Pulling a gun on a road rager

[crat996]

I live in NM. I was driving down the road in the right lane minding my own business. A guy in the middle lane cut me off. I honked my horn at him and changed lanes to avoid hitting him. As I passed his passenger and he were yelling and throwing their hands up. I continued driving and we both got stopped at the next stop light. He got out of his vehicle and came up to mine in a very threatening manor. My window was rolled up atthe time and the light turned green. I left him standing in the road. We got to the next light and had to stop again. He got out of his car again and approached mine. This time I had pulled out a pistol that I carry in my truck. I pointed it at him and yelled get back and get back in your vehicle. He stopped coming at me but continued to yell at me as if I did something wrong to him. I left again as the light turned green. I turned at the next intersection to try to get away from him. He followed me as I circled the block. I did the five times and finally parked. He pulled in front of my truck. I sat in mine and didn't get out. He sat in his car for a minute or 2 then pulled off.
Am I justified to pull out a pistol and point it at him while inside my vehicle if someone is threatening me multiple times while in traffic?

 

[1Virtuoso]

I believe on a federal level it is against the law to point a gun at someone, but hey, that was a stressful situation and it sounds like he wanted to fight so on a level of conscience I'd say you were justified, I'd keep it on the down low though.

 

[Michael Ramsey]

My cousin and her husband had someone trying to run them off the freeway and 911 told them to pull over or there was nothing they could do. Eventually after tiring of waiting for cops to catch up they pulled into police station and dude pulled away. Even with plate number and description they were told that since a cop didn't witness it, there was nothing they could do.

Also had a family friend who was carrying and had a date in car while driving upwards 100MPH while on 911 being chased by the ex-husband. The womans ex had a gun and was pointing it and the cops told him to pull over and wait for them to arrive. So, he getting tired of arguing with cops and putting others lives at risk with the speed on freeway, he pulled over and within seconds had to defend his life and shoot the dude. He spent 4 years in prison and is now a felon... for defending his life. He was charged with using a firearm during the commission of a crime, attempted murder, and failure to follow police instructions. I'm not sure of exactly what the charges were called but basically when cops ON PHONE told him to pull over and wait and he didn't, he was then committing a crime. So, you're basically only in the right if you're a sitting target.

My theory is, if you're alive, unharmed, and can hold your family in your arms, you've done well. You "should have" called the cops but knowing what happens if you do, you're just as good not.

 

[GLADad]

No, you were in your car with the windows up, unless he had a way to break that window you were probably fairly safe. I would much rather blow the red light and speed off and try to get away rather than pull a gun on someone.

 

[lostinataxi]

I've never felt as though I needed to brandish my revolver at anyone, so far. I've had road ragers a couple of times over the years, but as long as they only yelled and didn't try to break into my car to get me, and they also didn't brandish a firearm, I just let them yell and that was the end of it. I think if I had some idiot follow me though, I'd have driven to a police station if I knew where one was, or I'd call 911 and ask them to send an officer to discourage the guy. I'd probably drive around and not park if I could do that and just tell the 911 where I was driving around, so as to make it easier for the police to find us.

You never know if these idiots will shoot or not. I've only had one incident where someone actually brandished a weapon from their car. They didn't point it at me, but wanted me to know they had one. At that time, I didn't have one. It was in the early 70's and I was a teenager. CCWP was not around, so I knew this guy had to be a bad guy. I didn't wait around to see if he was gonna shoot at me or not. Fortunately my car was faster than his and I think he was not willing to drive like the devil was chasing him just to catch up with me. I didn't have a cellphone of course either since there were no such things in the early 70's.

There's a lot of angry people out there now it seems. I don't know if it's worse than before or not, but sometimes it seems so.

 

[SR40c]

What is it with these people? This is like the 3rd or 4th time I have seen a USACarry post on Facebook posted by some first time newbie with some ridiculous story and what not. I'm thinking that the membership of this website is being sabotaged by anti's.

 

[lostinataxi]

Your cousin, did he by chance have his experience in New York or Kalifornia? Or perhaps some other Commie leaning state? Just wondering........ It's hard to imagine that someone defending their lives legitimately, would have to do hard time. I could see it happening though, in some states. Amazing.....

 

[web7]

There IS NO completely right or wrong answer to this question... ONLY YOU can make the decision as to whether or not the situation warrants it. I lean toward NOT pulling it unless there is going to be shots fired... but even THAT is arbitrary and not always the right response. Pulling it can aggravate & escalate a tense situation... and NOT pulling it may get you shot when the assh*le does.. run scenarios through your head, practice regularly, BE AWARE of your surroundings, and make your own decision. As one of the responders has as a signature quote.. " I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6..."

Ultimately the decision is ONLY yours...

 

[Firefighterchen]

There were multiple ways of getting out of that situation without having to pull your firearm, but hindsight is 20/20.

1. Don't honk your horn out of anger, it will only escalate the situation. Honk if it will stop someone from getting hit, but it seems in this case the guy had all ready cut you off by the time you honked.
2. Instead of driving in circles, drive to a police station.
3. Call 911 sooner and put your phone up to your window showing its dialing.

You can have your firearm ready, but I would be careful as to when you aim, this story is in the grey area because you were relatively safe in your vehicle, but then again it's your life on the line, defend it as you see fit.

Most importantly, I hope you learned something from this incident.

 

[Jardbud]

Anytime you brandish your weapon you should call 911 and report it as soon as the danger has passed. All you would need is for the offending party to call 911 and report there was a crazy with a gun and then you could very easily end up the bad guy. The first one to call 911 usually is in an advantageous position.

 

[Noemarmolejo]

Never pull your gun unless you're willing to fire it. If you do brandish make sure that you immediately call 911 and inform them that you did and that you felt threatened; otherwise "they" could call it in and say you're a crazy person waving a gun at people. You'd be the one who'd have to answer to the police then.

 

[Michael Ramsey]

Your cousin, did he by chance have his experience in New York or Kalifornia? Or perhaps some other Commie leaning state? Just wondering........ It's hard to imagine that someone defending their lives legitimately, would have to do hard time. I could see it happening though, in some states. Amazing.....

The guy that served time is actually a cousin of my first cousin by marriage so not related to me, just a friend. Here's an article but it doesn't give all the facts like other guy having a gun and other relevant tidbits that make it a clear case of self defense.

Link Removed

 

[dad45acp]

A 'threatening manner' is subjective. But truly believing your life may be in danger...well you have to deal with the given situation. If he was flapping his gums and causing a scene, I wouldn't pull the weapon. If he verbalized any criminal intent such as beating you to a pulp or killing you, I'd pull my gun. But in any case, if they saw the gun, I'd call the cops and file the complaint to C.Y.A. State laws differ in regards to 'brandishing'. Know them so you don't get caught breaking the law...even if YOU'RE the victim.

 

[dad45acp]

I believe on a federal level it is against the law to point a gun at someone, but hey, that was a stressful situation and it sounds like he wanted to fight so on a level of conscience I'd say you were justified, I'd keep it on the down low though.

Federal law? Every State has their own criminal statutes and statutes on self defense/deadly force. Federal law has no bearing on this situation.

 

[GB-Boater]

This whole story wreaks troll.
No you weren't correct in brandishing. Your apparent readiness to do so indicates to me you shouldn't even have a gun.

 

[The_Outlaw]

I had a 'road rager' chase me and then threaten me once in Southern California.
He goosed me and chased me for about 2 miles while I was on my way to work.
When I was a couple of blocks away from my work I finally decided to pull over on some side street.
The out of control road rager then proceeded to block in my vehicle with his much larger truck.
He started cursing me out and so forth.
I asked him what his problem was. He claimed that I had cut him off a while back. (I did not recall any such thing).
I then stated to him that 'If' I did cut him off then I apologized...I then instructed him to unblock my vehicle and leave me alone.
He did not comply.
I continued to sit inside of my vehicle, but he chose to exit from his vehicle and he angrily approached me with part of a steering wheel lock in his hand. He then stated that he was going to ''fk me up''.
He was a physically intimidating dude and as he came closer to my drivers side door I truly felt threatened.
When he was just about 4 feet away from my driver side door I pulled out my sidearm (Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum) and I aimed it dead center to his chest. Yes, I was definately prepared to pull the trigger and I would have if needed.
He immediatly froze in his tracks and started stuttering...."Wha...wh...what the fk, are y..yu..you a cop or something?"
I replied very sternly "If you come any closer you'll find out exactly who I am mother f'r!"
He replied nervously "M...My brother is a cop wi..with the LAPD...Yu..you ca..cant pull a gu..gun on me!"
I calmly looked around and then stated to him "I don't see your f'ng brother around here...Now get back into your truck and get the hell out of here before we both regret it you a$$hole!"
He grudgingly complied, but he continued to curse at me and flip me off as he drove away.
I then went about my business.
True story.

 

[GB-Boater]

Rule #5. Never say, “I’ve got a gun.” If you need to use deadly force, the first sound they hear should be the safety clicking off.

About sums it up.

 

[Michael Ramsey]

Rule #5. Never say, “I’ve got a gun.” If you need to use deadly force, the first sound they hear should be the safety clicking off.

About sums it up.

GB-Boater, The only safety on my Glock 29 EDC is my finger on the trigger. Could I make the first sound someone threatening my life hear the hollow point leaving the barrel that's pointed at their heart?

Ya know, seeing as I don't have a mechanical safety to flip.

 

[Itstjs]

Im no lawyer, but I feel you were justified in pulling your gun. You have no idea what this guy planned on doing, for all you know, you were stuck at a light that is red a little longer than normal, and he may or may not have had intentions of causing great bodily harm, you were (i assume) in fear for your life or well being. Windows are easy to break, even by an angry guy bent on working his anger on your face, to make matters worse, there were 2 of them, good job on keeping a cool head, stupid on his part to go after a man with a gun. Only other thing I would have done, if time permitted, i would have called the Police and informed them of the incident. However, sometimes there just not enough time to call Police.

 

[TroutStalker]

+1 on trolling. Is that or you don't deserve having a pistol.