Mcub, I must disagree with you. My conscience wouldn't let me just walk away, thinking "It's not my problem." If someone's hurt, even if all I can do is comfort them while I dial 911, then I'll do it. If someone's property has been damaged by a hit-and-run driver, it's not my problem, but I can still give vehicle descriptions, help fill in gouges in the lawn, and fix fences and mailboxes.
You're right, in that it's "not my problem." But that doesn't change the fact that it is a very real problem for someone; someday, that "someone" could be one of us, and we'd appreciate any bit of help we could get.
Soccerguy, given the circumstance, I think you were right for being cautious, but didn't properly convey that need for caution. As a young man myself (not quite 23), I know what my instinctive reaction is if my father tries to "convince through volume." Needless to say, when that happens, it gets VERY loud from both sides, and whatever point he was attempting to communicate gets lost in the static. We've managed to avoid "volume matches" for a while now (it helps that I'm no longer a teenager), but that instinct to match volume for vitriol can sometimes be hard to suppress.
I'd suggest calmly laying out potential situations where caution could be needed. Start with something like the idea "What if the driver had hit a deer, which was still alive and lashing out with hooves/antlers in a pain-driven panic? How would we get past the deer to get to the driver to help?" It's a very possible situation that doesn't assume malice on anything or anyone's part, yet still shows the need for a firearm to put down the deer before it hurts the rescuers or victim. Once you've got that possibility in their heads, you can speculate about grimmer situations (drug runners, car-jacking, etc.).
Speaking from experience, a reasoned discourse like this will get your son to think, rather than react. I know stuff like this worked/works with me.
One last thing - I'd give it a day or two before you bring up the subject again. Give them time to settle down, and time to settle down yourself. Neither you nor they will be as reasonable with the frustration and argument fresh in your minds.
Over Reaction?
Moderator: carlson1
I think Soccerguy's response to the crash was absolutely correct. Whether yelling at his son was correct -- probably not good to make a habit of it, but sometimes someone needs to be awakened. Don't know from description when Soccerguy yelled - if it was as his son was crossing the street, maybe the volume was necessary to break in on Son's target fixation. If it was afterward, maybe not.
I do think it incorrect to avoid responding to a car wreck when I might have a chance to do something about it. Car fully engulfed in flames in front of my house (and I have had this happen)? Yeah, call 911 and stay way back is about it until my buddies from the VFD arrive and we have the gear to deal with it. Car in the ditch -- vast majority of the time this will be a benign situation for the responder, so I go do what I can. However, like a good boy scout, I want to be prepared -- phone, flashlight, knife, firstaid, and of course, sidearm.
elb
I do think it incorrect to avoid responding to a car wreck when I might have a chance to do something about it. Car fully engulfed in flames in front of my house (and I have had this happen)? Yeah, call 911 and stay way back is about it until my buddies from the VFD arrive and we have the gear to deal with it. Car in the ditch -- vast majority of the time this will be a benign situation for the responder, so I go do what I can. However, like a good boy scout, I want to be prepared -- phone, flashlight, knife, firstaid, and of course, sidearm.
elb