Would I have been within my rights if...

[fast86gn]

Leaving a favorite restaurant over the weekend in a real bad part of town I made a right turn at the light and moved into the middle lane, about 300-400 ft in front of me a white sedan pulls out of a parking lot and pretty much stops in the middle of the three lane road, I thought at first he was having car trouble but then quickly realized that he was trying to block traffic on purpose while his buddies pulled out on the road (these were all the same model of cars) by the time I got close to them they had all pulled out on the road (maybe 4-5 cars),so I went to the right lane to go around the one in the middle of the road, the last one that pulled out moved over into my lane and tried to run me off the road luckily for me it was a entrance to a business and the curb was flat so no damage to my car and he kept going and yes he did this on purpose there is no doubt. I had my wife and Mother in-law with me, my wife dialed 911 and what a waste of time that was!

By this time I had pulled my weapon and was ready to do what ever was needed and yes I did fear for my life and those that were with me . The operator said don't chase the car to pull over and stop. I wasn't chasing the car but I wasn't going to stop either. These guys were for sure thugs and probably armed so I was ready. They slowed but I did not pass or go up to the car. I believe if I had stopped they would have turned around.

I would have only fired my weapon if he had crashed me or fired upon me. How useless the 911 operator was I guess if I shot the SOB then they would send someone out. I told my wife to just hang up.
If my car had got damaged I would have done my best to run my car right back into him and hopefully stop him. I have been the recipient of a hit and run and left holding the bag so that wasn't going to happen again.

[Abraham]

Hhhhmm, I posted on this thread earlier and it appeared, then disappeared.

Anyhoo, stay out of the real bad parts of town even if the food is free.

Is doing so absolutely going to assure you of a trouble free life?

No, of course not, but it'll go a long way...

[thetexan]

So what's your question?

[fast86gn]

My reply is gone as well?

If I would have shot at the vehicle for deliberately running me off the road would I have been in the right? I did fear for my life and my wife and my Mother in law. I was able to avoid damage to my car but if I had not and was able to crash into his car i would have.

I had a hit and run awhile back and got left holding the bag and had to pay to fix my own car because the guy ran and I was not going to ket that happen again.

[casp625]

Leaving a favorite restaurant over the weekend in a real bad part of town I made a right turn at the light and moved into the middle lane, about 300-400 ft in front of me a white sedan pulls out of a parking lot and pretty much stops in the middle of the three lane road, I thought at first he was having car trouble but then quickly realized that he was trying to block traffic on purpose while his buddies pulled out on the road (these were all the same model of cars) by the time I got close to them they had all pulled out on the road (maybe 4-5 cars),so I went to the right lane to go around the one in the middle of the road, the last one that pulled out moved over into my lane and tried to run me off the road luckily for me it was a entrance to a business and the curb was flat so no damage to my car and he kept going and yes he did this on purpose there is no doubt. I had my wife and Mother in-law with me, my wife dialed 911 and what a waste of time that was!

By this time I had pulled my weapon and was ready to do what ever was needed and yes I did fear for my life and those that were with me . The operator said don't chase the car to pull over and stop. I wasn't chasing the car but I wasn't going to stop either. These guys were for sure thugs and probably armed so I was ready. They slowed but I did not pass or go up to the car. I believe if I had stopped they would have turned around.

I would have only fired my weapon if he had crashed me or fired upon me. How useless the 911 operator was I guess if I shot the SOB then they would send someone out. I told my wife to just hang up.
If my car had got damaged I would have done my best to run my car right back into him and hopefully stop him. I have been the recipient of a hit and run and left holding the bag so that wasn't going to happen again.

So after claiming you were run off of a 3 lane road into a business' parking lot, you proceeded to draw your firearm and follow the car? Then your wife called 911 and they stated do NOT follow the cars, yet you did anyway. Who is the aggressor in the situation now? Better yet, are you George Zimmerman?

If I would have shot at the vehicle for deliberately running me off the road would I have been in the right? I did fear for my life and my wife and my Mother in law. I was able to avoid damage to my car but if I had not and was able to crash into his car i would have.

I sure hope surveillance video shows that the other driver intentionally tried to commit serious bodily harm with their vehicle instead of showing an accident occurring. Otherwise, good luck beating aggravated assault/attempted murder charges because you couldn't control your road rage.

[FtwBill]

i would never escalate a situation into a confrontation, that goes double if my wife and mother in law were in the car. Cars aren't bullet proof. I would re assess this situation and use it as an example of how just turning around would have avoided the risk completely.

[tomtexan]

If I would have shot at the vehicle for deliberately running me off the road would I have been in the right?

Absolutely not.

[WildBill]

Hhhhmm, I posted on this thread earlier and it appeared, then disappeared.

Anyhoo, stay out of the real bad parts of town even if the food is free.

Is doing so absolutely going to assure you of a trouble free life?

No, of course not, but it'll go a long way...

I think your post disappeared because of the earlier problems with the website. I had a post disappear also.

[der Teufel]

I have a (somewhat anti-gun) friend who occasionally chides me about carrying a firearm.

"Do you really think you'll need a gun if you go (someplace)?"

"No", I typically reply. "If I thought I'd need a gun, I wouldn't go there".

Reminds me of the old joke about the Texas Ranger giving a talk at a Ladies' Club . . .
"My, that's a rather large gun you have on your belt. Are you anticipating trouble?" asks one of the ladies.
"No Ma'am. If I were expecting trouble, I'd have brought a shotgun".
--

I try to avoid the bad parts of town, particularly after sundown.

[fast86gn]

Yeah instead of my wife calling 911 with her phone she should have been using the video feature. And it was deliberate no doubt. Give me a break. And I wasn't following him he went to the left lane and I stayed far back in the right lane after he pulled his little stunt. And if I had not held my temper there would have been a gun battle in the street.

[TreyHouston]

Glad you reposted that joke it's funny!!!!!!

[TreyHouston]

As far as the car chase I am glad no one got hurt. And you should be too! It should never be your wish to cause someone bodily harm onless there is absolutely no other option. But that's just me IMHO

[MikeyJ]

If I would have shot at the vehicle for deliberately running me off the road would I have been in the right?

Sec. 22.05. DEADLY CONDUCT. (a) A person commits an offense if he recklessly engages in conduct that places another in imminent danger of serious bodily injury.
(b) A person commits an offense if he knowingly discharges a firearm at or in the direction of:
(1) one or more individuals; or
(2) a habitation, building, or vehicle and is reckless as to whether the habitation, building, or vehicle is occupied.
(c) Recklessness and danger are presumed if the actor knowingly pointed a firearm at or in the direction of another whether or not the actor believed the firearm to be loaded.
(d) For purposes of this section, "building," "habitation," and "vehicle" have the meanings assigned those terms by Section 30.01.
(e) An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor. An offense under Subsection (b) is a felony of the third degree.

I'd say you would have committed a 3rd degree felony.

[bayou]

I am glad your family and you are safe I probably can't change your mind but it may have been better to take a different road then the four or five other cars after one of them ran you off the road. You would have committed a crime to fire upon them and lost you chl and possibly get some jail time. Not that I believe you should have continued down the same road but when you drew your firearm you opened the possibility of a firefight with people you described as thugs. Are you sure you had more firepower than four or five cars with unknown numbers or occupants? How many innocent bystanders would be caught in the crossfire. And for what? When you carry a gun there is a greater responsibility. I am glad your family and you are safe.