Drive By-WWYD?

[snatchel]

I'm also of the opinion that shooting at a moving vehicle as it is driving away is probably not a great idea. If I'm walking my dog and someone slowly drives by me with a gun hanging out the window.. that is a different story... especially if there is nothing I can do as far as cover, etc...

[03Lightningrocks]

So apparently there is a new trend going on. Kids rolling by houses shooting out windows of cars... with BB guns.
https://local.nixle.com/alert/4780538/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Would I ever shoot someone who shoots at me with a BB gun? Of course not. That said.. until the first BB heads my way, I would have no way of knowing that it was a BB gun. Fact of the matter is, if I see a car with a gun pointed out the window at me... it probably won't end well.

My second self defense shooting happened because of a situation just like the one you mentioned. It was not kids and it was no BB gun but when the guy rolled up on my drivers side with a shotgun hanging out the window, I didn't wait to see if it was real or loaded. I started shooting! Like you said, someone comes up on you with a gun, it is not going to end well. Those kids are going to get shot if they keep it up.

[johnson0317]

Had three cars in our neighborhood, with windows busted out, but nothing taken, about a month ago. I guess this may be the explanation for it. I guess I did some pretty stupid stuff as a kid, but nothing that might make other people think I was armed with a deadly weapon...unless you count my superior intellect. In most battle of the wits, as a teenager, I came to the fight empty-handed. Not all that much has changed.

RJ

[03Lightningrocks]

Just thinking about the BB gun thing for a bit. They must be using one heck of a BB gun! The BB guns I remember would have put a hole in the window but I think you would have to fire several rounds into the window before it completely shattered. Maybe I am wrong... just thinking.

[johnson0317]

A pellet gun would do the trick nicely.

RJ

[03Lightningrocks]

A pellet gun would do the trick nicely.

RJ

That would make more sense. I was thinking "Daisy" when I read BB gun.

[speedsix]

...BBs will do it...tempered glass just needs a concentrated impact...a spring-loaded centerpunch is effective...

[NEB]

Yep. Back when I was a kid on the farm, I accidentally shot out the drivers window of our farmhands truck. It was a BB gun, and it was just with one pump. I wasn't aiming for it, and it was an accident, but the window shattered and collapsed like a waterfall nonetheless.

As for the drive-by situation, my first reaction is going to be to duck and cover if at all possible while in the act of drawing my weapon. If the car is still going, I'll be going in the opposite direction after getting a good look for description. If they're stopped or their intention appears to be to engage, then I weight my options.

Honestly, if someone pulls up next to me with a gun pointed my way while I'm driving, I don't know what I would do. Obviously, I would try and get the heck out of dodge if the way was clear as they clearly have the drop on me. By the time I reached and drew my weapon, I'd probably be toast, so if possible, I'm clearing out. If I'm locked in traffic, I guess I just do the best I can not to become a victim. It's for those type of scenarios that I've recently switched to appendix carry on occasions when I'm driving, but it's not ideal for all situations/carry weapons.

What are y'alls strategies for being prepared as far as access to your firearm while driving?

[speedsix]

...when I'm driving, my weapon is a half ton of GMC...strictly defensive...I carry IWB at 11:00 and can reach it but I ain't drivin' and shootin'...that's only for the movies...at best, I'd shoot out my own windows and (further) deafen myself...

[Purplehood]

Kill a couple of 'em and the others may wise up.

I doubt it. I did stupid-stuff when I was a kid.

As I have gotten older I try to moderate the stupid-stuff that I do now.

[karder]

In a drive by shooting I will seek cover and try to make myself a good witness. First off why would someone wish to shoot back at a driveby shooter/vehicle? Keep in mind that the shooter will most likely only present head and shoulders for you to see, things in the door may or may not stop a bullet aimed lower (some door components like power window motors tend to stop bullets while thin panels do not). Keep in mind that if you miss the target and the bullet crosses the street and hits the five year old in their backyard you have a whole new world of issues to deal with. If you shoot at and disable the vehicle you have now increased the likely threat as they were most likely going to continue on their way but now they are stuck on foot with a threat (you) engaging them and you now have a real life gun fight on your hands. The risks outweigh the rewards in this situation. Now if they circle and come back around then things are different as you have a persistant threat, but you also have to better your position and request law enforcement as well as determine if you heard gun shots and notice that damage is not consistant with a firearm or something less threatening. In essence if the threat returns you now have more time and oportunities to evaluate the nature and level of the threat and prepare for it so your best judgement is your most important tool now.

Not much good can come from returning fire. Seek cover and be a good witness.

I had some kids go through my neighborhood with paint ball guns and shoot up all the cars a few years back. My truck has needed a paint job for the last 15 years so it did not do any damage to me. I just washed it off, but one of my neighbors had a new Accord that they had only owned for a few months, and it messed up their paint job. It is frustrating to see kids with no regard for the property of others.

[Oldgringo]

A gun pointing at you is a gun pointing at you.

I shouldn't think there would be the time nor the inclination to debate caliber or the age and/or intent of the aggressor. The victim (pointee) must do what the victim must do and I would suggest that the pointee not tarry lest the pointee end up dead.

[speedsix]

...now here you and I stand, completely agreeing on something...whodathunkit??? I've been laughed at a lot in my life, but I AIN'T gonna be laughed at for tellin' St. Peter "I kinda thought it might be just a BB gun or pellet rifle he was pointin' at me...he seemed like such a NICE boy, who was surely tryin' to turn his life around"...you don't play with guns...not in this world...not at all...

[bayouhazard]

If you did shoot one of these kids - you might have a defense criminally - but I'm betting the entire family is going to sue in civil court and probably win.

The frivolous lawsuit should get tossed by summary judgement if it even makes it that far. There's civil immunity for crime victims who fight back with justified deadly force.

Meanwhile, I think the entire neighborhood should sue the family for all the shot up windows and other malicious intentional property damage. I think parents are still responsible for their minor children. That would be a small step to justice.

[Oldgringo]

If you did shoot one of these kids - you might have a defense criminally - but I'm betting the entire family is going to sue in civil court and probably win.

The frivolous lawsuit should get tossed by summary judgement if it even makes it that far. There's civil immunity for crime victims who fight back with justified deadly force.

Meanwhile, I think the entire neighborhood should sue the family for all the shot up windows and other malicious intentional property damage. I think parents are still responsible for their minor children. That would be a small step to justice.

WINNER! The parents absolutely should be held responsible for the actions of the minor chioldren.

It's not my job, it's not the schools' job, it is the parents' job to raise 'em right and if they don't, the parents are responsible. That said, I have NO problem with the "age of accountability" in the Old Testament sense either. By age 13, people know right from wrong!