Incident with my family present

[joesteph]

I felt this fit under the heading of Strategies and Tactics.

Tonight I was at a McDonald's with my eight-year-olds, and we were sitting by a window. Someone from another table called out that there was a fight in the street. Two burly men were going at it, a car stopped, and a man who got out appeared to be identifying himself as a police officer. One of the men took off, but the other stood there and took off his jacket. The officer pulled out his gun. Some teenagers were nearby and wanted to go outside; I called to them to stay inside, that there's a gun drawn. My boys were safely behind me as I backed us away from the window. We were still able to watch the officer order the challenger to lie down on the street, and then came the handcuffs. More than one police car did come by right then and the arriving officers took over.

Those teenagers weren't my children, but they didn't belong going out to where a gun was drawn, even if it's an officer of the law holding it. Backing my children away made me feel that if a shot did go off, we weren't pressed up right against the glass in case it entered.

[Throwdown0850]

Wow man, thats pretty intense, though you did a good job by keeping your kids safe.

for that you get 5/5:

[WireFrame]

I don't think anyone could've handled that situation in a better way. Nice one man.

[tallgeese]

That really is the best way to go. Keeping out of the way is best, espically with family in tow.

Allways best to be out of the way of any muzzles and behind something solid.

[sensei8]

Way to go Joe,

You were very solid and right on point. Not only did you protect your kids and yourself, but, you also protected those teenagers by not allowing them to go outside. Had those teenagers gone outside; only bad might've come had these teenagers not listened to you and thus, they heeded your words. You kept your head during a very dangerous situation by the aforementioned acts, but, you also were calm enough to think while all of the commotion outside was happening by moving you and your kids away from the windows.

Calm, cool, and collect! Way to be in the moment...excellent sir excellent!

[Patrick]

Good job, Joe.

[Fearun9033]

Top thinking! And also props for thinking about the safety of the other teenagers! =) Thought out like a real martial artist.

[Kushiel]

Way to go--sounds like you exerted some great (and well-needed) natural leadership, and protected your own as well as some others!

[wildman1717]

I wonder what the guys where fighting for, probably something stupid?

[tallgeese]

Almost always.