Did I screw up? How would you handle?

[Whonu]

This afternoon I was on my way to the range. As I turned left at the bottom of my street an older car was in the process of making a U-turn. As it swung around I could see a shotgun barrel pointing out the partially rolled down rear window. As I passed it I saw it had an orange tip on the barrel, but I could also see the front passenger was carrying a pump at the ready and I could not tell if it was a toy or not. The occupants were 3 teenaged boys. I pulled around a curve and pulled over, expecting them to pass me. They must have realized I saw them because they never came around the corner. We were only a half mile from a major police station. If I had called 911 a dozen cars would have been there in less than two minutes. Chances are the car was full of air-soft idiots involved in a stupidly dangerous fantasy game. If I called in a weapon displayed call the cops would hit it full bore with guns out even if I did mention the orange ring and there is a high likelyhood that someone would get shot.
I chose to not make a call.
Did I do the right thing, or did I make a major mistake. It's hours later and I still can't decide. I see arguements both ways. What does the forum think?

[Zedrek]

I'm kinda torn between the two. Part of me says it's some kids with toys acting stupid and part of me says that they are up to no good and the cops should handle it. If you did call the cops you could've said that you saw an orange tip and let them handle it as they see fit.

[Whonu]

I'm kinda torn between the two. Part of me says it's some kids with toys acting stupid and part of me says that they are up to no good and the cops should handle it. If you did call the cops you could've said that you saw an orange tip and let them handle it as they see fit.

That's what I thought too. But around here, if you report 'man with a gun' (in this case 2 men with shotguns) the cops aren't going to care if they have orange tips or not. They react just like it's the real thing, and I don't blame them. It's just that 10 or 12 cops with guns out and adrenaline flowing and teenagers is a dangerous recipe. If the kids had some beer or pot with them, who knows what stupid thing they do might set off a stray shot. Then everyone empties their weapons. It looks like a bad choice however you decide.

[Jet Setter]

I don't envy your position. Tough call. However, who is to say that the other gun was not air soft. Either way, it seems like the kids were up to no good.

[geedavell]

i would have called

[Ed_Hazard]

i would have called

This, some lessons are best learned the hard way.

[SonofWWIIDI]

Meh. Kids will be stupid! I think we all have done something in the name of fun at least once in our lives that put us at risk of severe injury or death. Some of us more than once! Most of us made it thru that and some can look back and say, "wow, that was a stupid thing to do!"

If you think they were aware enough to know that you spotted them, they knew they shouldn't be doing whatever they were doing, and probably avoided any interaction with the PD.

Yes, they were stupid, but kids will be kids, and as long as you saw the guns weren't real, let it go. That said, waiting for them to tell them what they were doing was stupid and dangerous probably would have gotten you a face full of air soft!

I'm sure there are some here who will disagree with me, and end up flaming me for saying to let it go, before they do, I ask them to read the first part of my post and think about some of the stupid sh*t they did when they were younger (or have done recently).

[nothinghere2c]

years ago, cops would have made contact, told the kids to quit being stupid, and driven them back home to be disciplined by dad.

these days, cops will show up weapons drawn (can't blame them with the loons these days), someone may get shot, someone may not. either way the kids will end up with a criminal record, and perpetuate the cycle of criminal behavior.

i'm not sure which decision is worse...

[TeddyBallgame]

years ago, cops would have made contact, told the kids to quit being stupid, and driven them back home to be disciplined by dad.

these days, cops will show up weapons drawn (can't blame them with the loons these days), someone may get shot, someone may not. either way the kids will end up with a criminal record, and perpetuate the cycle of criminal behavior.

i'm not sure which decision is worse...

I'm thinking along these same lines too...a few years back I get a call at around 2:00 am from the Sheriffs Department...my son and some of his friends are being detained near Malibu Lagoon...when I get there, the officer informs me that my son and his buddies were shooting paint ball guns and someone called in a "persons with guns" call...knowing the stupid things kids do nowadays, that in itself could've went bad really easy

I hate thinking the call I could have gotten was to inform me that my son had been shot dead, due to circumstances that were misinterpreted...doing stuff like that back in my day was normal, shooting BB guns, Daisy air rifles, there seemed to be an acknowledgment that kids would be in possession of these types of "toys", sometimes crossing the line

Now, with everything restricted, everyone uptight over the smallest thing, everything is a dangerous WEAPON now, and, it seems like no officer is going to risk his life to get it right...I'm all for officer safety, even BB guns and sling shots are a legitimate threat...it just seems like the force used to "control" a situation has changed over the years...and, its scary what the end result could end up being in a split second

Could have been kids just being dumba** kids, could have been a legit threat...unless I was absolutely positive of what was going on, I would most likely NOT call anyone about it...maybe someone with better info, someone who could be a better witness could get it right, versus my 'assumption'

Lots of scared people on the streets today, some of them wear badges, and, I think they have every right to feel that way...look at what our society has become...all you can hope for is that more good decisions are made than bad decisions

[Raider888]

Boys will be boys.
Young, dumb, full of xxx.

[j411701]

Shodda busted a cap in their A****

[The Gleam]

This afternoon I was on my way to the range. As I turned left at the bottom of my street an older car was in the process of making a U-turn. As it swung around I could see a shotgun barrel pointing out the partially rolled down rear window. As I passed it I saw it had an orange tip on the barrel, but I could also see the front passenger was carrying a pump at the ready and I could not tell if it was a toy or not. The occupants were 3 teenaged boys.

Clearly that was Obama, Biden, and Bloomberg - checking up on you.

[rb765]

A few years ago, it was common for some gangs to paint their guns blue or red or the tips orange so that police would think they are toys. I personally would not take a chance.

[Gutz]

You should have called.

[stix213]

If you didn't actually see them doing anything bad other than seeing a possible firearm on your way to the range, I would MYOB.