I had to flee

[Jesse H]

Haven't posted in a very long while. Other hobbies and school have kept me away from guns and the 2a but I haven't fogotten about ya'll.

Well, this Monday I was fleeing for my life, despite having my HS2000 holstered and loaded with 15+1 rounds. I've always thought that if I were stuck in a situation like so I'd feel comfortable knowing that I was armed.

I admit I was inattentive and cut off a guy while merging on the freeway. He honked and I waved apologetically. I downshifted and got out of his way, a good 200 yards away and cruised in the fast lane. He managed to catch up, cut me off and slam on his brakes.

OK.

I change lanes, pass him and get out of his way. Moving over to the right lane to make my exit. He gets next to me and I hear what I thought at the time was a report form a .22. I have a CHL and was carrying like I nearly always do and thought, "holy crap this guy just shot at me."

First instinct was to just get the heck out of there. He sticks his hands out the sunroof and points for me to pull over. I move over to the left lane so he follows me. Unfortunately he follows me as I move back over to my exit. At this point I do not want the guy to catch me. Despite knowing that I'm comfortable with my firearms training, I want to flee.

I make a few quick turns here and there and eventually manage to get away. I was so glad that I was able to get away, despite knowing how to use a gun and having 15+1 rounds with me. I stopped at an Autozone to really make sure the guy couldn't follow me to my house. Turns out he threw something at the car which dented the roof. Can't figure out what it was to mimick the sound of a gunshot.

I wanted to allow him to follow me to the local PD but it was too far and too many stoplights that could've allowed him to trap me (not what I wanted when I thought he had a gun). I should've called 911 but I admittedly suck at driving while on the phone so I don't...especially under stressful conditions; and the car is a manual shift.

In the end, I'd like to think that I maybe saved the guys life by getting away.

 

[GunnySkox]

I think you did well, considering the obvious stresses of the situation. Glad you're alright, and glad you were skilled enough to avoid the confrontation.

For what it's worth, good on ya'.

~Slam_Fire

 

[Zundfolge]

Your gun is your last resort ... looks like you used up your other options first and ended up not needing to use your gun.

I'd say you did good.

 

[nico]

you did the right thing. When someone is following you, especially if they're obviously very pissed off, the only place you should stop is at a police station IMO.

 

[P95Carry]

For those of us that carry - retreat - when at all possible. Only in the extreme situation when you are boxed in - no where to go should you use your piece.... something I hope sincerely few of us will ever have to do.

I regard my piece as the absolute ''final sanction'' prior to which - I will endevor to get the hell outa Dodge - and no amount of bruised ego is gonna make me behave any different!

You did good IMO.

 

[JohnKSa]

You did very well...

But part of me wishes you'd pulled over and scared the living peewaddle out of the moron so he'd think twice before pulling that garbage on someone else.

 

[Edmond]

You did well. As for that jerk, he's going to do that to a non-law abiding citizen and he'll get what he asks for.

 

[Crosshair]

This is why I keep a pencil and paper in my car, to take lisence numbers off of cars.

 

[field70]

Good job.

 

[mbs357]

Like Zundfolge said, last resort.
You don't want to pull over and go 'pfft, I've got a gun.'
If he turns out to be a super ninja robot with bullet proof armor you'll be upset.
But if you exhaust all options like you should have, at least you tried. =(

 

[Jesse H]

It's amusing how I went from utter fear to utter anger after I hopped out of the car and saw no bullet holes but a dent in the roof. Thinking back, and knowing what he had or didn't have I'm still glad I took the same course of action that day.

 

[Alex45ACP]

I keep in my car, a clipboard with paper and 2 pens taped to it. I suggest you do the same.

Also, get a cell phone with speaker mode and voice activation.

 

[TheDutchman]

Jesse H that sounds like a normal driving Day in Houston.

 

[Beren]

Do you own a cellphone?

I know that in such a situation it's way too hectic to actually dial a number unless you previously set up a hot button for 911. Something to consider.

My cellphone also has a hot button for voice memos. Makes it MUCH easier to note license plates than pencil & paper.

You did the most reasonable thing under the circumstances as described. The only thing I would "Monday morning" you on would be to recommend that you should've skipped your exit. Might as well not give the creep ANY idea where to linger if he really wants to try and find you again.

 

[Henry Bowman]

But.. but.. The anti's say you're supposed to stop and have a shootout in the street, killing as many innocent nuns and children as possible. How could this not have happened?

 

[Alex45ACP]

^ LOL

 

[firesafety3]

You should probably still call and report the incident. Not that you'll get much follow up.

So you didn't get a look at the guys plates...did he get a look at yours? Not trying to spook you but just keep a look out for a similar car in your neighborhood. Chances are slim to none but you've already demonstrated that your approach is "better safe than sorry".

 

[middy]

You did exactly the right thing and you know it, you're just coming here for back-pats.

<virtual pat on the back for Jesse H>

 

[keyhole]

You got off cheaper than if you would have popped a cap. Good choice on your part, always better to pick your fights if given the chance.

 

[WT]

Ya' done good!!

Keep your eyes open for the next month. Just in case. Maybe try out some different routes.

 

[flatdog]

I want to add my voice to those that commend your actions under stress. You used the most effective tool at your disposal. Your brain, and quite well at that.

flatdog.

 

[Werewolf]

Ya done good!

FWIW...

The same thing has happened to me twice in the last 30 years both times long before CCW was legal where I lived.

Both times after insuring that I was indeed being followed by an irate driver I let him get close enough behind me to see what I was doing.

Both times I just leaned over and fumbled around in the glove box, closed it smartly and continued on my way.

Both times the irate driver seemed to quickly lose his anger and sped off well away from me.

In neither case was I armed, however, if the irate driver had not departed the scene I would have just gotten off the freeway and driven to the nearest police station.

In retrospect it would probably have been better to get off the freeway and drive to a police station without fumbling around in the glove box. Suppose the other guy was armed while I wasn't and didn't haul ass - not a smart move on my part.

Oh well - life is a continuous process of learning. Some folks (not me it seems :banghead: ) just have a greater propensity for getting it right the first time than others.

 

[8830]

Good job getting away from this guy. You did the right thing.

 

[AirPower]

yep, you did good, and you never know if the other driver also has CCW, and if you want to confront him, he may just decide to shoot before you even got out of the car. Even if you survived, there'd be legal hassels for months to come. This is definitely one potential disaster averted.

Now about the dent, how deep was it? I can't imagine something would cause this tossed from another car's sunroof, that must be heck of a lucky throw. If you want to feel better about his loss, he probably tossed a cellphone at you.

 

[firesafety3]

Need to install one of those James Bond smoke screens. I had a '79 Pinto that did it on its own. Disorient the offending driver while you get away. If you get stopped by LE, worst offense would be a defective equipment citation.