Had a Situation Tonight-Why I Carry Concealed!

[speedyquad]

Both my wife and I had a full schedule this evening so Take out was for supper. I stopped at the local McDonalds to get the 3 yr old daughter a happy meal. As i was backing out of the spot i saw a car behind me in the drive thru line. I kept backing up, but turning and at no time was near hitting the other vehicle. As I stopped and started to pull forward so i could re-angle to pull out, the horn blared and I stopped thinking maybe another car had crept up in my blind spot. Nope, the male passenger got out of the other car and came up to my window yelling at me and throwing expletives out every other word. I admit after about his 3rd of 4th sentence, i let a few expletives go myself. i only rolled my window down an inch or so. even though he asked me nicely(heavy sarcasm on that one), i did not get out of my vehicle and was really wishing i had not left my cell phone at home. I eventually told him to get back in his car which he did after calling me a cat a few more times.

The Local PD is directly across the street. I did go across and make a report of the incident, but i could not get the license plate number without putting myself in danger.

I had My 40c in my pocket and my hand on it. I wanted to draw, but he was in a position to see it so i left it concealed. i had decided if he tried to come through the window, i would draw.

 

[Llando88]

Good call.

I'm sure it was nerve wracking.

 

[speedyquad]

it was. I'm pretty non-confrontational. This was the closest i have ever been to being in a fight.

 

[NMPinNYC]

Good on you for not getting out of the car. You went home safe and sound with your daughter, with just a bit of self esteem bruised. I'd say that event turned out marvelously; you were blessed this evening as something very bad may otherwise have happened. You did well!

 

[Seven3]

That's the ironic thing about carrying a firearm and preparing your mindset to use it if necessary; you must also be prepared to do everything possible to avoid confrontation. You did very well.

 

[speedyquad]

luckily the kids weren't in the car...they were with the wife...

thanks, i like to think i handled it well...other than my end of the verbal exchange...

 

[Badkarma 1]

Did well indeed!
You kept your head, and the other guy was trying to start something and despite the verbal exchange there was no cause to draw your weapon.
You also covered your "6" by making a report FIRST! Smart thinking!
Dale

 

[sipowicz]

Good thing he didn't try and get into your car...he would have gotten an unhappy meal.

 

[sw1834]

Hey Speedyquad,
I Haven't seen a post from you in awhile. I thought about looking you up while I was in Pittsburgh for the Pirates and Steelers in September, but I didn't have a lot of time.
Anyway, any confrontation you walk away from is a good thing. Just a word of caution on the verbal exchange...when you are armed, try to refrain from saying anything that can be construed as escalation of the incident.
Glad you made it home safe. GO PENS.

SWCA #1834

 

[Wingmaster]

You did really good.

If it makes you feel better, I think that guy will probably keep acting like that until some big ol' boy gets out of his car and shows him what a good old fashoned *** whoopin' is all about.

Karma.

Wingmaster

 

[arjay]

Odds are,a guy that out of control probably won't live very long.

 

[Donn]

Ya done good. Pride bruises easily, but heals quickly too. I'm always amazed by these guys who want to play Billy Bad-A*s. These days, anyone can have a firearm and might not have your self-control. Kinda hard to impress you girlfriend or your buddies when you're bleeding out in Mickey D's parking lot.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Another example of how quick and random things can happen. And is why I don't subscribe to the practice of only carrying sometimes...

 

[shouldazagged]

Here's a second vote for avoiding firing back verbally with obscenities. I'm glad it worked the way it did and you went home safe without having to draw your gun, but it could have escalated badly. Somebody that full of rage could have decided that since you answered in kind it was a matter of stupid macho pride for him to come through your window. And maybe get shot.

Still, all's well that ends well.

 

[georgepittenger]

Just had a road rage incident around here , two 20s females exchanged words at the entrance to a gated apt. complex . One girl pulled out a gun and shot the other . Dead . The dead girl was by all accts a sweet thing , going to college , working part time . The shooter has a record of violence .
Watch yourself .


Regards
George

 

[speedyquad]

Hey Speedyquad,
I Haven't seen a post from you in awhile. I thought about looking you up while I was in Pittsburgh for the Pirates and Steelers in September, but I didn't have a lot of time.
Anyway, any confrontation you walk away from is a good thing. Just a word of caution on the verbal exchange...when you are armed, try to refrain from saying anything that can be construed as escalation of the incident.
Glad you made it home safe. GO PENS.

SWCA #1834

i've been around...work has me busy...

 

[427mach1]

Good job on avoiding a more serious confrontation. I recently took a defensive handgun course from a friend who was a 16 year Marine veteran firearm instructor with two tours of Iraq. In his words, "The best gun fight is the one you avoid and never have."

 

[flintsghost]

I admit after about his 3rd of 4th sentence, i let a few expletives go myself. i only rolled my window down an inch or so. even though he asked me nicely(heavy sarcasm on that one), i did not get out of my vehicle and was really wishing i had not left my cell phone at home.
.

When you allow someone to draw you into an expletive contest then your situation as the victim degenerates somewhat with the LEO investigators. It will always turn into a discussion as to whether or not you egged the perp on. You did fine other than that and I would never roll my window down period. As a retired and disabled LEO myself, I wouldn't roll my window down because I don't want to give someone a free shot. If they try to reach in through an open window, then I have to feel like I am being carjacked and take appropriate action.

 

[Old cop]

It's all been said, you did well not allowing the jerk to escalate things further. As to the language used it would be wise, in the future, to avoid profanity or "fighting words." Each community defines fighting words differently, but you're in a better position (IMHO) if you can safely say you did absolutely nothing to engage the person. Especially if things go to guns.

 

[forrestinmathews]

It's a good play to keep the window up. I was involved in a confrontation with an angry young man after his baby mama slammed into my vehicle. He said all kinds of eloquent things including polysyllabic racial epithets which I found comically ironic coming from him. He never crossed the line and got to meet my 1911, but he came close, a window away to be exact. I deescalated the situation by refusing to play into the swearing match and remaining calm. I filed charges against him and he spent the next six months in jail due to my hectic work schedule and a few trial continuances requested on my behalf as I had been subpoenaed to testify against him. I think that was an infinitely more satisfying of an outcome.
Long story short the judge told this guy in open court that if he'd have broken that window I would have been fully justified in killing him and that he was still alive due to the restraint of reasonable people.
Looks like you did just fine...no shooting, a little BS and you likely got home in time to have a hot happy meal being a smile to a little girl's face. Win win.