Today's situation--car carry--comments/suggestions

[lws380]

As I was heading into town today (live in rural area), some guy driving right on my tail. 2 lane road and fairly hilly, so I do not get over for someone that cannot follow the speed limit as there are stopped cars on the road for many reasons and fairly dangerous on hills. Very erratic driving, crossing center yellow lines and weaving left an right to see if he can get by me. After few miles of this stuff, I call 911. Started with county SO and they transfer me to local PD as I was now in city limits.

Eventually get to 4 lane traffic and of course he blows by me driving like a bat out of hell. But of course he gets stopped by the same two lights as me traveling the posted speed limits. That gives me time to give a great description of the car, driver and license #. I turned off as he was heading down a hill to get into town. Dispatch said PD was at the bottom of the hill waiting for him. I guess they just give a warning since they did not see any of the driving. Unless he was drunk, stoned, or had warrants.

Did not flip him off, make eye contact, stayed away from him at the lights, looked for driving escape routes in the event he came out of the car, doors locked and windows up.

I pocket carry and was of course carrying. But I realize that if he had jumped from the vehicle and especially with a weapon, I would not have time to pull my weapon from my pocket. That is the main reason for looking for escape route in the event he exited the vehicle.

Now considering carrying my S&W 442 or XD 9MM in the car for easier access for such an event. Any suggestions that may help me in this type of scenario would be welcomed.

Let me clarify my post. I'm more interested in the discussion of the benefits, if any, of carrying another weapon in the car, besides my pocket carry.

I'm interested if others carry a second gun for car carry? Where do you conceal in the vehicle? Recommendations for vehicle carry? Not interested in hashing out the scenario as much as getting info about car/truck carry.

[Snake Doctor]

Sounds like you did well. I don't know if I would have called the PD, but I wasn't there, and I trust you did what you thought was best at the time. One trick I've always tried to employ while driving (especially in daft Austin traffic) is to always see the rear tires of the vehicle in front of me, and see them enough to view contact with the ground. I read somewhere about that being a good rule of thumb as you should always be able to turn left or right and get away from a spot.

[yobdab]

I have one of these just for that very reason

http://www.desantisholster.com/n92.html

[SRVA]

Could the gentleman have had a family or other emergency he was dealing with?

[lws380]

Could the gentleman have had a family or other emergency he was dealing with?

I imagine that is one question the PD might have asked. I have no idea. He could have passed me in a no passing zone if it was such an emergency. My concern is that he was driving fairly dangerously and a family emergency doesn't give someone the right to potentially harm someone else. Maybe one of the forum LEO's can address the right to break laws for family emergencies.

[AEA]

In the old days it was the custom in Texas to tie a white handkerchief onto your radio antenna if you were speeding due to an emergency. The LEO's of that day knew this and if you were spotted they would light you up and escort you to your destination.

[KaProw]

I do not get over for someone that cannot follow the speed limit. Any suggestions that may help me in this type of scenario would be welcomed.

My concern is that he was driving fairly dangerously

Not your job to enforce the speed limit. move over when/if possible and let faster traffic by safely. It wasn't your concern and could have gotten you into a situation you later didn't want to be in.

Just my Suggestion.

[lws380]

original post edited

[Lucky45]

I do not get over for someone that cannot follow the speed limit. Any suggestions that may help me in this type of scenario would be welcomed.

My concern is that he was driving fairly dangerously

Not your job to enforce the speed limit. move over when/if possible and let faster traffic by safely.Just my Suggestion.

Hey KaProw, I agree with you. There are alot of people out there that think they are LEO and want to enforce traffic laws. When actually in defensive driving, you should move over "when possible" to another lane; instead of trying to hold up the traffic to your standards and impeding the flow of traffic.

[nuparadigm]

Let me clarify my post. I'm more interested in the discussion of the benefits, if any, of carrying another weapon in the car, besides my pocket carry.

I'm interested if others carry a second gun for car carry? Where do you conceal in the vehicle? Recommendations for vehicle carry? Not interested in hashing out the scenario as much as getting info about car/truck carry.

I'm very antsy about carrying two handguns (one for my person and one for the vehicle). My reason is the "theft quotient" rises if the handgun is not controlled by me all the time.

Maybe I'm overly cautious and paranoid, but years ago I left a Series 70 1911 under the seat of my truck while ducking into a Mexican restaurant for a to-go order in El Paso. I locked the truck. 5 minutes later, I exited the restaurant to find my door had been popped and my really nice Colt on its way with someone else.

[lws380]

Let me clarify my post. I'm more interested in the discussion of the benefits, if any, of carrying another weapon in the car, besides my pocket carry.

I'm interested if others carry a second gun for car carry? Where do you conceal in the vehicle? Recommendations for vehicle carry? Not interested in hashing out the scenario as much as getting info about car/truck carry.

I'm very antsy about carrying two handguns (one for my person and one for the vehicle). My reason is the "theft quotient" rises if the handgun is not controlled by me all the time.

Maybe I'm overly cautious and paranoid, but years ago I left a Series 70 1911 under the seat of my truck while ducking into a Mexican restaurant for a to-go order in El Paso. I locked the truck. 5 minutes later, I exited the restaurant to find my door had been popped and my really nice Colt on its way with someone else.

I have thought of the same thing. May just pick up a good used handgun at the local gun shop for that use. Then if it is gone, not as much invested. How do you carry in your vehicle? I have carried my XD 9MM in OWB and it is fairly comfortable and more accessible. Also have one of the metal boxes that can be locked and attached to the bottom of the seat with a cable. Thanks for your comments.

[AEA]

In my opinion, those boxes with the little cable that goes around your seat brackets is nothing more than a breadbox and gives false security. Any thief can get the gun from that fairly easily.

If you are going to leave your gun in your car, you should have a real Heavy Duty Steel Safe bolted down in the trunk of your car. This is the only REAL safe way to secure the weapon. Even with this, they could get the gun, but it would take a much longer time.

I don't do either! I have BOTH of my guns on me and that is where they stay. If I go somewhere that is legally posted, I simply go somewhere else! I do not have a Family that could defeat this action, so I guess I am lucky in that regard. For those that do have Family that may want to go somewhere that is legally posted, then try to persuade them to go to an alternate venue and avoid "Killing Fields".

Take this for what it is worth, but this is the way I ROLL!

[TXGLOCK23]

I am not a proponant of an BUG to be left in the vehicle unless you have a way to secure it when you're not in the vehicle. My truck has been broken into 4 times this year in different locations each time. Sometimes in broad daylight on sometimes at night. For that reason alone, I don't want to be arming the BGs any more that they already are. If you have a gun safe that you can easily lock your BUG in without too much effort, that might be a way to go.
I also have been concerned about drawing my weapon from a conceled position while sitting in a vehicle. So I started carring my leather breifcase while I'm working. It has a very accessable side pocket where my .40 rides very well. I am in outside sales so the bag fits right in and noone has a clue that I am packing when I am on a sales call.
I do have a floor safe in my truck in case my customer has a 30.06 sign, but I've yet to see one in my industry.

[nuparadigm]

..... How do you carry in your vehicle? ....

I'm left-handed and I carry IWB in vehicle and out of vehicle.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I do not get over for someone that cannot follow the speed limit. Any suggestions that may help me in this type of scenario would be welcomed.

My concern is that he was driving fairly dangerously

Not your job to enforce the speed limit. move over when/if possible and let faster traffic by safely.Just my Suggestion.

Hey KaProw, I agree with you. There are alot of people out there that think they are LEO and want to enforce traffic laws. When actually in defensive driving, you should move over "when possible" to another lane; instead of trying to hold up the traffic to your standards and impeding the flow of traffic.

The poster didn't describe a "left lane bandit" situation. He was on a two lane road driving the speed limit and he explained why he didn't pull onto the shoulder. That's not trying to enforce the speed limit and he was not obliged to increase his speed to a point the tail-gaiter was satisfied.

Chas.