On the way back to our blanket I got applause from damn near everyone.

On the way out, the group was waiting and ambushed us. I had a hiking backpack on and was holding my infant. The guy who seemed to be leading the group said he would punch me in the face if I wasn't holding the baby. I gave my daughter to my wife and as soon as I released her he smashed my glasses in a cold-cock punch from the side.

Then he tackled me (note: I still have the backpack on). He got on top and was pounding me, not a problem. When you're in that situation you go turtle and let them burn off energy. Then he suddenly got up and ran away. My wife explained. We had a half-gallon cooler jug filled with wine cooler. While he was on top of me, she slammed it over his head, breaking the handle, and then started jabbing him in the side of the head with the sharp broken handle ends. She'd handed our daughter off to a woman standing nearby. I still laugh about that, but I won't back down if I know I'm in the right, and neither will she. I'm in degraded physical health now, but I'm still not going to back down to an aggressor. THAT's what "stand your ground" means, not shooting someone for farting near your house.

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In a situation like the Colorado theater, I'd charge the bastard head on. [View all] HopeHoops Jul 2012 OP

This message was self-deleted by its author GarroHorus Jul 2012 #1

I've lived a good life. I'm not afraid to die. It's just the right thing to do. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #32

Not me; I'm a devout coward. The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2012 #2

I don't think your body would allow you to do that. Loudly Jul 2012 #3

People dive onto live grenades. lapislzi Jul 2012 #8

USS Bausell KansDem Jul 2012 #22

The mind controls the body, not the other way around. Edweird Jul 2012 #50

And you'd probably just be adding one more to the casualty list frazzled Jul 2012 #4

It might serve as enough of a distraction for someone else to tackle him. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #33

The guy was spraying automatic weapon fire amidst smoke and in the dark.He w HuckleB Jul 2012 #71

Before you could do that, you'd need your wits about you. lapislzi Jul 2012 #5

I'd have to add that anyone who is up at midnight blueamy66 Jul 2012 #48

Well, yes as a matter of fact. PCIntern Jul 2012 #67

okay blueamy66 Jul 2012 #77

You don't know what you'd do in a situation like that until you've been in one. backscatter712 Jul 2012 #6

This ^^^^ easttexaslefty Jul 2012 #17

How you train is how you fight. GreenStormCloud Jul 2012 #31

This is not a war zone, and anyone training that much for a situation like this is suspect. Hoyt Jul 2012 #60

Spot on. I'd have go with duck and cover, I think........... wandy Jul 2012 #79

Exactly Bandit Jul 2012 #89

It's not clear how he was stopped jberryhill Jul 2012 #7

According to KUSA TV news AsahinaKimi Jul 2012 #19

He wasn't "stopped", according to eye witnesses. trof Jul 2012 #53

A noble thought. hamsterjill Jul 2012 #9

you too? shanti Jul 2012 #73

That's right. hamsterjill Jul 2012 #88

I believe there are more of us than one might expect... KansDem Jul 2012 #10

That's basically what I was getting at. I'm 49 with a failing body. Last great act of defiance... HopeHoops Jul 2012 #35

Its easy to claim on the internet that you'd be heroic. HooptieWagon Jul 2012 #11

Shit, I've had a good life pinboy3niner Jul 2012 #12

Actually, doing that would just get one on the "victims" list. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #36

They can call me whatever they like when I'm gone pinboy3niner Jul 2012 #40

I charged one of my daughters with my epitaph:"I thought, therefore I was. Now I don't, so I'm not." HopeHoops Jul 2012 #44

I haven't gottten around to planning my epitaph yet pinboy3niner Jul 2012 #45

I came up with that one when I was about 19. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #62

I'd like to think I would do the same (were I single). But I've never been under coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #13

No one knows how they will pass that test,til it occurs. Swede Jul 2012 #14

That's a good instinct flamingdem Jul 2012 #15

Might be the best course of action. Lizzie Poppet Jul 2012 #16

According to the news... AsahinaKimi Jul 2012 #18

that would be crazy quinnox Jul 2012 #20

Yet none of the victims there stopped him. Because unlike you, they were (fill in the blank) Poll_Blind Jul 2012 #21

Yep. It's easy to go all "RARR ME TOUGH MAN" the day after from a safe distance. (nt) Posteritatis Jul 2012 #24

Yep. nt Chorophyll Jul 2012 #68

I'm a pretty smart guy....but in that situation, I don't think I'd be able to process what was... cbdo2007 Jul 2012 #23

Hope, I don't think any of us know what we'd do in a situation like that. raccoon Jul 2012 #25

Thinking ahead of what you might do in a bad situation is a way of hedgehog Jul 2012 #26

I would draw my own gun and return fire. GreenStormCloud Jul 2012 #27

With more than 100,000 permits to carry in Colorado, rgbecker Jul 2012 #28

It would likely be very difficult in a theater. GreenStormCloud Jul 2012 #30

Many theaters are posted as gun-free zones. sarisataka Jul 2012 #38

There were smoke bombs so I am thinking clear shots would have been a miracle Marrah_G Jul 2012 #76

You are likely correct. GreenStormCloud Jul 2012 #87

Not me. I'm a coward. I'd be heading for the nearest exit. n/t RebelOne Jul 2012 #29

Curiously, from the news reports, he was firing at those who ran away. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #37

Well then, I would be ducking under the seats. n/t RebelOne Jul 2012 #90

Probably wise. I never claimed to be wise. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #94

How would you have even known who the shooter was Blue_Tires Jul 2012 #34

The one with the guns? HopeHoops Jul 2012 #41

You've got better eyesight than I do Blue_Tires Jul 2012 #78

I do have cat-like vision. I still wear glasses, but my night vision is unusually acute. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #80

Watching the eyewitness interviews... sarisataka Jul 2012 #39

Most have not been conditioned to respond with an attack quaker bill Jul 2012 #42

I was at a fireworks display when my (now 21) eldest daughter was an infant. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #43

In today's society resistance to force is not normally supported or taught. eom yawnmaster Jul 2012 #55

Agreed. I wasn't taught it either. I'm just a stubborn bastard who doesn't stand down. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #64

I sure wish you were in a 12-step group I go to, where nobody wants to deal with a disruptive raccoon Jul 2012 #98

It's so easy while sitting at your keyboard, calmly in the daylight, to make claims about what you Nye Bevan Jul 2012 #46

It's a hell of a lot safer, too. nt. Recovered Repug Jul 2012 #47

And the popcorn is cheaper. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #65

That's easy to say. But I'm sure it was pure chaos in there. Arugula Latte Jul 2012 #49

It's easy to say that- doing it the shock of the moment is very different. Marrah_G Jul 2012 #51

I'm with you HopeHoops panader0 Jul 2012 #52

Thanks. You do that while I'm ducking below the seats... trof Jul 2012 #54

Humans have the ability to act against instinct... yawnmaster Jul 2012 #57

Noble thought, but it was dark and there was tear gas. But if it was possible, good. nolabear Jul 2012 #56

i believe you. (n/t) BOG PERSON Jul 2012 #58

You already know if you're the type who could do that. DevonRex Jul 2012 #59

The "type" that might do that wouldn't post about it on the Internet. HuckleB Jul 2012 #72

Yup. DevonRex Jul 2012 #84

That would've been kind of pointless. Daemonaquila Jul 2012 #61

Would you really? Chorophyll Jul 2012 #63

Thought wouldn't factor into it. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #66

Well, now you've given me a straight line. Chorophyll Jul 2012 #69

Oh, that's easy - "I'm tryin' to think but nothin's happenin'." - Curley from The Three Stooges HopeHoops Jul 2012 #70

I would too, or be right there with you. It's happened before. NYC_SKP Jul 2012 #74

Or you might've shit your pants while remaining Guy Whitey Corngood Jul 2012 #75

Perhaps you would. I don't know you, nor do I know if you have ever been shot at. 11 Bravo Jul 2012 #81

Any child is worth more than I am. I've lived a good life. A child has a life before them. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #82

I understand, and I honor your sentiment. I'm merely trying to point out that ... 11 Bravo Jul 2012 #83

Not having heard it, I can't claim it would be a "signature". It's just what we do as humans. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #85

Depends on the "terrain" sylvi Jul 2012 #86

It's easy to say that when you were not there. Odin2005 Jul 2012 #91

I'd give up my life in a heart beat to save a 6 year old madokie Jul 2012 #92

Exactly. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #95

Then you know. DevonRex Jul 2012 #97

Yes, I'm on the back side of my life madokie Jul 2012 #99

your average person (without LEO or military training) datasuspect Jul 2012 #93

you can't even get up to go the bathroom in a crowded theatre... lame54 Jul 2012 #96