TexasCHLforum.com

This is the definition of a challenging use of force decision for me, personally. And it has precisely zero to do with anyone's race, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

One big problem here is that we are coming upon a situation after it has started. We don't know who the initial aggressor was, or what happened before the point that the video started. In the hypothetical question for this thread, I will also assume that none of the folks here was actively threatening to harm me, or my family.

But if I happened upon a scene such as this one, where there was an obvious disparity of force, no visible weapons, and no idea whether this was mutual combat, an unprovoked attack, or the initial victim carrying things a bit too far? I would definitely be a good witness. I would try to get video evidence to help LEO's sort out the criminals and the victims. I would also try to stop the beating using my voice, and possibly also using force (pulling folks apart). I would not escalate to the use of deadly force unless the situation changed dramatically as a result of my initial efforts.

And my answer would change if I was there with my kids, especially if my wife was not there with me to help get them to safety. In that case, I might not escalate to the use of force as the safety of my children would trump the safety of an unknown person who might appear at first glance to be a victim.