Disruptive behavior in a meeting
One of our members is disruptive and sometimes threatens violence toward other members. How do we handle this?
Typically the members of the group get together and discuss what to do. By AA Tradition each group is the highest authority in AA and has to decide for itself how to handle situations like this. The decision is usually made after considering the other traditions that might apply. The first tradition would seem most relevant:
Each member of Alcoholics Anonymous is but a small part of a great whole. A.A. must continue to live or most of us will surely die. Hence our common welfare comes first. But individual welfare follows close afterward.
This man can join AA if he wants to get sober, but his welfare (well-being) is a secondary consideration to the well-being of the group itself. If the group feels it can not function effectively amidst his behavior the group may decide to exclude him until his behavior changes.
If needed, someone from the group can inform the fellow that he is not welcome
at your group (not AA in general) until the threatening behavior ends. Others can be on hand to restrain the guy or call the police. If the police get involved then the situation can be dealt with like any trespassing problem - though it rarely comes to that.
Some groups in distressed areas have informal bouncers who remove the disruptive - for some this is their first service work in AA.
If none of the above works you can always just ask Alanon what to do and they can send over one of their ninjas to handle it.
