Road Rage Today. What would you do?

As indicated, in most states you have a duty to retreat. Even in the handful of states where you don't have to, its still a good idea to make an attempt to leave. If the situation devolves to a shooting situation, it wil work to your benefit that you attempted to safely retreat but for whatever reason, could not. Don't have some fantasy of blowing some guy away. I doubt the fantasy will live up to reality.
 
In the process he almost side swiped the Dodge. I thought to myself those guys are lucky it was a close near miss.

There was no accident there 'almost' was, Dodge driver has no self control and is more than likely an egotistcal a-hole. Even if there were an accident thats what police and insurance are for. People are stupid and make dumb mistakes 24/7, get used to it. I myself always expect other drivers to do something stupid and I'm usually not disappointed.

P.S. I'm a recovering psychopath and 10 years ago would of shot Dodge driver and driven off. Seriously.
 
Sometimes it's also nice to have a backup plan.

I can cry and pee myself...nothing defuses road rage more than screaming and groveling and crying and wetting yourself (hand on Seecamp of course)...

Flattery combined with the foregoing is good too...

"O PLEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASE DONT HURT ME MR, I AM SO SMALL AND WEAK AND YOU ARE SO STRONG AND BRAVE PLEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASE *wetspot starts* I WAS WRONG TO EXPECT YOU TO STOP AT THAT STOP SIGN, PLEASE FORGIVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEMEEEEEEEEEEE"

Never have to draw down :)

WildcallmelittlelucyAlaska TM
 
Even IF the guy punches you, YOU ARE NOT WITHIN THE LAW TO SHOOT HIM!!
The first CHL shooting in TX was a road rage incident that resulted in the death of an unarmed man who was punching the CHL holder.

The CHL holder was acquitted.

That's certainly not to say it's justified in every situation--in this case the CHL holder suffered permanent injuries as a result of the beating and had no way to escape. At the same time it's also not correct to say that it's automatically outside the law. You are correct in that if you do, it will probably go to a jury.

The TX castle doctrine gives you the right to respond to the appropriate type of criminal attack without retreating if you have a right to be where you are. I don't believe that it extends the same self-defense rights you have in your home to your vehicle, however.

<<<<Correction. Son of Vlad Tepes is correct that at least some of the castle doctrine applies to an occupied vehicle.>>>>
 
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God Bless Texas ---as they say---and I mean that!!
Texas laws are much more friendly to the homeowner/property owner than most states.

Dipper
 
It takes two idiots to play road rage. If one refuses to play the silly game there is no road rage incident. Lots of people get cut off every day without going nuts and running folks off the road.
 
"I believe Alabama has accepted the castle Docrine as well???"

Every state says that your home is your castle and that you have no obligation to retreat from criminals in your home. Or are you using another definition of castle doctrine?
 
Just goes ta show ya. Watch out for Toyota's and Dodge's :D

YOU have an obligation to retreat if at all possible.

Someone stated the above sentence but it is not true in all states.
I would ask this: "An obligation to who?"
 
I would not have pulled my gun UNTIL the other guy pulled a knife or gun on me or I had VERY reasonable expectations that he would---like him saying he was going to shoot me.

I may not present it immediately, but if I'm run off the road in the manner described, I'm not waiting until he has more of the upper hand to decide to get it out.

Even IF the guy punches you, YOU ARE NOT WITHIN THE LAW TO SHOOT HIM!!
YOU have an obligation to retreat if at all possible.

Not necessarily true in FL where this took place. I'm not going to speculate on whether the guy should have been shot or what I would have or have not done since I wasn't there.


I would have rolled my window up and Backed up to get away--if I couldn't do that I would have used my cell phone to call 911 and told the operator what was happening and I was in fear for my life or whatever---get it on tape and leave the phone on till police arrived or the guy left.

Agreed, but if I'm in fear for my life the gun is coming out in view and quite possible being shot.;)


I would have gotten his license plate number and vehicle description for the police and also what the dude looked like.

Good call if he left the scene of an accident, which is what he caused by forcing me off the roadway.

In short, you can/should only meet deadly force with deadly force--you can not shoot someone unless a normal average everyday sane person thinks that it was called for----that means a JURY!!

Once again, fear for life comes into play, disparity of force etc. i.e old small guy vs. big roid raging road rage clown.


The guy would get in a huge amount of hot water for pulling a stunt like that on a highway---pulling some one over and in effect detaining them.

It could also get him dead.;)
 
Dmanbass,
Yourself, maybe your parents---how about your wife and kids or the innocent person behind your target---some people miss sometimes and I am pretty sure you are responsible for were your bullet ends up in any state.
Look, I am all for defending yourself, you can give a jury a couple of different pictures of yourself.
One--the guy did everything he could to avoid the confrontation, he tried to leave --he didn't want to shoot the guy--he had no choice--he's innocent.
Two---Dirty Harry couldn't wait to pull the trigger--this guy acted like he wanted to kill somebody and looks like he did---he could have left the scene but decided to stay and fight--he's guilty--he's a Rambo type.
Remember, there are two courts-- criminal and civil.
Don't always rely on witnesses either, 4 people can see 4 different things--I've been there.
All I'm saying, is look at deadly force as a last resort--don't be in a hurry to draw down on somebody or show your carrying.
I would much rather be judged by twelve that carried by six too--but use your best judgement--always.


Dipper
 
I assume that everyone on the road but me is an idiot - I'm a cager now, but back in the dark ages of my misspent yout, that saved me a couple of times...

I also assume that they are hypercompetitive jerks, and just let them go on. I usually coast up to them at the next stop light or the next traffic clot.

I also assume that if they are hypercompetitive jerks that they are possibly illegally armed and might have criminal intent. Moreso if there are two or more young males in a vehicle and they aren't wearing work clothes. So I just avoid them.

Road rage generally takes two participants.
 
On situation like this, you dont want to pull your gun out and wave it to the guy that is screaming on you. The Toyota driver is an idiot for driving the way he did. Regardless of the situation if an aggresor is attacking me with a weapon then I would pull my gun and shoot the aggresor.
 
"Someone stated the above sentence but it is not true in all states.
I would ask this: "An obligation to who?""

An obligation under the law.
 
Roll up windows, lock doors, call 911. Be prepared to draw your weapon if he starts breaking into your vehicle to attack you.

Reasonable fear of death or severe injury is the standard in most states. Some enraged fellow starts breaking into my car to attack me I feel I would reasonably be in fear of at least severe injury.

As an aside, the one and only time I've ever drawn a weapon was when someone was attempting to break into my vehicle with me in it. Wasn't road rage, but rather a sketchy looking fellow (read "crackhead") who wanted money and I wasn't in a giving mood. My window was rolled up and doors were locked. When I refused to roll down my window he started yanking on the doorhandle and pounding on the window. I drew my 9mm from concealment. I didn't aim it at him at that point, but it was definitely in low ready. He backed away and I went about my business. I did not have a cell phone at that time, they were not as prevalent as they are today.
 
It happened to me a couple times

Honestly, my response depends on the other person's actions, my perceived danger level and my anger level. My first experience up close and personal was when I was leaving a parking lot and I pulled in fromt of another guy leaving. As I stopped for traffic, I see him flip me off, jump out of his car, run up to my driver's side and say "what the @#$%^#$%^&*#$%^&* do you !@W#E$%R^&*( think !@#$%^&8doing. I cracked the window about two inches as he rapped on the glass with a fist and I politely said "I am sorry if I cut you off, I did not mean to." The response was something like "alright, next time I'm kicking your!@#$%. We went our separate ways. No need for gunplay or to escalate the situation. I think sometimes just swallowing your pride and being polite works wonders.

Another time when I was riding my motorcycle, I had a car pull into my lane beside me, actually forcing me into oncoming traffic. I was almost killed. I was furious as I thought it was done on purpose. I did not pull my gun, of course, but I rode up along side the car at the next light and gave the driver an earful. When I saw it was a woman, I stopped mid sentence, she apologized and said she had not seen me. Obviously, I did too at that point and went on my way. I was ready for a fight that day, but thankfully it was a polite lady and not a smartass dude.

One night I was driving downtown and had a car with a couple of unsavory characters pulling along side of me, making gestures and such. They pulled in front of me and hit the brakes. I swerved around them and they gave chase. A few moments later, I decided they very well might kill me with their car, if nothing else as they were weaving in and out of lanes and forcing other traffic over. I took two quick turns, pulled a 180 stepped to the side of the car for cover and drew my gun. They drove right past, apparently never seeing my turns. Problem solved. Thank God. I was sure, I was the little bangers next intended victim and I had resolved not to go out like that.

Bottom line: treat people with respect, keep your own emotions in check, use your manners and get out of the way instead of engaging the idiots and you may never have to make your 15 minutes of fame on the nightly news.

Funon1
 
What would you have done?

Given the scenario you just described, I would have showed him the business end of my Glock 19 and looked for an avenue of escape.
 
Given the scenario you just described, I would have showed him the business end of my Glock 19 and looked for an avenue of escape.

This very likely will see you visited by police, as well as losing your concealed permit. Again, varies by state...
 
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