Where do you draw the line?

[ViperGTS19801]

As in, what is a threat that is 'worthy' of you drawing on your aggressor?

I imagine that when an attacker pulls a knife or club or other potentially life-threatening object, that's an appropriate draw-time. Then again, I am not sure, so please, members of the PAFOA, educate me.

[das]

I would like to ask what if someone gets out of their car (road rage) and approaches you. What options are acceptable? I should add not an argument just some Pissed off jerk. This happened to me a couple months ago. A guy driving a big truck pulled out literally right in front of me causing me to swerve into the next lane. I kept going until I was about 5 car lengths ahead used my turn signal and proceeded to the next traffic light where he caught up to me and screaming I was giving him "dirty" looks in the rear view mirror. He got out of his truck and was headed over to me when my dog put her head up and stopped him. What can you do if someone attempts to open youre car door to get at you over something this ridiculous? das

[ViperGTS19801]

If someone is approaching your vehicle, I think the SMART thing to do is to just drive away after making sure your door is locked and your window is up.

As far as what is legally acceptable, isn't your car an extension of your home, and therefore you can defend it with lethal force if neccessary?

[ErSwnn]

As in, what is a threat that is 'worthy' of you drawing on your aggressor?

I imagine that when an attacker pulls a knife or club or other potentially life-threatening object, that's an appropriate draw-time. Then again, I am not sure, so please, members of the PAFOA, educate me.

This question has no set answer. Every event is different, with a different cast of characters and circumstances. What needs to be done is having a good knowledge of laws, what consitutes a threat, manner of threat. There are so many varibles to consider, good knowledge and tactics are the primary tools you need to include with your firearm. Avoidance and evasion are your friends.

You have to consider distance, escape potentials(yours), validity of the threat. An old man waving a broken bottle from 21' does not hold the same threat level as an 18y.o. across the street with a bat and a bad attitude towards you. There are many threads in this forum dealing with this question. Go do some homework, it's very much to your benefit.

[ErSwnn]

If someone is approaching your vehicle, I think the SMART thing to do is to just drive away after making sure your door is locked and your window is up.

As far as what is legally acceptable, isn't your car an extension of your home, and therefore you can defend it with lethal force if neccessary?

You can't defend either your car or your home with lethal force. You can only defend your life. In other words, you can't shoot someone for stealing your car or robbing your house UNLESS they threaten your life. Yeah, most of us feel the actor IS threatening us by the crime itself, but the law says differently. I don't say this in a disresectful way, but you really do need to read up on laws. Your no different than a lot of people, unaware of how this all works. Just about everyone on this site got an education from the threads available to us. Me included.

[Glockman]

Massad Ayoob stated this most clearly.

The circumstance that justifies Homicide is:

THE IMMEDIATE AND OTHERWISE UNAVOIDABLE DANGER OF DEATH OR GRAVE BODILY HARM TO THE INNOCENT. (memorize that)

Find his books and articles. Read them. Take a course on concealed carry.

If you can safely drive or walk away from the problem, then do that. The best way to win a gun fight is don't be there.

[son of the revolution]

Massad Ayoob stated this most clearly.

The circumstance that justifies Homicide is:

THE IMMEDIATE AND OTHERWISE UNAVOIDABLE DANGER OF DEATH OR GRAVE BODILY HARM TO THE INNOCENT. (memorize that)

Find his books and articles. Read them. Take a course on concealed carry.

If you can safely drive or walk away from the problem, then do that. The best way to win a gun fight is don't be there. And if you have no other choice the BEST way to win a gunfight is with overwhelming firepower and violence of action!

Fixed it for ya !

[TXDMERC73]

Thats why we are waiting for the snail train to pass the HB40 then we wont have to retreat, and then this will be a whole new ballgame.

[arobertson]

I was talking to my gun dealer when i first bought my gun and he said that if someone comes in to your home and says "im going to kill you" or you see a gun or weapon you have the right to shoot him and he also make sure you kill him so he can sue you. am i correct?

[donm]

I was talking to my gun dealer when i first bought my gun and he said that if someone comes in to your home and says "im going to kill you" or you see a gun or weapon you have the right to shoot him and he also make sure you kill him so he can sue you. am i correct?

Now there's some really bad advice, right up there with dragging the body back inside the house! 1) You don't necessarily need to see a weapon -- it might be too late. You need to understand concepts like "furtive movement" and "disparity of force." 2) You shoot to stop, not to kill. About one of five people shot with a handgun dies. And his estate (that's his family -- and all of a sudden the criminal will morph into a choir boy who made an unfortunate mistake) can and very well may sue you, even if no criminal charges are filed or if you are acquitted (civil suits are barred in some states but not Pennsylvania).

Pick up a copy of Ayoob's classic "In the Gravest Extreme." It's an easy read and as relevant now as when he wrote it 30 years ago.