Good Samaritan pleads not guilty to assault

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_18352940

An apparent good Samaritan who allegedly pulled a gun in downtown San Mateo after seeing a woman get pushed is facing a felony assault charge.

Twenty-three-year-old Ashley Viola pleaded not guilty on Friday to the charge as well as three misdemeanor gun counts.

Prosecutors say he tried to shoot the man who allegedly pushed the 57-year-old woman Wednesday afternoon, but didn't have a bullet in the chamber. According to police and witnesses, Viola began chasing the man with his gun drawn after witnessing the alleged assault.

Police who responded almost shot Viola before he surrendered.

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It MIGHT have been appropriate to politely intervene. Domestic situations are touchy at the best.

If the armed individual had attempted to resolve the problem and the angry person had attacked him with the intent of inflicting serious injury, then there MIGHT be a justification for using lethal force.

The armed individual had absolutely no right to chase the aggressor.

The article never mentioned if the armed individual had a concealed carry permit. If he did, and training is required in the state, the idiot was obviously asleep during the lessons. In my opinion, the police would have been justified if they had chose to shoot. You have to give the police a hell of a lot of credit for defusing the situation without using justified force.

The fact that Ashley Viola is charged with THREE misdemeanor gun counts could indicate that he was not licensed to carry a firearm. I'm sure that fact would have been mentioned if he did indeed have a carry permit.