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BTin wrote:I witnessed an incident in Fort Worth.

Without going into too much detail, a guy freaked out because another driver failed to accelerate after leaving a school zone. He cut me off in order to flip the other driver out and then got in front of the poor guy. I say poor guy because his only crime was missing a sign that allowed him to speed up.

I honked my horn at the guy when he cut me off, because I usually like to inform people of their bad driving. I thought they may learn something.

The bad part is that the driver who freaked out stopped his car, blocking in the other "slow" driver. He then got out of his car and approached the car behind him, with other traffic going around them at about 40mph! Luckily, this was all in my rear view mirror. I drove away after I saw the guy yelling at the slow driver with his finger against the driver side window. It didn't look like it was going to escelate, but I don't know what happened.

Two things:
First, I think that I am not going to be honking at people anymore, no matter what the circumstances are. I think the risks are just too great after witnessing this. I think he could very well have done this to me for honking at him. I don't think honking in response to another person's bad driving is "provocation" which would negate my right to deadly force - if that is necessary.

Second, I thought about what I would have done if I was the "slow" driver and trapped. I was carrying holstered on my hip. My first thought at the scene was that I would unbuckle my belt, and unholster, but stay at low ready. I wouldn't purposely hold it up to intimidate, but I would have it pointed at the guy through the door. He might see the weapon, but that would not be my purpose. My justification is that this guy has just cut off any escape and is approaching me in a threatening manner by yelling with his arm raised. I would be afraid that it could escalate if he had a weapon or he tried to enter my vehicle with force. I would definitely call 911 with the plate number and include the fact that I was armed in case the guy calls 911 as well.

Just wanted to share this experience. I have thought about this quite a bit, and I still think staying at low ready would be the right thing to do.