but some of us probably would not sleep well knowing that we had the means, the opportunity, and the need to help someone: and passed
.
And:
Now the BG isn't dealing with you, but with another person. Someone think of a life threating situation which COULD happen? robbery? car jacking (throwing someone out the car)..
suddenly switches to;
Man starts to beat the woman, straight punches to her face
Oh for cryin' out loud. Suddenly, calling 911 is only for thumb-sucking wimps who would stand there while Snydley Whiplash ties Sweet Poly Purebred to the railroad tracks. I guess I'll go shopping on E-bay to find a used telephone booth so I can put my cape on.
The first thing you do is call 911, and let the perp know you did. If he's pouring gasoline on her, that's a different story. I've brandished my gun to protect my family once and only once, to buy time to get in the car. Once I did, I took off over a planter bed, taking a shrub with me, then waited for the sheriff's office that my wife had already called. I was detained for half an hour while my credentials were checked, but that night I was able to go home and get drunk, not spend the night in a cell for being overzealous.
Guess what? It worked!
Taking action means taking proper, appropriate and responsible action, not vigilante, LEO wannabe justice.
Reminds me of the time before I carried - 20 years ago - when I saw a guy dragging a girl by the hair. As a would-be hero, I went to help her, only to run into two big biker types with their arms folded, one of whom said; "GO".
As I did, the girl kicked the guy holding her and said; "LET GO!" She then went to the saddlebag of a Harley and produced a screwdriver - and came at ME with it! More embarrasing than running away, I had to jump on my Honda crotch-rocket. I could vaguely hear them laughing as that sewing machine started up.
Point is, the OP was a vague situation. Lethal force is called for when a responsible citizen deduces it to be so. It is not to be ruled out, nor is it a first course of action. Pull a gun, and you da*n well be ready to use it. Otherwise, you add to the problem. If you pull a gun before you call 911 you deserve what you get. Take a course or two.