Public Safety Vs. Self Preservation

[David Armstrong]

While I'm sure that is the logical thing to do, what if it was a gang initiation type thing and all it took was for someone to ask them to pipe down?

The "gang initiation" thing is hyped way out of proportion, and again if that is your fear go get the manager.

I'm not sure if that was the situation, but there are people out there just looking to cause trouble. I think most people would askem the punks to keep it down before calling the theater manager.

Yep, and that's why things like this get out of hand. Let me pose a question...what authority, if any, do you as a moviegoing patron have to demand certain behavior of others? The answer, of course, is none. So the only possible good outcome is that these folks who have already demonstrated they are rude and do not care what anybody else thinks will suddenly have a change of heart and decide to be good role models. Think that will happen??

 

[raimius]

It is certainly possible that rude customers would change their behavior based on someone asking them to. There have been one or two instances where a group I was with was asked to not make so much noise. The group did quiet down, once the loud ones realized they were offending others.
...granted we are not gang members and have no respect/authority complex!

 

[jimbo_4]

In Michigan, it is illegal to carry concealed in any entertainment facility seating more than 2,500 people. If it was a smaller theater, or I did have my gun, I carry a 340ct. Likely be trying to block or hold back with the left, shooting with the right. That close, you could angle the gun up a little if you could even think of it in that situation. Personally, I try to keep as low a profile as possible even though I carry. Maybe criminally be dismissed, but civilly, who knows. Either way, I'd rather just avoid the situation at all costs, but I'm NOT getting stabbed without a fight.

 

[computerguysd]

We had a similar situation where some kids were making a lot of noise and kicking the seats in front of them, including ours. They weren't gangbangers but they were obnoxious. My wife went to the lobby and had the manager deal with them while I kept our seats. If management didn't want to deal with it, we would have left and certainly contacted the corporation about our experience.

Not our fight, nor did it need to turn into one.

 

[Dwight55]

The original question: You are in a crowded theater. Lets assume you are seated somewhere near the center and are surrounded by people. Lets also assume that you have the time and ability to draw your gun before they are on top of you. We should also assume that you see them pull a weapon and that there is little chance of retreat. Remember that you are dealing with multiple assailants.

With a weapon in sight, in the hand of the bg, . . . escape route blocked, . . . two or more bg's present, . . .

In one move, . . . unholster, take off the safety, and begin shooting the closest bg.

I am typically a quiet person who would have gone after the manager, . . . or just gone, period, . . . rather than provoke something. But when the situation has degenerated to the original question, . . . I don't see any other answer other than become another victim.

May God bless,
Dwight

 

[computerguysd]

Dwight55,

You're right about the original question. If a weapon is drawn by a BG, my weapon would be drawn and I would fire, hopefully from a standing position with my weapon pointed down at the BG. No real choice if it's been escalated to life or death self defense.

 

[Un_lucky]

The "gang initiation" thing is hyped way out of proportion, and again if that is your fear go get the manager.

Depends on were you are. Ever herd of the buck fifty? I think I'd just complain to the manager on the way out. I doubt management would care since its usually a 16 year old kid running the theater.

 

[Glenn E. Meyer]

When I was in college in the late 60's, the school movie theater was having a free movie night - a zombie movie (Night of the Living Dead - how appropriate for a gun scenario).

This being an eastern liberal school (sorry, you guys who live on a mountain waiting for the end of the world), much evil smoking was being done.

In fact, clouds of weed smoke filled the theater - jammed to the gills.

Now, one group of individuals decided to yell instructions to the screen. Get out of there, girl, etc.!!

This enraged a group of other folks who yelled Shut the F UP, you members of a different ethic group. Said group responded with it's own commentary on ethnicity. Group 1 was not intimidated being night students who worked in the steel industry and hard drinking folks. They rose to the challenge - giant men of industry.

I, inbetween, said groups - said my, my we are going to be in a violent clash of mutually intolerant cultures.

At the crucial moment, a hippie - giant hair, ragged clothes, seeing rainbows and unicorns - stood up and yelled:

EVERYONE CHILL - OUT - EVERYONE JUST SMOKE SOME WEED!!

Said, smokes were passed around and the rest of the movie based in hallucinatory mellow splendor as all sat down. Later we ate lots of Pepperidge Farm cookies.

Thus, avoidance of conflict - you make pick a different strategy - seems best. If conflict looms, no need to incite more - get out of Dodge.

 

[Tennessee Gentleman]

EVERYONE JUST SMOKE SOME WEED!!

The problem is today it is meth or crack. Not exactly mellowing.

Let me pose a question...what authority, if any, do you as a moviegoing patron have to demand certain behavior of others? The answer, of course, is none.

Perhaps, but since you have paid for the show you ARE entitled to quiet enjoyment of it.

My family and I went to Las Vegas back in August and went to the Cirque de Soleil at the Bellagio. A group of slightly drunk women came in, late of course, and proceeded to gab away and laugh during the performance. I asked them politely to be quiet and one of them said No, she would continue to talk. I simply walked to the manager and told him that if he didn't shut them up I would reverse the charges on my credit card and not pay for the show (very expensive by the way). He came in and told them to shut up and they did. After the show one of the tipsy ladies sarcastically remarked that she hoped I enjoyed the show. I told I had since she had stopped talking.

One poster on here used to have in his signature: "You can have a temper and you can have a gun but you can't have both." Good words.

The anti-gun people used to say that having a gun made you more likely to get into an altercation because you had the gun. I think the opposite is true and should be.

 

[izzkidioto]

If I'm carrying concealed, and someone tries to "start something" with me, I apologize and try to get myself out of the "situation" as quick as possible, including to retreat.

I agree...there is a mindset that you MUST have while carrying, it makes the difference in situations like this. Be the bigger person, there is nothing you have to prove. Remove yourself from the situation and ONLY as a LAST resort do you use deadly force if your life is threatened.