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Just based on listening to a police scanner the past few years, domestic violence calls seem to have skyrocketed the past month or so. Used to notice one a night on the weekends. Now it is 3-4 a night, nearly every night.
Did a web search and multiple articles indicate that domestic abuse is way up across the country. Some say upwards of a 70% surge in cases.
Just heard a call to an apartment building in which a male was seen dragging a female out of the apartment and throwing her down some stairs, and a couple of other males appeared and are now beating the bubblegum out of the first male. Four different units are on the way.
Might be a good time to brush up on the laws regarding use of deadly force and consider how you would want to react if thrust into such a situation.
For those in Washington, seems coming to the aid of someone being beaten is justifiable...
RCW 9A.16.050
Homicide—By other person—When justifiable.
Homicide is also justifiable when committed either:
(1) In the lawful defense of the slayer, or his or her husband, wife, parent, child, brother, or sister, or of any other person in his or her presence or company, when there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design on the part of the person slain to commit a felony or to do some great personal injury to the slayer or to any such person, and there is imminent danger of such design being accomplished; or
(2) In the actual resistance of an attempt to commit a felony upon the slayer, in his or her presence, or upon or in a dwelling, or other place of abode, in which he or she is.
[ 2011 c 336 § 354; 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 § 9A.16.050.]
Now, domestic violence calls are the most dangerous for cops, so I would imagine getting involved in such a situation for a good Samaritan must especially be properly weighed and considered.
I was driving on the highway out of Yakima some years ago with my wife and two young children when I saw a Toyota pickup pulled over on the side of the road and a large Hispanic male slapping around a female. I pulled over about 100 yards away and called 911. I had my pistol ready, but didn't get out of the vehicle and didn't get any closer, not with my loved ones in the vehicle.
The man noticed us pulled over and watching him and stopped hitting the woman and threw her into the cab of the pickup and took off. We followed a couple of miles until a state trooper arrived and initiated a stop, then we went on our merry way. Never heard any follow up.
I think we all agree that the smart thing to do in most situations is to MYOB and call 911. But if the aggressor has a deadly weapon, or is inflicting serious injury, I believe most people would want to step in and stop the attack and prevent a possible murder. But if you are carrying and rush in to try and manhandle someone to get them to stop the attack, and then you end up in a physical altercation, it could go South very quickly. Not to mention the person who was the victim, then becomes the aggressor when they see you hurting their domestic partner. Just an ugly situation to thrust yourself into, armed or not.
Did a web search and multiple articles indicate that domestic abuse is way up across the country. Some say upwards of a 70% surge in cases.
Just heard a call to an apartment building in which a male was seen dragging a female out of the apartment and throwing her down some stairs, and a couple of other males appeared and are now beating the bubblegum out of the first male. Four different units are on the way.
Might be a good time to brush up on the laws regarding use of deadly force and consider how you would want to react if thrust into such a situation.
For those in Washington, seems coming to the aid of someone being beaten is justifiable...
RCW 9A.16.050
Homicide—By other person—When justifiable.
Homicide is also justifiable when committed either:
(1) In the lawful defense of the slayer, or his or her husband, wife, parent, child, brother, or sister, or of any other person in his or her presence or company, when there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design on the part of the person slain to commit a felony or to do some great personal injury to the slayer or to any such person, and there is imminent danger of such design being accomplished; or
(2) In the actual resistance of an attempt to commit a felony upon the slayer, in his or her presence, or upon or in a dwelling, or other place of abode, in which he or she is.
[ 2011 c 336 § 354; 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 § 9A.16.050.]
Now, domestic violence calls are the most dangerous for cops, so I would imagine getting involved in such a situation for a good Samaritan must especially be properly weighed and considered.
I was driving on the highway out of Yakima some years ago with my wife and two young children when I saw a Toyota pickup pulled over on the side of the road and a large Hispanic male slapping around a female. I pulled over about 100 yards away and called 911. I had my pistol ready, but didn't get out of the vehicle and didn't get any closer, not with my loved ones in the vehicle.
The man noticed us pulled over and watching him and stopped hitting the woman and threw her into the cab of the pickup and took off. We followed a couple of miles until a state trooper arrived and initiated a stop, then we went on our merry way. Never heard any follow up.
I think we all agree that the smart thing to do in most situations is to MYOB and call 911. But if the aggressor has a deadly weapon, or is inflicting serious injury, I believe most people would want to step in and stop the attack and prevent a possible murder. But if you are carrying and rush in to try and manhandle someone to get them to stop the attack, and then you end up in a physical altercation, it could go South very quickly. Not to mention the person who was the victim, then becomes the aggressor when they see you hurting their domestic partner. Just an ugly situation to thrust yourself into, armed or not.
