You’re caught in this situation....

[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.

 

[Rastoff]

The law says that you may use force to stop a felony.

Please quote the law that says this. If you can't, then it doesn't and what you're saying is just conjecture.


People, be careful when you say, "The law says..." because if you're wrong, you're going to jail.

In most states, the law does say that you can use reasonable force to prevent a felony. It very rarely says you can use deadly force. There is a vast difference between reasonable and deadly force. Take some time to know that difference and how it's applied in your state.

Internet bravado and knowledge gained from facebook very likely won't keep you out of prison.

 

[biku324]

In the Dark Ages we had a coal mine strike near Gallup. The miners walked, and only supervisors/managers kept the mine running. The company put them on 12 hour shifts to minimize the threat of violence at the gates.

Things began to escalate. One shift change a line of personally owned vehicles was leaving the mine on the east access road in a convoy. Suddenly, a small subset of strikers (there were 150 or 200 picketing) left the side of the road on foot and swarmed one car as the line stopped for the stop sign at the highway. The strikers, actually not locals but UMWA International types from Kentucky, started breaking out the car windows with chains and 2x2s that had 20d nails sticking through them. They picked the wrong car - the driver, a guy who went to my church, fired one round through the smashed windshield with an Argentine Mauser in 7.65×53 and chambered another. The swarm dropped their objects and backed off.

We did the report and handed it off to the DA, who said 'no charges.' It turned out well for all, and the company fixed the car damage.

 

[bigggbbruce]

It wasn't a protest. But I have had trouble while driving my 18 wheeler.

One night I finished loading some produce in Salinas CA. I had another pick up in the morning out on the coast.

While heading out of town I missed a turn and ended up driving down a dark city street.

I could see a group of 8-10 young men congregating about 100 yards down the road. As I approached 10 miles per hour, they moved to both sides of the road.

When I was within 15-20 yards 3 of them stepped in front of my truck. The others on both sides of me.

My reaction was full throttle and hand on 44 mag. All I saw was the 3 disappear under the nose of the truck. (didn't feel a bump) one jumped up on my passenger step. I pointed the 44 his way. He let go.. Started grabbing gears and got out of there as quick as I could.

 

[Protected One]

It wasn't a protest. But I have had trouble while driving my 18 wheeler.

One night I finished loading some produce in Salinas CA. I had another pick up in the morning out on the coast.

While heading out of town I missed a turn and ended up driving down a dark city street.

I could see a group of 8-10 young men congregating about 100 yards down the road. As I approached 10 miles per hour, they moved to both sides of the road.

When I was within 15-20 yards 3 of them stepped in front of my truck. The others on both sides of me.

My reaction was full throttle and hand on 44 mag. All I saw was the 3 disappear under the nose of the truck. (didn't feel a bump) one jumped up on my passenger step. I pointed the 44 his way. He let go.. Started grabbing gears and got out of there as quick as I could.

.....And that's how you do it!!!