Tactics And A Perspective On OC

[Good Ol' Boy]

So this happened like a year and a half ago and after much thought I've decided to share to my fellow THR friends.

Long intro short, this was a situation of A-holes colliding at the time. I was coming home on a rural road (I live in the sticks) and a guy in a truck was riding my bumper the last 1/4 mile home. Because he was being so aggressive I didn't use my turn signal when turning into my drive, although as close as he was riding me I doubt he would have seen it. Still, I purposely did it and there's no excuse for it.

So it turns out that exact moment when I was turning into my drive was the moment that he had had enough and decided to try and drive around me. Except instead of driving to my right (I was turning left) he decides to go to the inside. He narrowly misses my car and swerves, missing my ditch, two trees and my well. He also managed to not tear up my yard.

We both stop and I got out expecting to "have some words" with this person.

I got out before he did and as soon as he got out the whole dynamic changed. I spotted right off the batt that he was OC a pistol in some crappy "Uncle Mikes" type holster. He wasn't being overly aggressive initially but that didn't matter to me. As soon as I spotted that, based on the situation, I went into a zone where I was just waiting for him to move his hand towards that gun. I was 100% ready to draw.

The story ends with him ranting and thinking he probably "backed me down" because I didn't say much once I noticed him carrying. I was basically just agreeing with everything he said. He didn't realize how close he was to getting shot had he put his hand anywhere in the vicinity of that gun.

Everything worked out for the better in the end. He left, my property wasn't damaged and no one got shot.

Aside from myself and him being un civil one thought remains, OC just isn't a smart thing to do day to day. I don't have any problem with folks OC'ing but if confrontation occurs just be aware that others don't know your intentions. That is super important.

 

[Kleanbore]

We both stop and I got out expecting to "have some words" with this person.

Mistake.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

ETA, as far as tactics go, if I could do it over I would've pulled my car into our carport and got my wife inside, and approached it from that standpoint instead of out in the open.

To my wife's credit she later told me she had her door cracked and her pistol at the low ready out of sight.

That made my heart warm.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

Mistake.

Yup, as I stated it was a situation where A-holes collide.

Normally I'm pretty cool headed but that day I was just in a bad mood.

Thus the whole "tactics" in the title.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

Glad everything worked out in the end even if it started on bad terms with bad decisions. Definitely puts things in perspective.

Sorry this turned into me ranting.

There's def a time and place for OC in my mind with my views, but that's not normally an occurrence I do while daily commuting.

I'm going to over-generalize here, but I do see a correlation between guys who open carry (obnoxiously) and the kind of guys who tailgate and drive reckless (obnoxiously).

I see this often: the type of dude wearing a flea-market-over-the-top cringey/edgy sheep dog gun shirt (something about cold dead hands, probably an NRA shirt from '87) wearing a horizontal cross draw holster, cocked and locked 1911 with no retention, and a guy so big/fat his wife likely has to put his holster on.... So dude literally is flagging everyone who stands behind him.

Tell me that guy is a great advocate for the 2A. Same guys probably say "I don't need to be an advocate because it's my god given right and you can go frigg-off" like there hasn't been an onslaught of anti-gun legislation and "propaganda" targeting that same demographic the last decade.

But the same type of dude... Mr-tough-guy... Is the same type of dude who drives a big truck with big lights and tailgates and drives aggressive. Probably has a bunch of tough guy stickers on the back too.

It's a stereotype but stereotypes are often earned.

It's ego driven posturing. It attracts people of the same mindset.

Whether we agree or not, there is an "optics" surrounding open carry. We have to be aware.

There is also a point to open carry. There is a fine line between "deterrent" and "intimidation".

Your situation was avoidable, but it happened. I would argue that your perspective, open carry for him was an intimidation tactic. I'm sure he would argue it was a deterrent.

Regardless, I hate wanna-be tough guys.

Ironically, this post might make me sound like a wanna-be tough guy. Hahaha oh well

 

[Blue Jays]

My suggestion would be to NOT turn into your own driveway…yet continue to drive elsewhere.
Whether to the police department, to the firehouse, to City Hall, or even just an extended tour.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

ETA, as far as tactics go, if I could do it over I would've pulled my car into our carport and got my wife inside, and approached it from that standpoint instead of out in the open.

To my wife's credit she later told me she had her door cracked and her pistol at the low ready out of sight.

That made my heart warm.

As far as mistakes go, I would have pulled over and let him pass from the get go.

I also would have used a turn signal as you slowing for a turn likely made him think you were brake checking, hence his suicide pass attempt.

And now he knows where you live. Could have avoided it all.

 

[Old Dog]

I spotted right off the batt that he was OC a pistol in some crappy "Uncle Mikes" type holster.

Recognizing this, did it change your perspective in terms of your evaluation of this guy as a potential adversary, his level of firearms knowledge, training, etc.?

 

[old lady new shooter]

As far as mistakes go, I would have pulled over and let him pass from the get go.

I also would have used a turn signal as you slowing for a turn likely made him think you were brake checking, hence his suicide pass attempt.

And now he knows where you live. Could have avoided it all.

I agree 100%.

 

[DoubleMag]

I see an open carry, I M on alert.
I DO NOT see an open carry, I M on alert.

Oh and to add, I only have one thing to say.


Dashcam

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

My suggestion would be to NOT turn into your own driveway…yet continue to drive elsewhere.
Whether to the police department, to the firehouse, to City Hall, or even just an extended tour.

That is a great piece of advice for everyone reading this thread. Of course in my case its after the fact, but for anyone reading this that is excellent advice.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

As far as mistakes go, I would have pulled over and let him pass from the get go.

I also would have used a turn signal as you slowing for a turn likely made him think you were brake checking, hence his suicide pass attempt.

And now he knows where you live. Could have avoided it all.

Also great advice. Again after the fact but thats what the tactics part of this thread is. Hopefully for others as well as myself to gain knowledge by looking at my mistakes.

As far as him knowing where I live that was on my mind for a few weeks after but as I mentioned its been over a year and a half and no issues so at this point I'm not overly concerned.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

Recognizing this, did it change your perspective in terms of your evaluation of this guy as a potential adversary, his level of firearms knowledge, training, etc.?

Absolutely. Folks OC in crappy gear is basically a intimidation tact.

Someone skilled carrying proper gear would've been CC from the get go 99 times out of 100.

Thats not to say there aren't skilled folks out there OC but my money is they aren't carrying crap gear. Take that for what its worth.

 

[hso]

Happy to see you recognize your role in the problem . Not everyone will own their errors. Good for you.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

I see an open carry, I M on alert.
I DO NOT see an open carry, I M on alert.

Oh and to add, I only have one thing to say.


Dashcam

More great advice.

I'm always on alert. But OC in a confrontation just puts things to red alert.

If he had been CC as I was it would have been a different situation entirely.

I wasn't looking to fight the guy or get into a gunfight, initially I just thought about exchanging some words and that would be that.

That being said, its a crazy world we live in right now. I've seen news video of folks getting shot over the smallest things, so you never know.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

Happy to see you recognize your role in the problem . Not everyone will own their errors. Good for you.

Absolutely. I was just as much at fault as he was initially. No denying that.

Hopefully some folks reading this thread can take something away from it.

I know I am...

 

[armydog]

There is no escape from these people. You have to understand there is nothing you can do to avoid these people... it's hit or miss. They're not just on the road, they are everywhere and their mission is to piss you off and get you in trouble. It is the only purpose they serve on earth. I have mastered a blank look on my face for when I have eye contact with these people.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

You know, my dad always told me "you deal with people, you deal with problems".

Right or wrong, bad things can happen and issues will pop up

But @Good Ol' Boy , you're ok in my book, not that my opinion matters and I'm probably a huge clown.

I think self reflection and self improvement goes a long way to prevent and avoid those "people problems" as much as possible.

I know I've screwed up and will continue to screw up plenty.

After it all, you're a better person. I hope we can say the same for the other guy.

 

[old lady new shooter]

There is no escape from these people. You have to understand there is nothing you can do to avoid these people... it's hit or miss. They're not just on the road, they are everywhere and their mission is to piss you off and get you in trouble. It is the only purpose they serve on earth. I have mastered a blank look on my face for when I have eye contact with these people.

Blank look is something I used with consistently good results when I lived in Cali where encounters with weirdos were a frequent occurrence. I think it's like for their game to be fun for them they have to sense fear.

 

[Howland937]

Apparently I'm not the only person who views OC as "Hey look at me!"
Always makes me think of Pancho, then I start to hear Willie's voice in my head.

I can't get behind the idea of OC as sound tactics though.

 

[redcon1]

There's at least two sides to every story. In this story, I can see how that OC handgun in a crappy holster might just have saved your life.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

What's not smart isn't the "open carrying", but not leaving the attitude at home when you carry at all, open or concealed.

To that end, you're assessment about "A-holes colliding" is spot on.

This is, as you say, "after the fact". But you're fortunate in that things didn't escalate, nobody got hurt, and you are thus afforded the opportunity look back and see where you could have done better.

When you look at the incidents we all encounter throughout our lives with an honest eye, you'll find that very few are true "accidents" or events in which we, personally, had absolutely no responsibility for.

Most automobile accidents aren't really "accidents", but "incidents". Often times there are factors entirely within your control which could have resulted in avoiding the accident entirely.

Same for workplace accidents, negligent discharges, getting lost in the woods, etc.

Looking back on this with open eyes is the RIGHT thing to do. It's the first step towards improving yourself.

 

[45CalPal]

Mistake.

I fully agree....

OP, the mistake was yours for getting out, opening him up to further the escelation. He was already acting "hot headed" as you say when driving.
Should have continued to you driveway parking spot . had he followed you then it would have all been on him. But in the end, glad it ended safely for all involved.

 

[armydog]

You know what gets me... whenever I make a mistake, I feel the need to apologize. lol I will sometimes let off the brake when the turning lane gets the green light while my light is still red and I will feel like an idiot and wave at the car behind me to apologize. Nearly every mistake I make, I feel like I should apologize. I can't imagine being one of these idiots that always race to the next red light and are switching lanes constantly to get that one car length ahead.... that is a sad way to live. lol

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

There's at least two sides to every story. In this story, I can see how that OC handgun in a crappy holster might just have saved your life.

Care to expand?

I tend to see it as the opposite, it might have just saved his life.

I knew he was carrying and he did not know I was.

I was, and am, confident I could have drawn and put shots on target before he could have, given the situation.

And at the time I was absolutely willing to bet my life on it.

Thats not meant to sound like some kind of bad ass, but if you're carrying you should have a certain level of confidence in your ability, hopefully from practice/training.

Part of that confidence involves assessing the situation.