Wife and I have a debate

[4x4kayak2112]

as both of us long time CHL holders, we thankfully havent ever had a even pull our gun. But we moved to a bad part of town that has some gangs, and there have been a few people killed or shot becuase they were at the wrong part or drove the wrong car.....anyway, the details dont matter

We were driving thru a bad negiborhood yerstday where some thungs had some guns out thrying to scare us....Lets say one say they start shooting at ME and My family while we are in our car, can we shoot back and not be charged as a crimial? My familys life would be danger. My car cant drive faster than that bullet.

i say shoot back, but i know theres only 2 of us and many of them, but she says drive off and risk getting hit, maybe even my son might get hit, and then call the police.

is she right or am i right???

We dont care really who is right, we just want to know what we can do.

our "CHL teacher" didnt go thru stuff like that, manily the laws

 

[Clockwork]

If you're being shot at then your life is in immediate danger... It's the same for the Law of Armed Conflict in the military and the military is tied up in an unbelievable amount of red tape. We shoot back.

Most 'thugs' are just posturing idiots, though. Even still. The best bet is to just get out of there, I think. You don't have the luxury of armor plating and a .50 turret.

 

[Moss_Berg5150]

I would say no because you are in a car and able to move away from the danger. It would be more time consuming to hang out of the window and return fire then to just get the hell out of dodge and pray everyone is safe. IMO, the safety of your family is more important than teaching those assholes a lesson. Now if you are cornered in your vehicle for whatever reason, needed to turn around or something like that, then the story may be a little a different. Whomever is driving needs to focus on driving and the other may need to return fire for supression only, remember just like those gangbangers you need to account for every bullet too, and if you drive off shooting all willy nilly, then you are no better than them and risk injuring the innocent as well.

 

[txinvestigator]

We were driving thru a bad negiborhood yerstday where some thungs had some guns out thrying to scare us....Lets say one say they start shooting at ME and My family while we are in our car, can we shoot back and not be charged as a crimial?

That is a matter of fact for a judge or jury. Texas law does make a justification for the use of deadly force if you reasonably believe it is immediately necessary to prevent the other's use or attempted use of unlawful deadly force against you. A person shooting at you is certainly the use of deadly force, and in the scenario given would be unlawful deadly force against you. (Texas makes no justification for deadly for for your life being in danger, feeling in fear of your life or any other such "feelings")

Lawfully it appears you would be in good shape. Tactically probably not. In your scenario, he is already shooting. You would have to draw, target and fire, all the while he already has a bead on you. You increase your chances of being hit by staying in the kill zone. Floor it and exit the kill zone is your best strategy.

 

[Moss_Berg5150]

Floor it and exit the kill zone is your best strategy.

Yup!

 

[majormadmax]

Get off the dime and don't stop moving...it is the #5 rule of a firefight...

5. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend.

There's very few reasons to 'stand and fight,' mainly: 1) no exit available or 2) family, friends or other loved ones (comrades in arms fall in this category) need your help! Otherwise, get the hell out of Dodge!

Here's the complete list for those who may need a refresher...

20 Rules for a Firefight!

1. Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns. Bring their friends who have guns.

2. Anything worth shooting once is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Life is expensive.

3. Only hits count. Close doesn’t count (except with a grenade). The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.

4. If your shooting stance is good, you’re probably not moving fast enough nor using cover correctly.

5. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend.

6. If you can choose what to bring to a gun fight, bring a long gun and a friend with a long gun.

7. In ten years, no one will remember the details of weapon, caliber, stance or tactics. They will only remember who lived and who didn’t.

8. If you’re not shooting you should be reloading or running.

9. Use a gun that works EVERY TIME.

10. Someday someone may kill you with your own gun but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty.

11. In combat, there are no rules. Always cheat. Always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.

12. Have a plan.

13. Have a back up plan because your first plan won’t work.

14. Use cover or concealment as much as possible. The visible target should be in front of YOUR gun.

15. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.

16. Don’t drop your guard.

17. Watch their hands. Hands kill. In God we trust – everyone else keep your hands where we can see them.

18. Decide to be AGGRESSIVE enough QUICKLY enough.

19. The faster you finish a fight the less shot you will get.

20. Be polite. Be professional. Have a plan to kill everyone you meet.

Cheers! M2

 

[Texas42]

Cars doors and window will not stop handgun rounds.

Car windows don't stop handgun rounds.

The only thing that might is the engine.

Your basically a sitting target. I'd say get the heck out of dodge.

here is some fun stuff to read
The Box O' Truth - The Buick O' Truth #3 - Pistols and Car Doors

 

[Charlie]

And after all, the thugs......I mean "young men" have just started turning their lives around!

 

[dobarker]

Amen to txinvestigator, pay attention to gut feeling and peripherals, if it smells, get out.

The graveyard is full of hero's. Have you notified police about heightened gang activity? I know it's a broad question, but if anything were to take place, it would be good to give them an idea of what could happen and what has happened.

 

[cougartex]

I agree, drive away.

 

[Leadpot]

IMO...a firefight would not be wise...gun or no gun..1st and foremost your family in the car is at risk. I would just lock the doors ,look straight ahead and not even look their way. Most gangs are just looking for an excuse to
do whatever it is that most of us here fear and that is facing a situation like that. Just a stare back at them could trigger a gun or gun's going off in your direction. Look for another street but don't go down that one, especially now that you know trouble is there. Why risk it . You alone is one thing ..but to have the family go thru that with you is another. Just my 2 cents.

 

[ROGER4314]

As usual, you guys hit the nail right on the head. Hit the long pedal and burn rubber. Remember though, if you come BACK to the scene a bit later to open fire, you will be in trouble.

Flash

 

[4x4kayak2112]

yea most of the time im driving, but i guess yall do have a point, just floor it and dont be a sitting duck...

after some shootings a few weeks ago there, the police is thick, but so is the gangs......My boss lives in that area, or atleast has to drive thru that area and sometimes we take him home after work.

hes planning on moving...

i guess in the real deal inscent will take over.

 

[TexasRedneck]

Ah'm gonna float along with TXI here (gawd, ah hate ta do that...)<G> - get AWAY. You've got multiple hostiles from multiple positions - too easy for one of 'em to get into your blind spot and get lucky. Most of these idiots can't hit squat anyways - and a moving target is gonna make it that much harder for 'em. I WILL say, however, that if one of 'em steps out in front of my vehicle (or even in my path of escape), I AM gonna play "bug on the windshield" with 'em, and defy any jury to convict me for taking defensive action to remove an armed assailant. Having said that, it's gonna be dependent on the situation - it's just that a broadside or rear shot is gonna be a LOT easier for an assailant to make, so I'm gonna be inclined to remove the threat if possible.

 

[Wolfwood]

hehe bug on the windsheild. id liek to be a fly ont he wall for that. (couldnt resist)

yeah id also say book it fast.
have the family hit the deck and burn off.

 

[SC-Texas]

Drive away. shoot maybe as you leave.

 

[TexasRedneck]

hehe bug on the windsheild. id liek to be a fly ont he wall for that. (couldnt resist)

THAT could be arranged.....<evil grin>

View attachment 3174

 

[texas_teacher]

I would say drive away. Think about what that enclosed blast from the sound of you firing inside your cab will do to your son's ears God forbid he happens to be in the car at the time. Lay the pedal to the floor.

 

[1rightguy]

Your family is involved. Let them have the neghborhood and move to another. Can't afford it? What price to you put on your family?

 

[TexasRedneck]

I can understand the $$$ end of it - our first house wasn't the best neighborhood, but it didn't take long for word to get out that I wasn't one to try to play games with, so we got along.<evil grin> But sometimes it's just all you can afford, and you just have to deal with it as best you can.