I can't understand why this is so hard.
If you are security conscious enough to carry,it would be consistent to lock your doors .If your window is down,that little button rolls it up. Doors locked,windows up.If you have that secure perimeter,he can't touch you. And at that point,you do not face deadly threat.Not unless you see a weapon.
If you escalate or antagonize,your self defense case deteriorates.
I am not any kind of legal scholar. I think there is something about your car being a domicile,at least in some states. In my state,technically I couldcarry concealed without a permit inside my car,as my domicile. If I step out of the car,no permit and I'm busted.If that principle holds true,someone breaking into my car to harm me is the same as someone breaking into my home to harm me. I can defend my domicile(legal experts,step in).That's not the same as kicking dents in my door. Broken glass might make my case.(The link in post #34 is a good read. He rolled his window down,believing in civil communication. Its a lesson)
Driving away: I just do not get right up on the bumper of the car in front of me at a stop.I hate the feel of being boxed in.If I choose to drive away,its not likely it will be impossible.Any situation that could justify deadly force justifies driving any escape route that does not include running over people. Driveway,yard,sidewalk,redlights....
If you are not capable of safely running a red light with caution,,you are not capable of responsibly launching 9mm bullets in the same environment.
Generally,we will either be aware enough to have TIME TO ACT,where WE HAVE THE INITIATIVE...or we wait until we are REACTING,and the attacker has the initiative.
Reacting to an attacker who has the means,intent,and opportunity to kill is a perilous situation.
Proactively using deadly force ,taking the initiative...does not generally qualify as self defense. The proactive options ,where you still have the initiative,are mostly about avoiding or escaping danger. How you use seconds can matter a lot. And no one can tell you the answer ahead of time because chaos is creative.
Life is not fair. Don't expect it to be. Our society ,in most locations (I said that for the Texans) has a default dim view of anyone who uses a gun or other deadly force IN NEARLY EVERY SITUATION.
Forget the idea of "Under these circumstances,can I use my gun?"
You CAN make the decision to use your gun any time. In any case where you introduce a firearm,whether you shoot or not,you want to be the one who dialed 911 and reported it. Don't even think its over if you holster and drive away.
When you ,or,someone else,inform the police about it,you MAY get to walk,but assume you will be charged.
And assume a jury will decide "If you are justified in .......your gun"
Because NOTHING ANYONE SAYS ON THIS FORUM will work for a "Get out of jail"card.
You can get an idea of the level of restraint advisable.
Instead of complicating it,I make it real simple. When the time comes,I'll probably know. Do I have any other choice? Am I stopping someone from killing me? I don't think I will have time to analyze it.
IMO,there is no "OK,I can shoot him" Its "Is there any way I can not shoot him and live or stay whole"
Because a JURY will decide if it was OK for you to shoot.Not the internet.