I think that helping others is an older mentality before ambulance chaser attorneys were the new norm.  Would I protect myself and family.  Most def.  Friends standing near me, most likely.  A stranger, the answer is no because of the lawsuit I would probably be involved in.  You can thank ambulance chaser attorneys for that one.  Active shooter is a different scenario though.  Remember that guy who stopped the Starbucks robbery and is getting sued?  And he only used a chair to defend the store.

I get asked all the time about when I carry in Vegas and see 1 dude getting beat up by another.  Will I help?   I tell them no.  I might call the cops and that's the extent.  I don't know why 1 guy is kicking another guys ass.  For all I know the guy getting his ass kicked raped the other guys sister or something.  I'm not the police.  Or what if I do use deadly force and miss and hit a bystander.  Will that person I'm trying to protect help pay for my legal troubles?  Probably not.

So in the end, I'm willing to risk my self for my family and most likely friends.  But anyone else, no.  It may sound chicken shit of me to have this mentality, but you can thank our legal system for my train of thought.  Had we have a "good Samaritan" law that makes sure I don't even have to show up to any kind of court then that would be a different story.  This would mean responding PD would only ask "were you trying to protect X person?"  And after I say yes, I'm free to go and will never end up in criminal or civil court.

Example: Vegas does have a true castle doctrine.  Which makes the  homeowner immune from civil liability.  But ambulance chasers still try and sue.  This ends up costing the homeowner big bucks only to be thrown out in court.  Now could you choose not to use an attorney and defend yourself?  Yes you can, but why take that chance.  My CCW instructor told me the person he knew who had to defend themselves in court had to spend $25K for his attorney, only for the case to be thrown out.

I think that helping others is an older mentality before ambulance chaser attorneys were the new norm.  Would I protect myself and family.  Most def.  Friends standing near me, most likely.  A stranger, the answer is no because of the lawsuit I would probably be involved in.  You can thank ambulance chaser attorneys for that one.  Active shooter is a different scenario though.  Remember that guy who stopped the Starbucks robbery and is getting sued?  And he only used a chair to defend the store.

I get asked all the time about when I carry in Vegas and see 1 dude getting beat up by another.  Will I help?   I tell them no.  I might call the cops and that's the extent.  I don't know why 1 guy is kicking another guys ass.  For all I know the guy getting his ass kicked raped the other guys sister or something.  I'm not the police.  Or what if I do use deadly force and miss and hit a bystander.  Will that person I'm trying to protect help pay for my legal troubles?  Probably not.

So in the end, I'm willing to risk my self for my family and most likely friends.  But anyone else, no.  It may sound chicken shit of me to have this mentality, but you can thank our legal system for my train of thought.  Had we have a "good Samaritan" law that makes sure I don't even have to show up to any kind of court then that would be a different story.  This would mean responding PD would only ask "were you trying to protect X person?"  And after I say yes, I'm free to go and will never end up in criminal or civil court.

Example: Vegas does have a true castle doctrine.  Which makes the  homeowner immune from civil liability.  But ambulance chasers still try and sue.  This ends up costing the homeowner big bucks only to be thrown out in court.  Now could you choose not to use an attorney and defend yourself?  Yes you can, but why take that chance.  My CCW instructor told me the person he knew who had to defend themselves in court had to spend $25K for his attorney, only for the case to be thrown out.

That's why you get self defense insurance.  So, whether or not your actions are in the defense of self, family, friends or strangers, your criminal legal costs AND CIVIL LIABILITY in case you lose the lawsuit will be covered.

That way you're not in a position of having to decide on the spot if your moral values are too expensive to live up to.   

cmo,
I agree with everything you said, except I would absolutely defend a friend, but not an acquaintance.  I think buying insurance is very important.  USCCA covers ANY weapon not prohibited by law.  So even in Hawaii, if you got in a fight, picked up a rock and struck the other person and killed him or maybe left him a vegetable, you would be covered.  A dollar a day for $1.15m coverage is a bargain.  Plus you won't even have to search for an attorney to take your case.  Call the USCCA and they will do the rest.  Their are other companies that offer similar insurance but I felt USCCA had the best coverage.

disclaimer:  I am not associated with or compensated in any way by the USCCA.

Good article

https://news.yahoo.com/missouri-good-guy-gun-stepped-200629336.html

"polymer and metal"