Friend had to draw his weapon tonight for protection

[Lucky45]

...Man, this story has me HE, HE, HE, HE crazy. I propose banning the word HE for 2 days

Bam, I think you should edit it again and just remove those words, we can tell when a post is edited. It says so beneath your post. So it is not necessary to bracket words to show that you edited. Just make it right so that readers can follow. Or just highlight the changes if it makes you feel better.

Thirdly, Manvel is just a one light town. Forgot they added another last year, so 2 lights town. And the second is right at the Police station. So just tell your friend to stop by today whenever he passes, or he can call in and give his side of the events. Knowing those folks, I wouldn't be suprised if they stake out that road waiting for him to pass through again. They don't really have much to do in a 3 mile wide town.

[seamusTX]

It sounds to me like the "friend" committed deadly conduct (pointing a firearm at another person). This is too serious to be getting legal advice from anonymous people on an Internet forum.

- Jim

[M9FAN]

This was almost as confusing to me (at first) as that "I saved the little old lady by shooting three BGs at pharmacy" story... What ever happened to that guy anyway?

Don't go there...

[M9FAN]

...Man, this story has me HE, HE, HE, HE crazy. I propose banning the word HE for 2 days...

[gregthehand]

Me personally i think your friend didn't do the right thing in this situation. He had the oppertunity to leave (his vehicle does have reverse correct?). Even if there was a little room inbetween him and the other guy he probably still could have done so. Second it could have been a cell phone in the guys hand for all we know and he was one the phone with the police trying to get a license plate. Now he has your friends (maybe). Too many factors. If someone came at me like this situation I'm waiting until I see a gun, getting out of there, or waiting until the actually try to enter my vehicle. For all the tactical warriors on here I nunderstand that if I saw a gun it might be too late but I'll take my chances and not risk going to jail; which would be the greater of the two chances. Just my opinion though....

[flintknapper]

Me personally i think your friend didn't do the right thing in this situation. He had the oppertunity to leave (his vehicle does have reverse correct?). Even if there was a little room inbetween him and the other guy he probably still could have done so. Second it could have been a cell phone in the guys hand for all we know and he was one the phone with the police trying to get a license plate. Now he has your friends (maybe). Too many factors. If someone came at me like this situation I'm waiting until I see a gun, getting out of there, or waiting until the actually try to enter my vehicle. For all the tactical warriors on here I nunderstand that if I saw a gun it might be too late but I'll take my chances and not risk going to jail; which would be the greater of the two chances. Just my opinion though....

Yup,

Some folks when obtaining their CHL develop a tendency to "go to their gun" at the first sign of trouble (real or perceived).

I would like to remind everyone: Pulling your weapon should only be done in the most dire of situations. It should be your LAST line of defense not the FIRST (if circumstance allows).

[Keith B]

Me personally i think your friend didn't do the right thing in this situation. He had the oppertunity to leave (his vehicle does have reverse correct?). Even if there was a little room inbetween him and the other guy he probably still could have done so. Second it could have been a cell phone in the guys hand for all we know and he was one the phone with the police trying to get a license plate. Now he has your friends (maybe). Too many factors. If someone came at me like this situation I'm waiting until I see a gun, getting out of there, or waiting until the actually try to enter my vehicle. For all the tactical warriors on here I nunderstand that if I saw a gun it might be too late but I'll take my chances and not risk going to jail; which would be the greater of the two chances. Just my opinion though....

Yup,

Some folks when obtaining their CHL develop a tendency to "go to their gun" at the first sign of trouble (real or perceived).

I would like to remind everyone: Pulling your weapon should only be done in the most dire of situations. It should be your LAST line of defense not the FIRST (if circumstance allows).

+1
Both of you guys are right on the money. Your weapon is NOT your first line of defense unless use of deadly force is imminent. Always look for the alternative if available. Road rage/vehicle entrapment is one where there is another way out 99.999% of the time.

[Snake Doctor]

Some folks when obtaining their CHL develop a tendency to "go to their gun" at the first sign of trouble (real or perceived).

I would like to remind everyone: Pulling your weapon should only be done in the most dire of situations. It should be your LAST line of defense not the FIRST (if circumstance allows).

Boy does Fk speak the truth on this one! Folks, if you cannot defend yourself without a handgun--either with awareness, common sense or physical ability--your CHL won't be much help. Sorry... just MHO.

*Edit: If you are handicapped, very elderly or have some other reason for which you cannot defend yourself, that's another story. Didn't want to catch any heat for outcasting anyone! I broke my left arm last year and felt much better knowing I had means to defend myself should some thug want to pick on someone that was currently incapacitated.

[jbirds1210]

I really didn't understand the story well enough to comment. I like to remind myself from time to time that my little Corolla is a much more powerful weapon than my handgun

[zbordas]

If he unconcealed his weapon he should have called in on the spot. Next time he (your friend) might want to just keep his hands on his weapon while it remains concealed until making sure the other party is really a threat to him. Now the driver of vehicle A could come up with all kinds of stories and he (your friend) could end up in heaps of legal troubles. The best thing your friend could have done to back off and get out of the conflict.

[WildBill]

It sounds to me like the "friend" committed deadly conduct (pointing a firearm at another person). This is too serious to be getting legal advice from anonymous people on an Internet forum.
- Jim

That was the point of my questions. To find out the state of mind of "friend." No where in the OP did BamBam state whether that "friend" was in fear for his life or of bodily injury.

[shootthesheet]

Tell him to stay in his vehicle next time and drive away. Then he can call 911.

He did everything wrong. Not a slam but a good opportunity to adjust how he thinks and reacts. First, get away. Next, call 911. If he could not get away then he should have stayed in the vehicle and called 911 after determining if the aggressor had a gun or not. It is not easy to get inside a vehicle. Even then, the aggressor has to physically get inside to do anything. Shoot when they enter or break a glass out. Never display a weapon, in my opinion. Either pull it and shoot or keep the element of surprise. That way, if forced to fight the aggressor off, the option is still available to use the weapon.

My personal philosophy is to do whatever I can to avoid any confrontation that would lead to me shooting someone. That includes "Playing the fool" or screaming like a little girl. I am in control of the situation. I choose when the weapon is pulled and the aggressor is stopped. I have the power, not the aggressor. I save his life or keep him healthy by altering his perception of the me and the event. CHL is not about being the toughest kid on the block. It is not about stupid pride and defending sensibilities. It is a possible life or death choice that deserves respect and much forethought. "Can I avoid this" is the first thought. Everything else is pull and shoot. No warning, no display, no emotion. All action and reaction. Then call 911. That is just my opinion.

[lawrnk]

Personally, I would report it. LEO's have told me that the first person who calls is often deemed the "victim" rather than the criminal.

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

I agree. It doesn't sound like your friend handled the situation particularly well. If he's a close friend, maybe you can be a resource for him and discuss better ways to handle that type of situation.

Friends can be scary. A friend of mine got her CHL about a year before me. She told me one day that while in the left hand turn lane, a truck cut it too close and clipped her car. He knew he'd done it, and sped away. She said that she jumped out of her car, and pulled her gun, but she couldn't get a shot!!! I tried talking to her about what a bad idea that was, but she never got it. We don't talk much anymore. I'm always afraid I'll hear about a bad shoot involving a CHLer and it'll be her. I hope you can talk with your friend and help him figure out when it's appropriate do draw. Maybe you can help him keep his CHL!

[Lucky45]

My personal philosophy is to do whatever I can to avoid any confrontation that would lead to me shooting someone. That includes "Playing the fool" or screaming like a little girl. I am in control of the situation.

You are a fool, shootthesheet. I'm still on the floor laughing. You are crazy. Good one though. Haven't had that kinda laugh from a post in a while.