scary situation happened to wife.

[mark77418]

Last night my wife was driving home with our 5 year old daughter and there was a truck tailgating her. She came to a stop sign and she was waiting for the cross traffic to go by and the guy in the truck hops out and starts yelling and using foul language and trys to open her door. She took off and the guy got back in his truck and started following her. She called 911 and the guy followed her for a while untill she turned and he continued going straight. This happened out in the country where there are very few houses and noone around to help.

I can't beging to tell you how it feels to know that there are some crazy people out there that would hurt you're family and you may not always be around to protect them. My wife was very shooken up and she expressed interest in getting a gun. I have glocks but I think it would be better for her to have a small revolver since it would be simpler for her to operate. Can anyone make any suggestions on a good handgun for a woman to carry?

we live in sacramento right now and from what I understand it is very difficult to get a CCW. We will be moving to amador county in the next few weeks and I understand it is easier to get one. If anyone has any experience with getting a ccw in amador county I would be interested in talking to you. Please send me a private message if you can.

This happened up by the lake camanche area. I wanted to move up here because it seemed a lot safer to raise a family than in south sacramento but after this I don't think you are really safe anywhere. You have to be responsible for you're safety and that of you're family because the police cannot always respond in time to help you.

[Bobotheclown]

Sorry to hear about the incident. Why not take your wife to the range and have her test a range of firearms and see what she is comfortable shooting?

[Turbinator]

Nothing justifies the other driver's actions, but did your wife happen to cut this guy off or otherwise do something that would aggravate him? I find that most of us go through daily life in condition white, no clue about what is going on around us.

Sorry to hear it happened - hope the best for you and your family.

Turby

[Greg-Dawg®]

Go apply for a CCW anyways for both you and your wife. Make sure you contact a CCW instructor for more details on how to effectively apply.

Good luck.

[Beelzy]

Pepper spray, don't leave home without it.

[SCMA-1]

Sorry to hear about what your family went through. I think the first thing you need to do is take your wife to a good indoor range that has a wide selection of handguns to rent. Let her try a good cross section of handguns; don't limit your selection to revolvers as the common myth about female shooters needing revolvers for simplicity is just that, it's a myth:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=204540

The personal defense handgun that is best for her is the one she can shoot the best with, proper operation and handling comes with instruction and practice. Just remember, she must fire revolvers in double action mode only when comparing against other types of handguns. Although most modern double action revolvers have the capability to be fired in single action mode also (manually cocking the hammer and then squeezing the trigger), they should never be used or trained with in this mode for defensive purposes because the single action pull is very light and you risk an inadvertent/negligent discharge particularly when under the affects of stress and adrenaline.

Once you have chosen and purchased the handgun she is most comfortable with and shoots well with, establish regular trips to the range for developing skills and familiarity. I can't stress this enough; mere possession of a weapon kept for self defense without competency in it's use defeats it's purpose and in fact can be more dangerous to the owner.

SCMA-1

[ptdog]

This is the reason why my wife harps on me for not automatically locking the doors when we are in the car.

[mark77418]

Nothing justifies the other driver's actions, but did your wife happen to cut this guy off or otherwise do something that would aggravate him? I find that most of us go through daily life in condition white, no clue about what is going on around us.

Sorry to hear it happened - hope the best for you and your family.

Turby


The only thing she could think of was that she was driving a little slower than the guy liked, but she was driving slow because deer always run across the road. If it was the case that she was driving to slow the guy could have went around her. I get angry sometimes at the way some people drive but I do not over react. There is no excuse for what this person did.

[SanSacto]

Pepper spray, don't leave home without it.

.40S&W, don't leave home without it.

[EDIT: At the least carry an unloaded pistol/revolver in a locked container with magazines/speedloaders readily accessible. That way if she is put in this situation again she could unlock the container, load the firearm, and do work. It would take some time under pressure, but it is something that we can all do if necessary.]

[audiophil2]

Your wife did a great job. She was smart enough to stay in the locked car. If things escalated she only had to press the gas pedal and leave. Her 3000+ car is much better as a self defense weapon that any gun. What would she do if she had a gun and confronted the guy? I think much worse would have happened. It's always so much better to run that to fight.

About a year ago there was a kidnapping and rape out of the Safeway in a nice part of Santa Rosa in broad daylight. Rapists are targeting moms in minivans. The mom buckles the toddler into the carseat, loads the groceries, and then the rapist gets in the back with the toddler since all the doors are unlocked at that time. Since minivans have heavily tinted windows no one sees anything strange. Since that occurred a few miles from my house my wife must have a bagger take her to her car and load her groceries day or night and she is not allowed to gas up the car. I do that when it's needed.

[RANGER295]

Who knows what caused this dirtbag to act that way. Regardless of his reasons, there is no excuse. I think that getting her a weapon and getting her trained with it is a good idea, but not specifically because of this incident… just because I think it is a good idea in general.
… I find that most of us go through daily life in condition white, no clue about what is going on around us. …


I could not agree with you more. I think that more important than having a weapon, is being aware of your surroundings. This drives me crazy about my GF. Her situational awareness really leaves something to be desired. I am trying to help her improve it. Some examples, she was working out on a ranch and I came out to see her. You can only access this area by foot and as I was walking over, I had her in sight for about half an hour before she noticed me when I was about 20 feet from her. Or yesterday, we were hiking, and I noticed a person up on the mountain we were climbing about half to three quarters of a mile before we reached the person who was just sitting there. The same thing happens when we are walking in town. Most people, if they walk down a street, will be able to tell you nothing about anyone they passed or any of the activities that were going on unless there is someone that had neon colored hair or something. You need to be aware of what is going on around you and you can avoid most situations that way. It took two incidents, both avoidable had I been alert to realize this. One, I almost had to shoot someone to defend myself (he backed down when I presented my weapon). The other, I actually got shot (my weapon was in my truck which was about 200 yards away). Both of these situations happened out in the country away from population. Just because you move out to the country, does not mean you are safe.

[GrayWolf09]

Lock the doors. Stop the car. Wait for the guy to get out and come over to you and then run him over repeatedly.:80: (just joking mods)

[stich]

Mark, I live in Amador Co and yes it's a simple process to get your CCW here. My wife also just completed her course and is in the process of getting hers too. Nice to have you up here. I'm sure it will be better for you and your family than in Sac area. You can PM me anytime your'e up here and will be glad to take you and wife out to the range with us.

[dwtt]

I don't know if I can add anything to help, but you may want to take your wife to a range that rents guns and let her try a few different types to see which one she is comfortable shooting and carrying.
At least your wife locks the doors, my wife didn't lock the door of her car ever, until I kept harping about it when I was riding in the car with her. This just annoyed her and she didn't believe anything bad can happen until one of her friends told her about an assault and robbery in Fremont where the badguy opened an unlocked door when a woman was getting into her car at a shopping mall. Your wife did the right thing and is trying to be safe, which is good.

[norcal77]

The only thing she could think of was that she was driving a little slower than the guy liked, but she was driving slow because deer always run across the road. If it was the case that she was driving to slow the guy could have went around her. I get angry sometimes at the way some people drive but I do not over react. There is no excuse for what this person did.

I don't condone the guys actions but you didn't mention what caused this guy to go into rage mode...she could have pulled to the side like slower traffic is supposed to do if she was driving slow??? She did do the right thing and take off...even if she had a gun I don't think she can just smoke the guy for trying to open her door, especially if he was unarmed.

[Turbinator]

I don't condone the guys actions but you didn't mention what caused this guy to go into rage mode...she could have pulled to the side like slower traffic is supposed to do if she was driving slow??? She did do the right thing and take off...even if she had a gun I don't think she can just smoke the guy for trying to open her door, especially if he was unarmed.

I think being situationally aware would go a long way to be proactive in defusing situations like this.. noticing that someone is coming up on you quickly and pulling over, for example, may help.

What I hate is that us good people have to get out of the way of those bad people, but life's like this, and it's better if we just avoid as no good can really come out of confronting these folks.

Turby

[Steyr_223]

1)Make a police report, be detailed as possible, the LEOS may already have this guy under watch.

2) Apply for CCW.

3) See about self defense and awareness training..Make sure any SD class covers the use of weapons (offense and defense). Awareness training covers non-verbal communication and deescalation steps..

4) Get her Pepper spray or a Taser device.

5) Get her good Benchmade or Spydeco pocket knife. (see 3)

[frankym]

Pepper spray, don't leave home without it.

Pepper spray involves rolling down the window. While it can be useful in many situations, it probably would have been detrimental in this situation.

[Sam .223]

something similiar just happened to my sister last week, she was driving home after going to the store with my 1 yr old nephew. she noticed there was a truck with 2 guys tailgateing her and they basically followed her home, she called me on her cell when she got close to the house, i live right behind her so i went into the safe, brought out one of my larger toys and walked over, when she pulled up they were following her down the street but then saw me in the front yard and took off real fast, i think there are still burnout marks on the street, she knows as much about defense as i do and she's expierence with guns but she didn't think she'd have the time to get the kid out of the seat and get in the house and get the gun so i was her next best solution, i also informed her that she should've called the police, but i don't think they'll be back and if they do come back my rottie that i left there when i bought my new house will be sure to take care of any tresspassers, he hates strangers. glad to hear everyone is ok over there, there are some weirdos out and about nowdays, seems like its getting worse by the day.

[hkusp9c]

Get her a bulletproof H1 so that ram that POS over. Glad your family is ok.

[MAC USMC]

Look at this incident as a "wake up call" to be alert, be prepared and to consider firearms training and a purchase.

[DSeifert]

After you get settled in the Lake Comanche area go see Ryan at JK Supply (you can find his links in the banners here at CG). He can outfit you for your personal defense needs. Plus, he has LOTS of fun stuff in his shop.

[locosway]

My mom has people following her home once a week. I think if she bought a gun she would be in jail within two weeks.

On the other hand, my wife is oblivious to her surroundings as well. A semi could follow her all the way home and she wouldn't notice.

[javabum]

I don't condone the guys actions but you didn't mention what caused this guy to go into rage mode...she could have pulled to the side like slower traffic is supposed to do if she was driving slow??? She did do the right thing and take off...even if she had a gun I don't think she can just smoke the guy for trying to open her door, especially if he was unarmed.

i disagree...reason being
1.shes a female by herself.
2.she is stopped for stop sign/stoplight.
3.he gets out of his vehicle yelling (profane/vulgar language)
4.hes a man (by nature bigger/stronger)
and from what i read he did this for no other reason than she was driving smart due to the fact that shes aware of large animals knowingly being in the road at any given time.IMO he would have gotten what he deserved for being an"***".
if she did have a weapon and had shot him at "her" car window whats the likelihood of being convicted.she did however did what any intelligent individual should/did do.called the police...took off... locked the doors.
i myself commend her for keeping her head on straight.

[norcal77]

i disagree...reason being
1.shes a female by herself.
2.she is stopped for stop sign/stoplight.
3.he gets out of his vehicle yelling (profane/vulgar language)
4.hes a man (by nature bigger/stronger)
and from what i read he did this for no other reason than she was driving smart due to the fact that shes aware of large animals knowingly being in the road at any given time.IMO he would have gotten what he deserved for being an"***".
if she did have a weapon and had shot him at "her" car window whats the likelihood of being convicted.she did however did what any intelligent individual should/did do.called the police...took off... locked the doors.
i myself commend her for keeping her head on straight.


You do make some logical points but this guy doesn't sound like he was the brightest light on the tree and common sense doesn't sound like his best trait.
If she was driving slow and this guy wanted to get by she could have moved and avoided the whole situation..if the guy wants to slam into a deer let him...it's his fate.

[Decoligny]

I don't condone the guys actions but you didn't mention what caused this guy to go into rage mode...she could have pulled to the side like slower traffic is supposed to do if she was driving slow??? She did do the right thing and take off...even if she had a gun I don't think she can just smoke the guy for trying to open her door, especially if he was unarmed.

In the middle of nowhere, a man angrily approaches a female in a stopped vehicle, and curses at her and tries to open the car door.

To me that spells attempted assault, possible attempted kidnapping, possible attempted rape, possible attempted murder.

Shooting the man for attempting to open the door would have been over the line, but if he happened to get the door open, then I would say that any reasonable woman would be in fear of great bodily harm or in fear for her life.

BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG

Keep shooting till he stops coming. 10 round magazine, 1 in the chamber.

This is where the justifiable homicide law comes into play.

Penal Code 197. Homicide is also justifiable when committed by any person in any of the following cases:
1. When resisting any attempt to murder any person, or to commit a felony, or to do some great bodily injury upon any person; or,
2. When committed in defense of habitation, property, or person, against one who manifestly intends or endeavors, by violence or surprise, to commit a felony, or against one who manifestly intends and endeavors, in a violent, riotous or tumultuous manner, to enter the habitation of another for the purpose of offering violence to any person therein; or,
3. When committed in the lawful defense of such person, or of a wife or husband, parent, child, master, mistress, or servant of such person, when there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design to commit a felony or to do some great bodily injury, and imminent danger of such design being accomplished; but such person, or the person in whose behalf the defense was made, if he was the assailant or engaged in mutual combat, must really and in good faith have endeavored to decline any further struggle before the homicide was committed; or,
4. When necessarily committed in attempting, by lawful ways and means, to apprehend any person for any felony committed, or in lawfully suppressing any riot, or in lawfully keeping and preserving the peace.

[SgtDinosaur]

A little off topic: if I get an inkling that I'm being followed I never go to my house. No way I want some lunatic to know where I live. I'll drive around in circles if necessary until they get bored and quit. As far as I know it's always just been paranoia on my part, but better to be safe than sorry.

[Decoligny]

something similiar just happened to my sister last week, she was driving home after going to the store with my 1 yr old nephew. she noticed there was a truck with 2 guys tailgateing her and they basically followed her home, she called me on her cell when she got close to the house, i live right behind her so i went into the safe, brought out one of my larger toys and walked over, when she pulled up they were following her down the street but then saw me in the front yard and took off real fast, i think there are still burnout marks on the street, she knows as much about defense as i do and she's expierence with guns but she didn't think she'd have the time to get the kid out of the seat and get in the house and get the gun so i was her next best solution, i also informed her that she should've called the police, but i don't think they'll be back and if they do come back my rottie that i left there when i bought my new house will be sure to take care of any tresspassers, he hates strangers. glad to hear everyone is ok over there, there are some weirdos out and about nowdays, seems like its getting worse by the day.

She should have a gun in the car any time she is in the car. Her gun does her no good sitting locked up in her house when she runs into ScumBags who want to follow her home and take her inside her own house to rob/rape/kidnap/murder her or her child.

http://www.center-of-mass.com/Images/CarSafe/LSideView1911.jpg

[frankym]

Get her a bulletproof H1 so that ram that POS over. Glad your family is ok.

I like your thinking. :shifty:

[mark77418]

After you get settled in the Lake Comanche area go see Ryan at JK Supply (you can find his links in the banners here at CG). He can outfit you for your personal defense needs. Plus, he has LOTS of fun stuff in his shop.



The house I'm building is about 1/4 mile away from Ryan. I stopped by and met him once he was a nice guy and had a real nice shop.

[SJgunguy24]

Get her a bulletproof H1 so that ram that POS over. Glad your family is ok.

Call in close air support.

[Z ME FLY]

I think she did the smartest thing and locked the doors and took off. About of having a CCW is learning how to avoid things like this too correct? I've almost got carjacked a couple of times and hell, I rather take off then have their gun in my face while I try to grab my gun and load it.

Also even if your wife was driving slower than crap, the guy could have went around her to pass her. That guy was just having a REALLY bad day.

[Turbinator]

A little off topic: if I get an inkling that I'm being followed I never go to my house. No way I want some lunatic to know where I live. I'll drive around in circles if necessary until they get bored and quit. As far as I know it's always just been paranoia on my part, but better to be safe than sorry.

This actually happened to me once. I was driving home when I noticed a car that had just started to follow me for whatever reason. I think I accidentally cut him off in traffic - not intentional. I went through a traffic circle, drove down a court, turned around, and saw that he was still there. I took him for a ride through the neighborhood and he got ditched at various stop signs waiting for other people to go through. No doubt he had enought time to get a good view of my car and the license plate, but nothing ever came out of it and one thing for sure, he never did get to see where I lived.

Turby

[Cjones38]

If you plan on having your wife shoot before the move, there are a couple indoor shooting ranges around Sac. I've only been to the Gun Room in Elk Grove, but they seemed to have a decent selection of guns your wife could rent and try out.

[sharkman]

Sorry to hear about what your family went through. I think the first thing you need to do is take your wife to a good indoor range that has a wide selection of handguns to rent. Let her try a good cross section of handguns; don't limit your selection to revolvers as the common myth about female shooters needing revolvers for simplicity is just that, it's a myth:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=204540

The personal defense handgun that is best for her is the one she can shoot the best with, proper operation and handling comes with instruction and practice. Just remember, she must fire revolvers in double action mode only when comparing against other types of handguns. Although most modern double action revolvers have the capability to be fired in single action mode also (manually cocking the hammer and then squeezing the trigger), they should never be used or trained with in this mode for defensive purposes because the single action pull is very light and you risk an inadvertent/negligent discharge particularly when under the affects of stress and adrenaline.

Once you have chosen and purchased the handgun she is most comfortable with and shoots well with, establish regular trips to the range for developing skills and familiarity. I can't stress this enough; mere possession of a weapon kept for self defense without competency in it's use defeats it's purpose and in fact can be more dangerous to the owner.

SCMA-1

AMEN. Possibly the most well articulated advice on the subject I have read.
I have been shooting my entire life, from age 7 on. Shortly after my retirement from law enforcement, I thought I no longer really needed to carry, and didn't like having to travel to our department's range, quarterly, to keep my qualification. I stopped shooting for almost 2 years, before I realized the stupidity of my laziness. When I returned to the range, to renew my qualification, I could not believe how badly my skills as a shooter had deteriorated. Never again, will I go that long without keeping my skills in tact. Practice, practice, practice, with a gun you are totally familiar and comfortable, with, is the key to proficiency.

[Seesm]

something similiar just happened to my sister last week, she was driving home after going to the store with my 1 yr old nephew. she noticed there was a truck with 2 guys tailgateing her and they basically followed her home, she called me on her cell when she got close to the house, i live right behind her so i went into the safe, brought out one of my larger toys and walked over, when she pulled up they were following her down the street but then saw me in the front yard and took off real fast, i think there are still burnout marks on the street, she knows as much about defense as i do and she's expierence with guns but she didn't think she'd have the time to get the kid out of the seat and get in the house and get the gun so i was her next best solution, i also informed her that she should've called the police, but i don't think they'll be back and if they do come back my rottie that i left there when i bought my new house will be sure to take care of any tresspassers, he hates strangers. glad to hear everyone is ok over there, there are some weirdos out and about nowdays, seems like its getting worse by the day.

Why the heck did she even go near either of your homes? Bad idea all the way around...

Call you ok... YOU go to meet up with them ok... but the rest was bad.

Also be careful... what you did could be considered brandishing a weapon it sounds like. I know it is stupid but true.

Glad it all work out for your sis and you and the OP's wife and kiddle.