Scenario: So someone IS following you in your car

[yerasimos]

+1 on what Scott & much of what nitrogen said, as well as Charles' note on an unholstered gun being "one quick stop from being on the floor".

I suspect that one of the reasons so many people choose not to carry weapons in public is because much of the time they are in public, they are in a motor vehicle that frequently affords great mobility and minimizes the threat of an armed pursuer. (They have also mentally "outsourced" the balance of their protection needs to the police, security guards, 911 call centers, alarm companies, etc.) In a world without automobiles, I bet we would see many more people carrying handguns, legally or otherwise.

However, I never forget that the side and rear windows of cars are ballistically deficient, and when seated in a non-moving car your bipedal mobility is impaired, vision is channelized, and access to traditional belt holster may be hampered, particularly if wearing a seatbelt.

[nitrogen]

nitrogen,

I would not stop at all until the police were there, or maybe if I was in front of a police station, with my horn honking. I think the best thing to do would be to call police on your cell and stay on the phone with them until they show up.

My thinking on stopping in a well-lit area is that it might be preferrable to the perp waiting for a deserted strech of road to run you off the road, rob you, or other evilness. He might even have others waiting in an area. If you stop in a well-lit, public area, you might foil the perp's plans. If worst comes to worst, you might have witnesses, and maybe even help.

In my mind, I never count on help finding me, I look for help.

[gigag04]

My thinking on stopping in a well-lit area is that it might be preferrable to the perp waiting for a deserted strech of road to run you off the road, rob you, or other evilness.

Generally I would agree with this, however since I drive a huge SuperDuty ford, being run off the road is off little worry to me. If I was still in my 240sx I would either find some lit up area or burn off.

[flintknapper]

My thinking on stopping in a well-lit area is that it might be preferrable to the perp waiting for a deserted strech of road to run you off the road, rob you, or other evilness.

Generally I would agree with this, however since I drive a huge SuperDuty ford, being run off the road is off little worry to me. If I was still in my 240sx I would either find some lit up area or burn off.

Gig,

I hope you won't think I'm picking on you tonight. I offer the following for the sake of your well being.

Your Super Duty can very easily be "run off the road". It does not take much energy to successfully "pit" a vehicle. Most trucks are fairly light over the rear axle and when struck in this area they can become unstable just like any other vehicle. Additionally, the higher center of gravity will serve to work against you. Perhaps you have noticed the effect of "cross winds" when driving on the highway.

I know you are thinking about total vehicle weight, so there is no need to educate me on that. Just don't get lulled into thinking you can't (easily) be run off the road.

Given a choice, I'd rather be in the Super Duty than a VW bug...so your point is well taken. Just don't think it can't happen to you, it can.

Flint.

[gigag04]

My thinking on stopping in a well-lit area is that it might be preferrable to the perp waiting for a deserted strech of road to run you off the road, rob you, or other evilness.

Generally I would agree with this, however since I drive a huge SuperDuty ford, being run off the road is off little worry to me. If I was still in my 240sx I would either find some lit up area or burn off.

Gig,

I hope you won't think I'm picking on you tonight. I offer the following for the sake of your well being.

Your Super Duty can very easily be "run off the road". It does not take much energy to successfully "pit" a vehicle. Most trucks are fairly light over the rear axle and when struck in this area they can become unstable just like any other vehicle. Additionally, the higher center of gravity will serve to work against you. Perhaps you have noticed the effect of "cross winds" when driving on the highway.

I know you are thinking about total vehicle weight, so there is no need to educate me on that. Just don't get lulled into thinking you can't (easily) be run off the road.

Given a choice, I'd rather be in the Super Duty than a VW bug...so your point is well taken. Just don't think it can't happen to you, it can.

Flint.

No offense taken, but like you said, its much less likely given my vehicle situation. It would take quite a heavy vehicle to offset mine, but I don't want to degenerate this into a physics debate on what I should or should not worry about.

I'm not sure whether stopping in a well lit area or continuing driving is preferable, but I do think that I would continue driving while trying to get a hold of the cops.

-nick

[sebis]

Please allow to introduce myself with this post and share from my experience. I was followed while driving couple of times, at that time was not carrying, actually I am not carrying now either (yet).

Anyway, the first time I was driving a BMW 330 Coupe, it was pouring in September on I-10. I was driving very slowly due to visibility conditions and exited for Costco. While waiting at the light I noticed that a guy from next lane in a red pickup was staring at me. I did not make eye contact, I was pretending I did not see him and proceeded with my route. He made an illegal left from his lane and followed me to the Costco parking lot. At that point I was hoping is just a coincidence and I parked my car just to notice he pulled right behind me and got out of the car walking towards my driver's side door. I got scared like _______, started the engine and took off in circles in the parking lot with the freak following me around. I was driving with one hand in the parking lot avoiding cars and people while dialing 911 with the other hand. Needless to say he almost bumped me couple of times and I believe my car saved my ass that day. After 5 minutes of parking lot madness and no cops in sight I decided that is getting very dangerous and I ran for the feeder road cutting off some cars on Old Katy Road (sorry) and driving on the wrong way with the maniac chasing me. Once on the I-10 feeder I floored the bimmer and at the first U turn I lost him. In the rain, his rear wheel drive pickup truck was no match for my BMW. The cops called me back 10 minutes after I got home asking if I am still at the parking lot cause the cop doesn't find me... I stopped going to Costco for a while...

Fast forward two years, driving on 290, some idiot (again in a pick-up truck) decided that passing him on the freeway was a deadly offense and started to mess with us on the freeway: I was slowing down, he was slowing down, I would try to pass, he would not let me pass. This time I am not calling 911 anymore and I did not let the situation escalate more then a minutes, at the first opportunity I passed him and floored the Audi (all wheel drive). I can't (won't) tell you how fast I was going but I lost him in less then a mile in the Friday night traffic.

My conclusion: run, baby, run.

--Sebis

[stevie_d_64]

"Hey homey? Is that my briefcase?"

Marc and I actually practice a drill very similar to that one. We don't teach it, but we do practice it!

Chas.

Who gets to be the unlucky "homey"???

[KBCraig]

"Hey homey? Is that my briefcase?"

I'd love to practice this drill.

I'm sure that Chas., as a legal advisor, would suggest omitting the final shot of that scenario.

Kevin