Almost gone ran off the road, does CCW even a factor?

[Keith4him]

From the get go I believe I grasp the particulars of when to pull a concealed gun, when life is at risk and no reasonable escape is possible.

Of course having a CCW your always thinking about possible situations with good and bad consequences let me present this true scenario for others to offer opinions.

Earlier this afternoon in a Central Valley Metro City near me, I was proceeding to my new home to check the status of painting.

Traveling at speed limit down a city road, I catch a dark object out of the corner of my eye just in time to swerve to avoid this car ramming me in the rear end. I turn to see what happened to see this nitwit trying to regain control of his older Lincoln MKZ, I watch him move all over the shoulder initially hitting his breaks then accelerating, the he then jumps back behind me and starts moving back and forth on my tail. At this point I just move over to the side of the road to let him pass, I then proceed to watch him try and ram the car in front of him and then trying to swerve back and forth on the other guys (car directly in front) tail.

I instruct my wife to get her iPhone and take a picture of his Lic plate # so we can call it in. Of which we do so and eventually lose sight of him as he turns at the next intersection.

This brings me to the possible scenarios, in which a CCW might or might not be in play.
Mind you know of these happened but I am always thinking ahead.

These are all presented with this guy not moving on and trying to aggressively assault me with his vehicle, which of course he didn't do.

But for the sake of education let's play this out.

If I keep driving to escape and he keeps ramming me, draw or no draw?

I pull off and he tries to threaten or attack my car, draw or no draw?

No draw period, try and high tail it to the nearest L/E office and hope for the best?

What say ye?

[hunterb]

Draw when you have to shoot him.

Otherwise, you did it right, let the a-hole pass, pray he ends up in a ditch.

[Corsair415]

I don't have a CCW, but I'd think that drawing and attempting to shooting while driving, and being rammed from behind would be a bad idea. If and when you pull over, if he continues to be violent or to threaten further violence, isn't that what CCW is for?

[nothinghere2c]

don't draw at all unless for some unlikely reason, he incapacitates your car, you have no way to leave the situation, and he begins assaulting you or your family.

sure it would feel great to draw and intimidate him, but its not worth it.

[hermosabeach]

Pull over. Pull off the road on the shoulder, what they do next determines your next course of action

I prefer using a car as a battering ram over shooting. Lots more energy and safety with the car.

[Keith4him]

Pull over. Pull off the road on the shoulder, what they do next determines your next course of action

I prefer using a car as a battering ram over shooting. Lots more energy and safety with the car.

I might want to add that was driving the commuter Prius, so me ramming him if required was a no win from the get go.

[as_rocketman]

You're not asking the right question.

The question is NOT "when is it OK for me to pull my weapon?" That makes it sound like you're anticipating it and looking for an excuse.

The right question is, "am I in fear of my life?" There is also a follow-up question: "Have I already done whatever I can to save myself, short of shooting the guy?" If those answer yes, then do whatever you have to do. You'd walk on my jury.

Disclaimers apply as usual. I'm no lawyer, and I'm not qualified to offer any legal advice. The above is strictly hypothetical and may not apply to any situation real or imagined.

[SB1964]

If you have to ask...do NOT CCW. At 50 & a lifelong shooter, I've had plenty of situations where I felt threatened. Stop being concerned about "win/no win" & all that, BE HUMBLE. If you feel your life is in danger, make a decision. Get away etc. You seem overly concerned about taking out the supposed bad guy, it's all too common. Everyone wants to be a hero & explain themselves to the local police/sheriff, try to avoid that altogether & you'll find your answers.


I know, I know..."I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6"

[CK_32]

Nope, it's very tempting in the heat of the moment. The POS probably deserved a pistol whip.


But sadly, no it is not just. If it was, you would not be sitting here typing today. You must have been in immediate danger. A fender bender does not count.

[SonofWWIIDI]

If he attacks you or your family, you are in fear for your life, the lives of others, or great bodily injury, then you shoot.

Don't pull it unless you have to use it.

And personally, I pray to God that never happens.

[jdubs71]

Avoid a confrontation all together if possible, easier said than done sometimes. Vehicles on the other hand are deadly weapons especially when driven like you described. Shooting at moving vehicles is rarely effective and more of a liability for you. I agree with the post above, if you're drawing you're shooting, otherwise just be a good witness.

[Keith4him]

Appreciate the responses, of course I didn't draw, wasn't even my first instinct (which was to pull over let him get around me or get away asap) just doing some mental gymnastics after the momentary stressor

[Loubot10]

Get out of there, post haste, escape. I say no gun unless you see a gun, get shot at, or get cornered/ immobilized.

[Keith4him]

Get out of there, post haste, escape. I say no gun unless you see a gun, get shot at, or get cornered/ immobilized.

Yep

[John Browning]

A vehicle is a deadly weapon. If he starts ramming me I can't imagine another reasonable reason than he is trying to cause me to crash, he had better prepare for incoming fire and/or for me to try and get his vehicle to stop using mine. I'm going to do what I need to do to make the threat go away. Vehicle is a weapon that can kill me, and he's using it against me, that would meet my threshold.

If he's just driving like an a-hole and I can get out of the way, I get out of the way.

There is zero wrong with drawing a weapon and having it out of sight if you are pretty sure things are about to go south. I wouldn't want it to be seen until I'm sure it is necessary to start shooting. In this case, that means I'm not pulling it and showing it to him to make him get lost. I'm pulling it, keeping it out of sight, and hoping he goes away on his own, but preparing for the fact that he might not.