You’re caught in this situation....

[Protected One]

Unfortunately, this scenario could be very likely and any response could be used to indicate premeditation. Therefore, I will exercise my right to remain silent

I HOPE you have "premeditated" on your actions in the event of a situation like this! If it occurs, as long as you can give reasonable explanation for your actions that premeditation won't hurt you. I read a story about just such a case that was REAL....and the law says that running over people is justified because they are all considered a part of the mob - whether they were rocking your car or not.

 

[Protected One]

"Leaving enough room" is great until the panicky Pete behind you pulls up and the guy in front backs up to your bumper.

Were I to be completely blocked in I would put on some on easy listening and shoot people who try to pull me out of the car. No need to overthink it.

Well they better be driving something with power because I have a V8 with 405 hp and 4Matic and I will MOVE them.

Besides, if they're doing that it's because they are maneuvering to escape as well, so they won't have me permanently pinned in.

 

[Turq]

Well I would reach around to the back seat and pull out my.......... BLM sign

(Hopefully I don't grab the MAGA one by accident.)

 

[RGNewell]

Just keep in mind that all late model vehicles have a fuel pump shutoff that activates when airbags deploy. You can't just move vehicles out of your way and expect to make an escape.

for an airbag to be deployed from hitting a moveable object such as another vehicle you need to be traveling at least 15 MPH

 

[fredj338]

The trouble is, if you drive off and run over someone not directly threatening your life, you will likely be considered the aggressor.

This is a no win situation.

I'd sit and wait for a gap I could drive through without hitting anyone.

That is almost hysterically funny. Have you watched any of these mobs engulf a vehicle? There is no gap to drive thru unless you make it.
Drive thru it, not slowly but as fast as you can, get out of danger. Report it to police as what it was, an attack on you inside your vehicle by an over whelming force. You probably injured people but your life was being threatened. The smashed window is good evidense, but I would record it on my phone.
I am fine if they beat up my car, I am insured, but break a window, it is now an attack on your person. The relative safety envelope of the car is now gone, so driving thru it is the most desirable, so you can get away. Stay & you will be dragged from your car & the mob frenzy will take over & you are just likely to have your head kicked in or smashed with the same brick that broke your window. My gun is last resort, always.

 

[fredj338]

In this hypothetical situation, one should stop when one first notices what is going on in front of you. Situational awareness friends! It's more likely it will expand towards you than give room to let you pass. The longer you wait, the more congested with people and vehicles around you. You turn immediately, back up slowly to get room if you must. Don't deliberately hit or run over anybody... avoid them if you can... but your life is in danger and least use of force is to exit the danger zone. If they try to block you, that is a hostile act... run over them if necessary. We are used to being law abiding... drive the wrong way on a divided street if you must. You can correctly say you were trying to avoid having to employ deadly force (your pistol). Under extreme circumstances one might consider shooting a rioter off your hood through the windshield.

Unfortunately blocking your car is not considered a violent act against you. Even beating on the hood or fenders with weapons would be a no, its property crime. Once the drivers compartment is breeched, your person is now under attack, before it was a property crime, which does not allow use of force in most states. Shooting is always last resort.

 

[pawngal]

A protester got in front of the Iowa Governor's vehicle (being driven by an Iowa Highway Patrol officer) protester was hit, knocked down, refused medical treatment, and went back to protest march. Wonder if that will be the end of the incident or not?

 

[biku324]

Back to the OP.

In that scenario, I'd self talk, "Wake up - this is a whacked dream."

 

[Echo40]

You know, I've got to wonder how effective it might be just to shout at the top of your lungs; "I HAVE COVID-19!" then begin coughing profusely, think that would get them to reconsider their actions and clear a path?

Oh who am I kidding? These idiots are already standing shoulder to shoulder out in the open in the midst of a major pandemic and are apparently under the impression that any/all police shootings are a hate crime, ergo they're most likely your average conspiracy theorists who believe that COVID-19 isn't real, 9/11 was an inside job, and that the Government is secretly being run by a race of subterranean Reptiles plotting all manner of contrived schemes to enslave humanity through subliminal messaging in advertisements.

 

[fredj338]

You know, I've got to wonder how effective it might be just to shout at the top of your lungs; "I HAVE COVID-19!" then begin coughing profusely, think that would get them to reconsider their actions and clear a path?

Oh who am I kidding? These idiots are already standing shoulder to shoulder out in the open in the midst of a major pandemic and are apparently under the impression that any/all police shootings are a hate crime, ergo they're most likely your average conspiracy theorists who believe that COVID-19 isn't real, 9/11 was an inside job, and that the Government is secretly being run by a race of subterranean Reptiles plotting all manner of contrived schemes to enslave humanity through subliminal messaging in advertisements.

Covid is real just not the killer it is portrayed in the media. Wash your hands, dont lick people you dont know, you are pretty much gtg.

 

[delcrossv]

In the "what if" scenario the OP draws, unless your vehicle's equipped with something belt fed, you're SOL. Once your Glock 19 runs dry, the crowd will get you.

Actually no. Pop a couple and the probability the crowd starts running is very high. They're punks, not trained military.

Best idea? Stay away from anywhere trouble might bubble up. Failing that, find alternate routes to/from where you need to be.

That, of course, is the best option.

 

[Echo40]

Covid is real just not the killer it is portrayed in the media. Wash your hands, dont lick people you dont know, you are pretty much gtg.

It may not be a killer, but it's most certainly an extremely unpleasant virus which you'd obviously want to avoid catching, and therefore you'd imagine that anyone who is aware of the potential threat of it might want to keep their distance.from someone who is hacking/coughing in their midst.

 

[CA Escapee]

Within the past couple of weeks I read a story on (probably) ktla.com, the channel 5 Fox station in Los Angeles. A citizen in Southern California was stuck in a "protest" when some peaceful protester smashed one of the windows of his pickup. The driver was fearing for his life and the life of his wife/girlfriend when he exited stage left in said pickup, and at the least bounced a few protesters to the ground.

Once the driver was in the clear they called police. At the time of the article the police had investigated the incident and cleared the driver of all wrong doing. I'll bet none of the protesters filed a complaint, so there probably wasn't a victim for the police to interview.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Covid is real just not the killer it is portrayed in the media. Wash your hands, dont lick people you dont know, you are pretty much gtg.

Easy for you to say.

 

[Rastoff]

Covid is real just not the killer it is portrayed in the media.

COVID-19 might not be, but the mobs are.

Be safe out there.

 

[Protected One]

Just found an article from 2018 in which the author addressed the O.P.'s scenario. In short he said ... "Simply put, a disparity of force means that the attackers - even without weapons - had such an overwhelming amount of force available to them that the lawful defender was at risk of serious bodily injury"...and ..."When the protestors put the driver in fear for his life, the passive protestors are equally and individually lawful targets of the driver's defensive actions."

So if I need to leave a bloody streak to get out of there, that's what is going to happen....and I'd be legally justified.

 

[Rastoff]

This is a good discussion.

Still, the best fight is no fight. Use your situational awareness to keep clear of these situations.

 

[Flattop5]

Blocking an occupied car and preventing it from moving forward or backward is kidnapping (a felony). The law says that you may use force to stop a felony. It gets worse when the kidnapping exposes a citizen to possible bodily harm from a mob. Enough said. Do what you must to escape. If necessary, floor the gas pedal and admit nothing. Let God sort out the carnage.


--------------------

 

[Flygas]

It's always best to be aware of your surroundings, know the situation locally, and avoid being there in the first place. We all like to think we're tough and talk a big game, but the best thing is avoidance. Yes, I carry concealed. But do I want to use it, no. And even if you're in the right, whether you used your gun or you drove over someone, being in the right probably won't keep you out of jail or prevent you from being sued. The best advice is to be aware and avoid.

 

[Rodan]

Blocking an occupied car and preventing it from moving forward or backward is kidnapping (a felony). The law says that you may use force to stop a felony. It gets worse when the kidnapping exposes a citizen to possible bodily harm from a mob. Enough said. Do what you must to escape. If necessary, floor the gas pedal and admit nothing. Let God sort out the carnage.

Be very careful... in AZ, blocking a vehicle can be Kidnapping (AZ ARS13-1304), but requires the offender having the intent to "Place the victim or third person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury". There are other sections, but they don't really apply to the discussion at hand.

You can certainly argue that an angry mob pounding on the vehicle meets that standard, but people with signs standing in the way probably don't... which drops things to a lesser offense of Unlawful Imprisonment, which doesn't meet the AZ statute for justification for the use of deadly force.

AZ law (ARS 13-411) allows the use of deadly force to prevent certain specified felonies, but not all felonies.

Know the laws in your state/locale, and be sure you understand how they apply to the use of deadly force in your circumstances.