What Would You Have Done?

[Avg_Joe]

Lots of possibilities, too many to contemplate, but very few with a positive outcome. The legal system takes a dim view of incidents like this and prosecute aggressively these days.

Each to his own though and this is just my opinion. In my case, it's situations like this that make me leave my weapons at home.

+1000%. I recently did my CCH training here in NC and to be completely honest - it made me want to never carry. My intention was to be able to legally carry when going to remote areas/camping as we had some run-ins with humans in the past. I suppose that will be my sole use-case for CCH.

And I learned, at least here in NC, you brandish or wave a gun at someone, that is aggravated assault. Assuming of course the other party calls it in.

It's taken a lifetime of learning (which is ongoing), but as stated throughout this thread: situational awareness, avoidance, de-escalation work wonders. I've stopped flipping people off, saying anything, doing anything that could be assumed as aggressive, and my life is better for it. (Still working on the eye-rolling, and making progress.)

 

[ruffruff]

I'm a big hunter/archery guy and I always think in the back of my mind I should get my CCP.
But then I think, if I were to ever use it....even if I'm 100% in the right, it's gonna ruin my day.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

I'm a big hunter/archery guy and I always think in the back of my mind I should get my CCP.
But then I think, if I were to ever use it....even if I'm 100% in the right, it's gonna ruin my day.

It could ruin your day not having it too. Goes both ways.

 

[ruffruff]

It could ruin your day not having it too. Goes both ways.

Yep I get that.

And one more comment,
Rome, I like the driver's thinking! "I'm late for work so I'm going to slow down and accost a biker, because that will get me to work on time!"

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

Rome, I hope you don't get upset and feel that everyone is beating up on you about this. My feeling is that you were angry, it happens, but you need to control that anger and don't escalate the situation. As a responsible gun owner, you want to avoid the conflict and only use a firearm when there is no other option. Confronting jackwads at intersections, smacking mirrors and yelling at drivers isn't going to do anything. The people that do s*it like what you experience, and those that damage another's car are the problems. If someone does a biker rider wrong, they have no right to damage the vehicle in return. No reason to escalate the situation and make it worse.

Always remember, your goal is to get to your destination safely for your own well being as well as your family's. They want you home at the end of the day.

 

[tomjasz]

I caught up to him and tap his window with my Glock.

Brandishing is grounds for losing a permit to carry. And is really pretty stupid. And on top of it you’re usually pretty stoned. That makes your move undefensable.

 

[Kayakguy]

Rome, I hope you don't get upset and feel that everyone is beating up on you about this. My feeling is that you were angry, it happens, but you need to control that anger and don't escalate the situation. As a responsible gun owner, you want to avoid the conflict and only use a firearm when there is no other option. Confronting jackwads at intersections, smacking mirrors and yelling at drivers isn't going to do anything. The people that do s*it like what you experience, and those that damage another's car are the problems. If someone does a biker rider wrong, they have no right to damage the vehicle in return. No reason to escalate the situation and make it worse.

Always remember, your goal is to get to your destination safely for your own well being as well as your family's. They want you home at the end of the day.

In all my 85 years, I have never suffered any loss or harm by NOT carrying.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

In all my 85 years, I have never suffered any loss or harm by NOT carrying.

That's nice.

 

[Dorkyman]

I concealed-carry with a very pocketable firearm often, particularly if visiting a sketchy area. I tell no one and no one knows. I never expect to ever need to use it, but in a worst-case situation it would change the odds.

I suspect there are many others who do as I do. I also think any Bad Guys these days probably know that there are others who are able to respond. This is a good thing; only a dim-witted perp would ignore those risks.

As for the axe-swinger, I would be cautious but friendly, ready to address a hostile act. But you NEVER show or point a firearm. These are lethal devices. What's interesting to me is the fact that a car is just as potentially lethal, yet we ignore cars passing a few feet from us when we're walking on a sidewalk. So it's not the device's lethality, it's the intention of the user.

EDIT: After reading other comments, I wanted to add that these are very different times from 50 years ago. There are millions of souls who are in the grip of drugs and do not think rationally. The number of fatal drug overdoses is rising spectacularly in the US and is now over 100K in 2022. Fentanyl is amazingly potent and cheap, and the latest thing is "Tranq" (horse tranquilizer). You will at some point meet people who are not "normal." I should mention that we live in a nice suburb 8 miles from Portland Oregon, ground zero for crazies.

 

[teskow]

Oi ya ya, comparing an automobile to a concealed weapon is so far out it is unimaginable.

 

[Dorkyman]

Oi ya ya, comparing an automobile to a concealed weapon is so far out it is unimaginable.

Okay, why?.

My point is that both devices can kill, but that it's the user that would make that happen. And fortunately, nearly all users of both devices accept that responsibility.

 

[tomjasz]

Give a cracker a gun, with no muscle memory and no frequent practice and I'll show you one bad gene gone from the evolutionary process

 

[Gionnirocket]

Oi ya ya, comparing an automobile to a concealed weapon is so far out it is unimaginable.

<iframe width="476" height="267" src="https://abc7ny.com/video/embed/?pid=13004990" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[teskow]

Okay, why?.

My point is that both devices can kill, but that it's the user that would make that happen. And fortunately, nearly all users of both devices accept that responsibility.

Yes many devices can kill but one was designed specifically for killing.

 

[Kayakguy]

Oi ya ya, comparing an automobile to a concealed weapon is so far out it is unimaginable.

Though we have read in this very forum about wackos who do use their vehicle as a weapon to harm cyclists or groups of people. Of course the auto or pickup is not a "concealed" weapon.

 

[teskow]

Got it. The auto or pickup is the "wackos weapon" choice. Very useful and convenient in road rage incidents when other drivers or pedestrians piss you off. Just run the suckers over. Be careful though you don't kill them though as one could end up in bad dodo. If you want to kill them dead use an instrument designed for killing. The problem is usually the consequences for the killer is not a place anyone wants to be.
"Leave your guns at home son".

 

[DavidRvR]

What scares me are people carrying loaded weapons. Legal or not, it makes me very uncomfortable. My fear of death comes from an errant bullet. It could even come from a biker on a trail shooting at a bear, misses and hits me.

I realize I am way off base with gun lovers, but that’s me.

I fear less a hiker with an axe or machete. The guy with the gun will always win the argument.

How would you know they were carrying? Normally its in a bag. What if the bear was attacking you? would you rather everyone watch?

I would have turned around even though I have protection with me all the time... Sometimes I bring the wife too.

 

[Sparky731]

How would you know they were carrying? Normally its in a bag. What if the bear was attacking you? would you rather everyone watch?

I would have turned around even though I have protection with me all the time... Sometimes I bring the wife too.

Bear spray vs. concealed carry.
Like Kayakguy, but I am only 71, never have I felt a need to own or carry a firearm.

 

[Tars Tarkas]

As for bear spray, if you don't remember, you can google the story about the ex-cop at a movie theater in Florida who shot and killed a guy who threw his popcorn at him AND got away with it. If it's justifiable to kill a guy for throwing popcorn, I would think being bear-sprayed would a sure way to get shot.

I own guns but I also have never felt the need to carry.

TT

 

[teskow]

My personal take regarding caring a gun for protection from the unknown dangers that lurk out there..
I have had had well over a dozen guns in my life but sold them all. They were all hunting guns. I never for a second considered them a weapon for personal protection. The only time the guns in my hands were considered a weapon is when in the military because that is how the referred to them. Even on the rifle range it was still a gun to me. Lots and lots of rounds at targets. That was fun and it took some skill to be a good shot.
In my 80+ years of life I can not ever remember a time when I would have needed a gun to ward off any aggression.