Road Rage Situation

[Eric-WA]

So I'm minding my own business, driving to return some videos to Blockbuster. I pull up behind a mini van at a stop sign maybe 5 blocks from my house and give the van a polite tap on the horn after about 10 seconds of sitting with no cross traffic coming. Instantly a wild eyed pony tailed twenty something in a dirty white T-shirt comes flying out of the passenger side door screaming "what, what, you wanna go?". Naturally as any guy will I get a little upset, but I stay cool and just smile and wave. So the guy gets back in and the van takes off.

We stop side by side at a stop light a block later him turning left and I turning right, and against my better judgement I look over and blow the guy a kiss, just being a wise ass. Well this dumb-a$$ gets all pissed off and jumps out of the van again, opens the sliding door of his van and starts to pull a bat out.

So now the situations been escalated by incorperating weapons into it. Now I'm game for a fist fight if he'd started kicking my truck or something, but my only recourse for a baseball bat is fifteen rounds of 9mm hollowpoints which are always with me. So sitting there in my truck I know that if I let this guy pull that bat out and bash out my window or something I'm going to have no choice but to put a bullet in him right in front of his girlfriend, or wife, or whoever the horrible driver that started the situation was.

So being the guy that I am, and not really wanting to shoot someone unless I absolutely have no choice I make my right turn and am on my way. As I drive down the road I see in my rear view mirror this jerk smiling holding his bat in one hand and giving me the one finger salute with the other like he's just had some big victory.

Now I don't regret making the decision that I did to make that right turn and leave a particularly explosive situation, but it just urks me like you wouldn't believe to have to let that jerk walk away feeling all big and superior and probably likely to act the same to someone else.

So I guess I just needed to rant about it a bit. Is there anything I should have done differently in this situation?

Regards, Eric

 

[equalizer]

I'd of done what you did. I drive a semi in chicago at night and the ***** are all out. I can get pissed and let them get the better of my emotions or not. I got bigger fish to fry than deal with a moron. Besides this, they'd probably sue you, that's the liberal american way nowadays. You did good

 

[P95loser]

and against my better judgement I look over and blow the guy a kiss, just being a wise ass.

That just escalate the situation needlessly.

but it just urks me like you wouldn't believe to have to let that jerk walk away feeling all big and superior

Walk softly and carry a big stick. A little bit of humility will cure any urkings you might feel. Be the better man.

 

[Cougfan2]

You definitely escalated the situation, but I think you realize that. Good lesson learned that fortunately didn't go any further.

 

[Dismantler]

So a maniac gets out of his car and yells at you...then you blow him a kiss?

You do not want to behave like that if you are carrying a gun. Period.

Sorry, but you posted and you asked.

 

[Leanwolf]

DISMANTLER - "So a maniac gets out of his car and yells at you...then you blow him a kiss?

You do not want to behave like that if you are carrying a gun. Period."

I agree with Dismantler 100%!!

You're carrying a gun. It's very, very unwise to try and start a fight. That's a very good way to end up in prison... or on a stainless steel autopsy table at your local morgue.

L.W.

 

[Eric-WA]

Sorry, but you posted and you asked.

I did ask, and I appreciate the critique. It gives me something to think about if a similar situation happens again. I know it wasn't neccessary, but like I said I was a little heated, and wanted to get under his collar a little, which I obviously did. I'll just have to work on the ol attitude a little.

-Eric

 

[Dismantler]

Okay, well, that said...when I was younger and full of testosterone, I must confess that I escalated some situations, too.

I was lucky that nothing bad came of them.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I was a little heated, and wanted to get under his collar a little

If you had to draw and fire getting under his collar a little could come back to bite you in a big way, especially after seeing how he reacted the first time.
Other than that sounds like you did good. If you wanted to possibly get under his collar a little more, calling the cops with a description and license plate number saying you were just threatened with a deadly weapon might work too.
If he keeps doing stuff like that someone will call his bluff and he won't be around much longer anyway.

 

[Jeff White]

Eric-WA said;

We stop side by side at a stop light a block later him turning left and I turning right, and against my better judgement I look over and blow the guy a kiss, just being a wise ass.

If you're into being a wise ass and escalating the conflict.....

So now the situations been escalated by incorperating weapons into it. Now I'm game for a fist fight if he'd started kicking my truck or something, but my only recourse for a baseball bat is fifteen rounds of 9mm hollowpoints which are always with me.

And if you're game for a fistfight, then I think you need to re-examine your decision to carry a firearm before you end up in jail and we have a nice long thread here when someone posts the news account of your incident.

Now I don't regret making the decision that I did to make that right turn and leave a particularly explosive situation, but it just urks me like you wouldn't believe to have to let that jerk walk away feeling all big and superior and probably likely to act the same to someone else.

It's not your job to wander the earth dispensing justice and protecting the public from rude behavior. When you carry a firearm or other deadly weapon you are playing big boy rules. Every encounter you have is an armed encounter and has the possibility of escalating into a deadly force encounter. You have to be mature enough not to let things like rude behavior upset you to the point of escalating the situation. Self defense is only a legal defense if it's not a mutual combat situation. If you can't turn away from life's little insults and rude people, then carrying a weapon is just going to get you in trouble.

Jeff

 

[Heavy Metal Hero]

You shouldn't carry a gun....you are too immature.

 

[Dain Bramage]

but it just urks me like you wouldn't believe to have to let that jerk walk away feeling all big and superior and probably likely to act the same to someone else.

Believe me, life will hand this jerk an attitude adjustment. You just need to be responsible for your own actions, and driving away was the right thing to do.

 

[Eric-WA]

You shouldn't carry a gun....you are too immature.

You know that's an insightful well thought out point.

I'm more than willing to take constructive criticism

I realize that I didn't help the situation, BUT you don't know anything about me, you don't know what was going on in my life on this particular day. And I'm glad that since you carry a gun you never, ever make a bad decision or have an attitude with anyone.

 

[retgarr]

I wouldn't tell you to not carry a gun. I would advise you to assess your actions and what you have learned from this occurrence. If you feel that you would be tempted to repeat your actions then maybe you should assess whether or not you should carry.
I know that one time I cleared my weapon while accidentally pointing it at my friend. For a few months I carried without a round in the chamber and practiced remembering to clear in a sae direction. Self regulation is the best kind.

That being said, what was going on in your life that day is totally irrelevant. There is no room for error.

 

[Cougfan2]

OK guys, let's stop the piling on. I think Eric gets it. Could say more, but I won't.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

would you be that froggy with out a gun?
i did stuff that silly when i was younger spent some time in jail behind it and they were a lot more lenient about fools fighting back then

 

[Katana8869]

I realize that I didn't help the situation, BUT you don't know anything about me, you don't know what was going on in my life on this particular day.

Sorry man, I hate to stick my nose in but what is going on in "YOUR" life is irrelevant. When you chose to carry, it is your responsibility to conduct yourself with self-control and maturity at all times. In my frank opinion you acted very foolishly. Be glad that when he jumped out the second time he brought out a bat instead of a sawed-off 12 gauge.

It happens my friend. I buried a cousin about 10 years ago who thought he had to be a billy bad ass and "show" the other guy that he couldn't get over on him. I guess the other guy felt the same way.

 

[CWL]

Let Karma work its mojo on him. Bet'ya that his life probably already sucks really bad.

No need to escalate, he may have been too busy lighting a bowl of his favorite chemicals to have noticed tha the traffic was clear/a car was behind him.

Your goal was to make it back home without having to pay any late fees. Mission accomplished.

 

[gripper]

I mind my own busioness...physically threaten me and the rules change. Hey, w mixed breed street mutt will still bite the **** out of you if you corner him.
Thats why I prefer to avoid unknown individuals or groups milling around or closing on me. I am pretty good at pulling a fade;orkeeping some obstacle between me and them until I know more.Hell, I don't even return hand gestures or try to mad dog/eyeball'em. Mind you ;I don't flinch;I just make a note of where they are and give no outward sign of it If I can help it. Low key works (for me,at least).

 

[Heavy Metal Hero]

I realize that I didn't help the situation, BUT you don't know anything about me

I can only go by what you told me.

We stop side by side at a stop light a block later him turning left and I turning right, and against my better judgement I look over and blow the guy a kiss, just being a wise ass. Well this dumb-a$$ gets all pissed off and jumps out of the van again

Now I'm game for a fist fight

 

[Keegan]

Add this to the list of reasons that I just go around those... mentally challenged individuals... that sit indefinitely at stop signs.

And as for your particular individual, I'd say this pretty much sums him up:

Let Karma work its mojo on him. Bet'ya that his life probably already sucks really bad.

People with enough hate and anger to want start fights over their mistake probably don't go home to a 5000 square foot gated home with a pool, if you get my drift. Especially dirty, pony-tailed dudes that need a bat to feel like a man.

 

[RX-178]

I can sympathize with the poster. I'm sure you've all heard the saying 'If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?'

Apparently, me being quiet rubs people the wrong way just as much as me being an ******* does.

There's more than one occasion where I've been lucky that the opposing party in question decided to allow me to leave peacefully.

 

[Byron Quick]

I think this one has run its course.