At what point does your hand go to your CCW?

Well, I know if you had expected this several things would have gone differently, so I'm going to try to avoid mentioning those ones.

Whenever I'm in my car and stopped, I try to remember to keep open space in front of me, enough to escape being blocked in.

You could have rolled your window down a hair, not enough for him to put anything in, just a tiny bit so you could hear what he wanted. When I first read it I thought he may have been the guy with the bar of soap who marks your car.

As far as what you did do, looks like you played it pretty well. Sorry if that's not much help, just some of my thoughts.

Edited to add: is it legal where you are to carry a BUG in the center console? May be easier to get to...

When I'm in my car, I usually have a snub in a pocket holster in my left breast (inside) coat pocket.

I unbuckle the seat belt whenever I'm not actually driving at speed on a city street (e.g., when I'm in a parking lot).

At what point do you place you hand on your weapon?

I've been where you have and like you, didn't like it one bit. Like it or not, the bad guys always have the first move so there is a tactical advantage. The two times I've found myself in a tight spot with someone either attempting to rob me (actually six or eight kids demanding my wallet) and one case where someone attempted to get in my car at an interstate rest stop, the threat was very real and the situation unfolded right in my lap before I could see it coming. You bet I drew my weapon. The kids made it clear...I either gave them my wallet or I was going to the hospital...they had me cornered with no escape route...just like you! The only reason I didn't shoot was that I was in the process of assessing which one of them posed the greatest threat to me...whether any of them were armed, the closest one to me etc. I was in the process of acquiring my first target when they all decided that they had urgent business elsewhere. The only thing that saved them was that they started the confrontation from a distance of about 12 yards. Otherwise the 1911 would have come out smoking. I thank God they reacted as fast as they did because my mind set was: "Okay...I'll use the back of my car for cover...take the guy in front and the one to his left will be next..." Literally one more step in my direction and it would have been all over. This still scares the hell out of me!

With the guy at the interstate rest stop...he wanted a ride. He was still wearing his prison uniform. I said "no" and he popped the latch on the passenger door of my VW bug. I was in my early 20s at the time. I have never considered myself a fast draw artist but that S&W model 14 (the only handgun I owned at the time) came out of that duffle bag between the front seats in what must have been record time. He immediately screamed and begged me not to shoot while backing away...threat terminated...problem solved.

Here is what I learned from my experience: Keep it where you can get your hands on it quickly. In the glove box, console, hampered by a seatbelt or coat isn't going to work. When stuff like this happens it goes down quickly. Mine sits on the front seat next to me which is legal in Oklahoma as as long as you have a CCW permit...which I do. The threat has to be clear and eminent...otherwise you may find yourself dealing with a charge of aggravated assault. Yes, this sometimes gives tactical advantage to the bad guys. lastly, I make a point of avoiding any situation that doesn't feel right to me. I will not stop at an interstate rest stop unless I see plenty of people around and well lighted. Listen to your instincts they're likely right! Hope this helps. Stay safe!

Usually in a car the seat belt will pin your cover garment down- pull it out from under the lap belt so you have better access. Moving your gun to an appedix(ish) position will help a lot with access as well.

In a few similar situations I've had my hand on the gun, under my shirt & ready to go with my other hand doing whatever it needed to do at the time. Shooting left handed means it's a lot easier for me to keep my gun accessing movements hidden, but even a draw & swap to the left hand before the guy was close enough to see what you're doing would have given you a leg up.

On a side note, if you're ever talking to someone through the driver's side window & you hear a knocking on the passenger side window DRIVE. It's a set up. As soon as you look right the guy on your left will be on you like stink.

Skin that Smokewagon!

Prior to my current job as a sheriff deputy in the Rocky Mountains, I worked for a state agency that discouraged us from drawing our weapons unless there was an immediate and obvious threat. My current agency allows us to draw whenever we feel the need to, not always "glocking" somone but at least having the gun at one's side or under a leg (if seated in your vehicle).

Don't take this post as saying you should "glock" every potential threat, but clearing leather BEFORE you actually need your piece can save your life.

And take the *&^%ing seat belt off, it can kill you as well...

Probably the attendant at the car wash, trying to tell you to put down your radio antenna so it doesn't get broken off in the wash. "Hugging close to the car" because the rest of the pavement is wet or covered with hoses, buckets, etc.

Take yer meds. You're not living in a war zone.

7.62x25mm what a joke of a post.

He was probably panhandling. That happens to me probably 3 times a week at stoplights

I almost always have two guns with me in my Jeep. One is worn, so that one might be harder to get to, but it is the more potent. The other is typically in a small leather bag that rides with me. I don't use these types of car wash facilities, and the only similar place I might get jammed up in is the drive-up ATM. At those, I make a complete pass around the facility first, then do my business with one of the guns resting on my lap with my hand on it. This is legal for me, as I live in a "shall-issue" state, and have been "issued"..
Otherwise, I've cleared leather on charging dogs when out for a walk (fired into the ground once with a .22 Ruger while mowing my yard; the charging Rottweiler belonged to a problem neighbor, but I really didn't want to kill it. The shot, coupled with the mower, kept the dog at bay long enough for me to get inside.)
Can't recall offhand clearing on a two-legged outside of LE duties in recent years..

The area I work in cycles between relatively safe and theft central. It's next to a theater, with two rather dark, separated, parking lots, one of which has a bunch of shops that close before mine. All entrances are blocked with stop lights and/or cross traffic, so guys reaching in windows on the second or third car back is hardly unheard of.

I keep my CCW in the car when I'm there--it's on me to and from work, and in the glove box during. Thankfully, the place doesn't have a history of vehicles being broken into.

There've been plenty of times I have to be really cautious about people there, and now when I'm in the car, the second I see someone that looks dangerous, my hand moves to my gun.

I keep it in the 'appendix' position, and moving my hand to it rests my elbow comfortable on the center console, and keeps my hand on the grip. It looks casual, and if no one will see it when I'm in the car, why not err on the side of caution?

More and more in this forum I'm seeing high strung types who view firearms as the "solution" and they're just looking for a "problem."

They should probably go over in the CCW classes that when you reach for your gun, you're putting yourself in the position of being the target for use of lethal force as a defense.

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Pretty much anytime i feel uncomfortable. I carry one in my pants pocket. So it just looks like i am puting my hands in my pockets.

Hey moose have you ever tried to draw from a pants pocket?? Try it sometime..do like 15 pushups before you do...see how fast you can draw aim and shoot...try to get under 1.6 seconds.....just don't shoot yourself trying to do it...practice with an empty firearm first..

More and more in this forum I'm seeing high strung types who view firearms as the "solution" and they're just looking for a "problem."

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Legally, in my state, there's an "equal force" law which basically means you have to try to get away first and if you cant you have to use your fists, i think you can legally be arrested for whipping out a pistol and telling a mugger to F off if they themselves dont have a firearm. (EDIT: just thought of something, thats probably the leftists' way of trying to nullify the fact you dont need a license for concealed carry in my state because Vermont has a few regulations that make it hard to change state gun laws) Stupid huh, but im just saying you're right that the first thought being go for my gun is pretty much looking for trouble.

Whelp lets just say this....In New Jersey...where I'm originally from...you can't carry at all...So yes..if someone is a threat..you must attempt to escape. If not you have a right to "defend" yourself..basically getting into a fist fight for your life...BUT...say if someone is breaking into your house...and you have a home protection firearm.....You still have to try to escape....if you don't and shoot the threat..you go to prison....But if there is absolutely noooo way of escaping...and you are trapped and you shoot the threat you STILL go to jail....I've heard from a little critter of mine...A man is sitting in room sleeping. There is only one window to even try to escape from. The threat runs into the room. Extremely frightening, the victim. The victim get's his pistol shoots the threat over 5 times (killing him). The police arrive and he's still sitting in his bed. When they came in they saw him sitting on his bed covered in urine( he urinated himself). Blah blah blah...He goes to court and pleades not guilty. Just because he was so scared that he urinated himself he got off....Now I tell you this....Just pee yourself.... lol

In New Jersey...where I'm originally from...you can't carry at all...So yes..if someone is a threat..you must attempt to escape. If not you have a right to "defend" yourself..basically getting into a fist fight for your life...BUT...say if someone is breaking into your house...and you have a home protection firearm.....You still have to try to escape....if you don't and shoot the threat..you go to prison

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I had a dream job offer in NJ 15 years ago and have struggled ever since turning it down. But my freedom is worth it. Might as well be living in China if you can't defend your home.

In New Jersey...where I'm originally from...you can't carry at all...

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Did you ever apply and were you turned down?

My defensive tactics and CCW instructor was on the verge of paranoid, but he offered some very good advice.

1. You can not control how much room between yourself and the car behind you, so be sure to leave enough room in front to get away.

2. Always stay on an outside lane if possible. I.e. do not be in the middle of 3 lanes of traffic at a light, leave at least one exit.

3. Do not think of typical barriers as immovible. Curbs, trash cans, mail boxes will likely not impede your escape. If there is a curb, run it over. Better to pay for some damages in cash than with your life.

4. Traffic laws can be broken. Don't sit and wait, just go. Again, better to get a ticket than shot.

5. ALWAYS look for a way to remove yourself from the situation rather than escalate the situation.

6. Be attentive at red lights, stop signs, etc. Think ahead and plan your escape before you need it.

Run through some scenarios in your head next time your at a light. Think where you would go and what you would do if you had to escape. Never pull over in a dark area, even for a cop. Avoidance will help you live longer than escalation.

N3810F said:

He was probably panhandling. That happens to me probably 3 times a week at stoplights

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My thought too. I patrol a really shady area of town, and we get a lot of the walk-up panhandlers at cars here. Still, some of these folks are more unbalanced than others, and some have become aggressive when told to buzz off.