[bryce26]

I imagine this has already been answered before, but I'm a newbie.

Scenario: I'm in car, drivers seat, stopped, wife in passenger seat, toddler in rear car seat, and BG approaches with gun in hand, demanding us to pile out and he take the car... I have gun in holster within reach, and could probably draw and fire. Am I within my rights to do so? (I have permit to carry). Does anything change if a knife is his only weapon?

 

[P95Carry]

Short answer - if you perceive a lethal threat and are in fear of serious harm to yourself or your loved ones you would IMO be justified in using your weapon. In that situation your options have all but gone too.

If already under gun point is another matter as to whether you would have a chance - tho thru subterfuge while semi concealed in your vehicle, you could probably manage.

 

[Freedom Doc]

I imagine this has already been answered before, but I'm a newbie.

Scenario: I'm in car, drivers seat, stopped, wife in passenger seat, toddler in rear car seat, and BG approaches with gun in hand, demanding us to pile out and he take the car... I have gun in holster within reach, and could probably draw and fire. Am I within my rights to do so? (I have permit to carry). Does anything change if a knife is his only weapon?

If you don't see him coming in time to draw and take care of him, I would recommend appearing to cooperate. One big problem is the toddler in the car seat; you will want to quickly remove him, but the BG is probably in a big hurry. You need to find a way to distract him and draw on him, or perhaps slap his gun away and draw. Personally I don't mind risking my life to defend my family; I don't want the SOB driving away with my kid.

 

[randytulsa2]

You Are Within Your Rights to Draw and Shoot

Whether he has a gun or a knife, if he is trying to take your car away with your baby in it.

Dicey situation if he's already got a piece pointed your way, but you've got one good chance and only one good chance to prevent potentially catastrophic harm to your family, so I'm saying you've got to take it. Get him distracted if at all possible, if only for an instant, then shoot center mass till lockback.

If he's got a knife, while you may be within your rights to ventilate him, it might be better to try driving off if the doors are locked and the windows are down.

 

[SIGguy229]

I've heard you don't try to out-draw a drawn gun...however, if possible, hit the gas!! and duck!!

If you get out of the car, by the time you are out of your (drivers) seat and he hasn't killed you yet, he'll have the car in gear and gas down before you get your toddler out (and possibly your wife). That said (and I will contradict myself here), draw and fire until the threat stops.

Definitely something to think about...keep your situational awareness..stay out of condition WHITE.

 

[Weeg]

One's atuomobile is a bastion of vulnerability...


.

 

[David Blinder]

Your foot on the gas will get you out trouble better than your finger on the trigger. Do the math, a 2,000 lb guided missle vs. a bullet.

 

[Rock and Glock]

Ditto on the car "missile". Turn into him as you floor it to make him move. Lay on horn to as you go.

The only way I'd draw would be if the engine was off or I was totally boxed in by semi's.

 

[Thumper]

Hopefully you always have your doors locked. If he's got a gun and you have the space (even if you clip the car in front of you) to gas your way out of there that's what I'd do!

I'm a big advocate of rehearsing scenarios and this is a good one to think about. So many variables to consider! :hand10:

 

[Al.40cal]

+1 Thumper

 

[Sheldon J]

Hopefully you always have your doors locked. If he's got a gun and you have the space (even if you clip the car in front of you) to gas your way out of there that's what I'd do!

I'm a big advocate of rehearsing scenarios and this is a good one to think about. So many variables to consider! :hand10:

Many cars have an autolock feature love it, but it has been said above the safety of your kid is NO 1 on the list. Unfortunately I have read several stories of just such a incident where the BG took off with the kid in the car, the recovery rate of the child unharmed is only about 50% not good odds. So if your cannot get out of dodge fake compliance fumble the keys onto the ground when you exit the car when the BG is distracted picking them up put your gun to the BG's head and pull that trigger without a second's hesitation, you are a Dad protecting his kids life and no court in the world (except England) will convict you of anything.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I am shooting unless I can speed away . Who says that he is going to let me and my wife live? Who says that he is going to let me unstrap my son from his car seat?

 

[gotammo]

I would say in most situation when in your car that is not boxed-in use the car its bigger and better than anything on your hip. Hit the thin pedel and get out of the area if you can. When you stop at night have your wife watch her side for BGs this way you only have to watch half the area, the more eyes the better.

If he has a knife you may gain time as it will be hard to threaten you from outside a locked car, but use the car if you can.

If you are in a not so well lit part of town tuck your gun under your leg this way you can get to it faster, thats what I do in areas like Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport should I have to there after hours.

 

[rodc13]

1) Preferred option. Hit the gas! Bug-out boogie! Call the local gendarmerie.

2) If you're boxed in. (Shame on you for allowing yourself to get boxed in.) Shoot him until he's down. Be aware of accomplices in case they're the ones that boxed you in. I'll get the ones on the drivers side, my wife can handle the other side (what? you're wife isn't packing? tsk,tsk) -- nobody messes with my young bride! When she's with me, we've got double the firepower.

3) If he only has a knife, keep the windows rolled up, the doors locked, and say "Neener, neener!" as you drive away. Now if he tries to scratch my ride, he's goin' down . . .

 

[Old Chief]

I totally agree with Sheldon. NO hesitation.

 

[dimmak]

this brings up another issue: "Awareness"
While one connot possibly be aware of all things going on around him/her, scanning in all directions and moving quickly to get everyone and everything into or out of the vehicle is imperative. Using mirrors to look behind and making eye contact with any potential threats are tools which prove useful in parking lots and entering / exiting vehicles. I personally make sure that the wife and kids are in the vehicle as I scan before getting in myself. This is now habit and once put into practice becomes 2nd nature. I hope that this helps avoid any future scenarios like the one stated. I can tell you that acting quickly and fluidly in response to any threat will greatly increase chances of success in removing the threat.

 

[ExSoldier]

Always Leave Space...

Ditto on the car "missile". Turn into him as you floor it to make him move. Lay on horn to as you go.

The only way I'd draw would be if the engine was off or I was totally boxed in by semi's.

Yeah, I always try and leave just enough space between my car and the car in front of me so that I can still see his rear wheels. This means I have enough room to get around him in an emergency.

I'm in the nightmare scenario of a minivan...which I got five years ago at my wife's request so we could transport the two big fur covered babies....And I'm miserable. My wife has promised that as soon as we're able, I can return to my beloved 4x4 SUV. When I had a truck the answer was always drive out of the situation, even if you had to jump curbs or shove somebody out of the way. Now, I've conditioned a subconscious switch to condition ORANGE whenever I'm at a stop light. As soon as the light goes green, I slip back into yellow. lol.

 

[sevesteen]

I imagine this has already been answered before, but I'm a newbie.

Scenario: I'm in car, drivers seat, stopped, wife in passenger seat, toddler in rear car seat, and BG approaches with gun in hand, demanding us to pile out and he take the car... I have gun in holster within reach, and could probably draw and fire. Am I within my rights to do so? (I have permit to carry). Does anything change if a knife is his only weapon?

Either way, I think you are within your rights. For a knife, I'd most likely hit the gas. If he's got a gun, I'd say something like "you can have the car, I'm taking my kid" as I climbed into the back seat to unlatch. If an opportunity arose to draw and shoot, I would.

 

[jongle]

I was nearly carjacked in Detroit years ago, so I always leave some maneuver room when I stop, and I try to keep an eye on who is nearby (situational awareness). And I carry with a round in the chamber and the Browning on the center console. That being said, I'd "beat feet" if I could, but that kid in the back seat with an armed BG behind me in a bad mood is food for thought.

 

[Thumper]

2) If you're boxed in. (Shame on you for allowing yourself to get boxed in.)

A good habbit to get in to is ALWAYS stop far enough back that you can at least see where the tires touch the road of vehicle in front of you.

It's a good idea for a lot of reasons! :yup: