Posted on 11/17/2004 12:10:58 PM PST by sc2_ct
I'm sorry for the vanity, but this is really the only place that I could think of to try to get the opinions of some other people in regards to an incident that happened to me today. I understand the laws regarding my concealed handgun, and the state laws, but this situation just has me sort of stunned.
I was driving through a fairly nice area in a not-so-nice town to pick someone up from work to have lunch with them. As I was driving down the a two-lane (each way) road at 45mph, a car shot out in front of me with so little room that I locked up my brakes and swerved into the left lane. As I'm still skidding and swerving to avoid this guy, he jerked his car into the lane I was now in while flipping me off so I had to swerve back into the original lane. I ended up finally stopping and proceeded up but had to stop due to a car at a stop light and he pulled up next to me.
I was content to just sit there fuming in my car without causing an incident, but the next thing I know, I've got a 250+ LB yelling black man dressed like a thug jumping out of his car and moving toward my car. I was completely stunned by this turn of events, and I was blocked in between the car in front of me, him beside me, and a wall on my right, and blocked in from behind as well.
Just as I realized that there was nowhere I could drive to, I unholstered my Kel-Tec 9mm (being careful to keep it below the window line and hence not visible), and just then, the car in front started to move (taking a free right on red thank God), so I sped off between the cars and dodging through a red light. He was in a Lexus and I was in a Saturn, so it wasn't too long until he had caught up, but thankfully I like Auto-crossing so I managed to finally lose the guy.
After sitting in the car shaking for a minute or so (I never drive recklessly on streets, and haven't put myself in positions to have altercations in years) I put the pistol away and took an alternate route and had lunch.
I guess my mind's still racing since I can't really analyze my reactions. I know that legally once there was an opportunity to escape I was required by CT law to do so, but I just can't stop replaying the situation in my mind and wondering what I would have done had the car in front of me not turned. I've never been in a situation quite like that before, but this is the first (and hopefully the last) time I have ever taken my pistol out in a hostile situation. I guess the other possible outcomes just have me a bit shaken.
Well, has anyone else ever been in a similar situation or any observations on something I could have done differently?
The reason I pulled it is that I was sitting in the seat wearing a seatbelt and it is in a holster in the back of my pants. I deliberately kept it out of sight, but by the time he got to the car, I never would have gotten it out before he could get in the car. I'm going down to the gun shop to pick up a more practical holster so I never have to do that again.
You're driving on a four lane divided highway at 45 mph? What was the speed limit? Were you slowing down? Was your right directional signal on?
Is it conceivable that the driver thought you were going to turn in where he was pulling out? Sounds like that was the case.
Now, this black man almost kills you by pulling out, then swerves into your lane, then flips you off, and you've got your 9mm "leetle fren", and you were "content to just sit there fuming in my car without causing an incident"?
Man, we don't have concealed carry, but that happens to me and I'm gonna be all over that guy. Flips me off? Oh brother, call 911 for me or him.
Hard to believe you didn't even give him a dirty look.
I can see nothing wrong with what you did other than not having a compact .45.
Thank you. I appreciate it.
You might try private mail to find out if he drives a Lexus.
I would have let him see that I had a gun and you might have been saved him following you later. Usually just the sight of the gun will cause the bad guys to go away.
LOL, no, it was a normal road with a 45mph speed limit with lots of speed traps. I was just going straight doing the speed limit in the traveling lane as per state law. The guy was pulling out of a parking lot about 1/4mi from the nearest intersection.
Now, this black man almost kills you by pulling out, then swerves into your lane, then flips you off, and you've got your 9mm "leetle fren", and you were "content to just sit there fuming in my car without causing an incident"?
I carry a firearm because I believe that is is my Constitutional right to do so and one thing that I can do to make society safer (every legally concealed firearm out there makes everyone else safer, since the bad guys never know which one of their intended victims is armed). I'm actually much less likely to exchange one-fingered salutes or heated words when I am carrying because the last thing I want to do is help provoke a situation in which I have to use it. Carrying a loaded firearm in public is a pretty big responsibility, and I should do my part to avoid hostilities whenever possible. I'm a pretty big guy myself (6'1" and 195lbs), and not to flabby, so had I not been armed, I might have been a bit more vocal and expressive.
"The reason I pulled it is that I was sitting in the seat wearing a seatbelt and it is in a holster in the back of my pants. I deliberately kept it out of sight, but by the time he got to the car, I never would have gotten it out before he could get in the car. I'm going down to the gun shop to pick up a more practical holster so I never have to do that again."
I understand why you drew, and you did well to keep it concealed.
When I carry, which is seldom. I use a right side "pancake" belt holster because I am right handed. I usually wear a jacket in cold weather, or a photographer's vest in warm weather. I am slim and the pancake holster conceals my 4" barrel 15 round 9mm S&W auto OK. However, I face the same dilema when I am driving and belted. The seatbelt/harness goes right over my holster and makes a rapid draw impossible. I have considered switching to a left side pancake where I can do a cross draw. I would use an under arm shoulder holster except that I am so slender that a very noticeable bulge can be seen.
It is hard to come up with the right holster for every situation. Generally, folks that carry a Kel-Tec are using it for deep concealment, which does not allow for quick draw.
power window button + gas pedal??? (just kidding, esp. with you daughter in the car)
I have a .45, but the Kel-Tec weighs about 1/3 as much, is dead reliable, easily concealed, no safety to fumble with and has a magazine full of 10 147-grain HP rounds plus one in the chamber that pack a hell of a punch at close range.
"Carrying a loaded firearm in public is a pretty big responsibility, and I should do my part to avoid hostilities whenever possible."
You sound like a very responsible citizen. I find that on those occasions when I do carry, I am less likely to mouth off to someone, just like you said. "An armed society is a polite society."
I'm a great believer in the .45, but your choice of 9mm ammo is right on the money. The Kel-Tec is a light and easily concealable item. And the gun in the hand is worth an infinite number in the safe.
Try not to second guess too much your actions, nobody (even the bad guy) got hurt, but you were ready to defend yourself. Take care, Slim
It sounds like you handled things pretty well.
Calling the police, like many have mentioned, is good advice.
I don't know your state laws. However avoiding a confrontation is almost always the best course of action.
Glad you weren't hurt and weren't forced to defend yourself.
"the Kel-Tec weighs about 1/3 as much, is dead reliable, easily concealed, no safety to fumble with and has a magazine full of 10 147-grain HP rounds plus one in the chamber that pack a hell of a punch at close range."
Indeed, that is a heavy bullet for a 9mm. I didn't know they made them that heavy? A standard 9mm bullet is 115 grains. I load mine with 124 grain +P Speer Gold Dot HPs. The +P keeps the muzzle velocity at about 1200 fps while delivering more whack that a standard 9mm. I would think a 9mm 147 grain bullet would be rather slow. Of course, I just remembered. Kel Tec now makes a 40S&W on the same frame as their 9 mm. Is that what you are carrying?
Regarding the gas pedal...as I said in my initial post, we were stopped at a light. Cross traffic was heavy and going 50 mph.
Regarding power windows...he had his hands on the window frame with his upper body leaning into the car across my daughter. I thought it was pointless to try to roll of the window with his weight bearing down on it and it could have ticked him and he could have grabbed my daughter around the neck.
try to roll of the window = try to roll up the window
it could have ticked him and = it could have ticked him off and
Sheesh. Proofreading is a good idea.
A couple suggestions on an otherwise well-handled incident.
1. A can of Fox OC is a nice non-lethal option. Paint him like a fence when you roll down a window just a bit.
2. If you ARE being attacked while in your vehicle and have no other weapon, or way to get out of the area, you can always bump the car in front of you to get that car's attention.
Good job ya Sheepdog! Hang in there.
ping
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