Drunk Uncle Bob
// March 26th, 2010 // Self Defense, Thoughts
Many of us have encountered someone, possibly a family member, who had an altered state of mind for a period of time. Of course, this can cause differences in the individual’s behavior, confusion, and a slurry of other attributes.
The inability to reason can be a deadly affliction (for the person in question as well as anyone around them, especially if they are allowed behind the wheel of a vehicle). If drunk uncle Bob says something innapropriate or does something stupid to himself, that’s one thing. However, what if drunk uncle Bob destroys property? Takes a swing at someone? Forces himself upon a woman? Or worse?
Someone might need to stop drunk uncle Bob. However, What is the appropriate level of force given the different circumstances? What if Bob pulls a knife out of the kitchen and goes after someone? He is threatening that person’s life, is it appropriate for one to not take that threat seriously? Of course, if at all possible I’d like to stop him with as little harm to *anyone* as possible but hell, he’s drunk out of his mind and probably wouldn’t feel a joint lock in the same way your or I would while sober.
Again it is entirely circumstantial. If Bob takes a swing at me, my first reaction (assuming he missed) would be to try and talk him down. If he persists (again, unarmed) then he might get laid out.
Once he picks up a knife though… hrm…
I wonder if he’d even remember, the next day.
