We generally talk about what holsters to wear while packing concealed, what weapons we seem to favor, ammunition choices and even shooting techniques in a self defense scenario.
But what about what to do when you find yourself facing the wrong end of an assailant(s) gun(s)?
I would like to share with you one situation that happened to me a few years back, I just returned from my third overseas deployment, I came back to San Diego to visit my family before reporting to my next command in the east coast (The Marines seem to enjoy assigning me to the opposite side of the continent, I served most of my state side assignments in the east coast) anyway, I borrowed my brother's truck to go visit some old civilian friends and was returning back to my parents house, around 0100, as I exited I-5 and came to a stop sign, two guys approached me with revolvers pointing at me, there was a parked car by the exit and they were hidding in front of the car, they were not screwing around, they opened up right away (and I thought I was back home safe)
I stepped on the gas and immediatly took several hits, side door, one flatten my rear passenger side tire, one hit several inches below the sliding rear window and hit the rear of my seat, a hit to the bumper and they were pumping away at me as I drove off, I got back on the interstate the truck was a full time all drive Scottdale and I was able to drive away, but these guys were not done with me yet, they followed me and the guy on the passenger side stuck his revolver out the window and pumped two more rounds before they drove away.
I had a hard time explaining to my brother the condition of his truck, we dug out the spent bullets and they were all 38 caliber LRN ones.
Oviously I was not packing that early morning but even if I were, I think I made the right choice under those conditions, it's best to run away and live to fight another day.
You can never get used to rounds flying by you no matter how many times you been shot at.

Why would they do that? Was it a robbery or personal?

I don't know why and no, I don't know who this gents were, I notified the police of the incident, they talked to me for a few minutes, looked at the bullet ridden truck and left.

I would probably have had an "accident!" In CA, if you had a weapon, and returned fire, you would probably have been arrested for carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle! That's one of the reasons I'm glad I live in Arizona!

Wow scary story, I am glad you were unharmed.

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Dom

That's why I always keep my doors locked.

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- The Federalist #46 -

When you are using a vehicle (even your brother's) that belongs to someone else, you don't know just what "baggage" is attached to it. That also applies when you loan your vehicle to someone else...you don't know that will be "attached" to it when it returns.

That also applies to firearms!

Bob

I just went back & read again, and it seems that the thugs simply jumped out from behind the parked car and opened fire right away (?)

Was this a failed car-jacking attempt, or was this a "gang-banging" thing where they go out and shoot somebody just to get a "rep?"

Something is very obviously missing in this account.

I went back and re-read and you are correct. I read "they opened up right away" and got that they opened the door. I add words sometimes when I'm reading...

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- The Federalist #46 -

These gents were waiting for some one to stop at the exit for what reason?, I don't know, car jacking?, perhaps, when I said they opened up, I meant they started firing when they saw that I was not about to stop, it's simple as that, you stop, they still shoot you and take your vehicle, trust me, when something like that happens, you have a fraction of a second to decide what's the best course of action, you can't stop and weight the choices.
I made a choice, I got away with it because they were poor shots, of interest is that when I arrived at my next duty station I was assigned to a special unit that was one of a kind, our job was to teach marines or DOD personnel assigned to high risk areas, advanced shooting techniques to keep them alive, to include high speed driving and shooting. (I graduated from the Bill Scott school of racing in summit point, WV.
We attended all the top notch shooting schools to gain knowledge from the experts, Cooper, Chapman and Rogers.
When I drive now my pistol is next to me, stuck between the seats of my truck, I don't holster it, I have learned my lessons and I am just trying to pass on to other's what could happen in a moments notice without warning.
But given a choice again, I rather drive away fast, that's what we taught in school, fight only if your vehicle gets disabled.

Being in a vehicle, "punching" out of the "Ambush Zone" is always the best Idea, IMHO.

i retired from a le agency in san diego county. some things just don't sound right. i have a lot of questions. some of them are: what agency did you report this to? where exactly off of I-5 did this occur at? since this was a felony, no agency around here would knowingly permit their officers to "kiss" of this type of incident, and if all the cops did was look at the bullet holes and leave, they need to be reported to their department. i hope you did that. did you? i could continue on with more questions, but these will suffice for now.

sincerely,

ed

This incident happened in the city of Chula Vista, my home town, the location was the palomar exit off I-5 coming from the south, the two officers asked if I was hurt, looked at the vehicle and departed but I didn't help much because I could not give them the vehicle description except that it was a red and compact (I was too busy dodging rounds) this happened years ago, Chula Vista was a nice town when I was growing up but it's hard to recognize now, no more open fields behind my parents house where we used to play as kids, they sold all that farm area to build apartment complexes, I live in a quiet town in VA now.

How many years ago did this happen?

Check your PM, thanks