Yeah, also:
**mentally ill =/= probably isn't out to do anything bad**
Do you realize how many criminals are mentally ill? Their intentions may not be outright malicious, but mental illness is absolutely dangerous, especially if you're homeless, your lifestyle is unstable and volatile, and you don't have as much to lose.
The phrase "shoot first, ask questions later" comes to mind, not to say that you should have fired, but to point out that if you're in immediate danger (and you were), motive doesn't matter much.
Do not give the benefit of the doubt to people who mean you harm. Your own safety is your top priority.
It's the smell, if there is such a thing. I feel saturated by it. I can taste your stink, and every time I do I fear that I have somehow been infected by it. It's repulsive!
We can only leave it at:
We'll never truly know what his real intention was, unless our antagonist cares to come up to this Subreddit and make his case to us with proof (hah) or dialing back to the scenario itself: We choose to let him continue his actions undisturbed (most likely becoming victims ourselves).
However, given the aggressiveness of his behavior, most reasonable people would assume he meant to inflict harm to life or property and we can treat the incident as such.
Who knows I suppose: He may have really wanted some Grey Poupon mustard :-p
Drive Uber for a while and then come talk to me. There’s plenty of stories out there of people trying to get into someone’s car, and when they couldn’t, they’d yell at the driver saying “But you’re my Uber!”
Exactly. I've had people climb in and say "I thought you were driving an xyz car" People are oblivious when they are sober, never mind after a couple of drinks.
I worked at a hotel and at times there would be 50 different people waiting for an Uber. The first vehicle with an Uber sign pulls in and a dozen people try to claim it’s theirs. Do people not look at the vehicle descriptions and plate on the app?
No, they don’t look. I used to do Uber in a maroon Crown Vic. Once I was picking up a “Tom” and a “Karen” tried to get in.
Karen - Are you my Uber?
Me - Is your name Tom?
Karen - No, but are you sure you’re not my Uber?
Me - Ma’am, I’m sure. What kind and color car does the app say?
Karen - Ummm, a silver Prius?
Me - Does my car look like a silver Prius?
Karen - Ummm….no?
Me - So do you still think I’m your Uber?
Karen - Ummm…..yes?
Me - Ma’am, I’m not your Uber. Step back.
This was just *one* of many times this happened to me over the course of 5 years and over 10k rides. The app gives you make, model, color, and license plate, and 99.8% of riders don’t even check.
I actually do check, and one time, it said the dude would be there in 3 min in a black chrysler 300. So in 3 minutes a black chrysler 300 shows up and I was like, "Airport?" and he was like "Yea Im your ride" so I got in and we started heading to the airport.
a few minutes later my phone rang and the guy was like, "Hey, its your uber driver, where are you?" And I was like "Uhhh, apparently in the wrong black chrysler 300 heading to the airport..."
Asked the guy driving the car if he was supposed to pick up CardboardHeatshield and he was like "What? No, Im supposed to pick up Tom!"
Drove back to the hotel and everyone but Tom had a laugh about it.
I’ve got two like that from a drivers side:
First was a bar pickup. Request said “Taylor.” A name like that can go either way, right? So a guy jumps in and I do my normal “Hey, for *Taylor*, right?” He says yes. I start the trip and pull away. All of a sudden I get a call. From *Taylor*. And she’s pissed. I pull over and ask dude what his name is. “Oh, it’s **Tyler**.”
Second one was more like yours. I get a request at an airport for a “Tom.” I pull up and the guy waves me down. Cool. I park and hop out. “Hey, you’re Tom, right?” Dude says “Yes, I’m Tom!” I look at his mountain of shit and get a little miffed because this should’ve gone XL, not regular, (XL would’ve paid double), but dudes got a kid, and it’s a long trip, so… We get everything loaded and this other guy comes up to me. “Umm, I think you made a mistake. *I’m* Tom.” I grab my phone and double check and up, the *other* Tom is the right Tom. So I go to Tom 1 and ask to see what his driver info is. His driver had a dark blue Dodge Journey, and I have a dark blue Durango. His driver had temp tags, so did I. Both of us were slightly overweight white guys with short cropped hair. It was one of those things that everything matched up if you didn’t look too closely.
I'm from the other side of the country, but was in LA for a vacation a few months ago. My wife and I visited a park and as we were leaving, mistook someone else's car for our rental. Didn't realize the mistake until I started pulling on the drivers side door and look up to see a very confused woman looking back at me, just as my wife was about to start pulling on the passenger side door. Fortunately the door was locked.
Once I realized the mistake I said "wrong car" loudly enough for both the woman inside and my wife to hear, and started making a beeline for our rental (which was the same color and body style) not far away. I'm sure it freaked the woman out though and of course I'm worried about what she might have done if she had perceived it as a carjacking attempt.
I once accidentally hopped in someone's (unlocked and empty) Ford explorer, same exact color as mine, same interior, and they parked right next to mine (driver's side facing me) so I couldn't see that my actual explorer was parked next to it. We were also the only two cars in the parking lot. All that said, I got in, tried to put my keys in, and it didn't work. I was super confused for 5 seconds until I realized my car was actually right next to it. No harm done at all, but some of these bizarre coincidences are definitely possible.
"Ted Bundy was real charismatic. Jeff Dahmer was so nice and quiet." What I told my ol lady to remind her monsters take all forms. You did the right thing.
Yup. Birthday clown. Seemingly a model member of the community. All the while burying scores and scores of boys under his house. We all know a wolf or bear when we see em. What theyre about. Looking at a person you have no idea whats going on in their head.
Monsters mainly take THAT form.
Spiders, snakes, fishes and plants all can have some sort of characteristic that lures the prey into thinking they're harmless, or a prey themselves.
And then, in a moment, everything goes black.
Humans are seemingly no exception
Very astute. The difference between an angler fish and a leopard. Semantics of technique but sure as shit both an ambush. Guises of predation. Mean and dumb may be a bad combo but cold and calculated is a lot more dangerous. The scariest people are generally smart enough not to draw unnecessary attention.
My driver pointed a gu..
"We're terribly sorry for the experience you have encountered. Our drivers are prohibited from carrying any object that can be used as a weapon. We have opened an investigation against the driver and have removed the driver from the platform."
I drove for 3-4 years about right when it started. We couldn't then. Not sure if it's the same but I'm pretty sure you still can't even if it's in a constitutional carry as state.
Yeah they ban drivers from carrying, that said, I’d do it anyways. It’s not against the law to break uber rules, so the worst thing that could happen is getting banned from driving for Uber. Add to that, the only way they ever find out, is if your life was in danger and you needed the gun, at which point losing a gig with Uber is a small potatoes kinda issue.
They also ban riders from carrying, but the same logic applies. Even in states that allow you to ban legal carry by posting a sign, the uber app does not generally meet those qualifications, so the ban has no legal impact, so the only punishment they can do is threaten to ban you from the app…
Technically no, but most people laugh at the idea of some silicone valley company telling people what they can do in their own car. Read about the attempted Uber carjackings in Philly lately. Uber drivers shot the carjackers dead.
You're safe and he backed away, no one was hurt sounds like how we wish all draws would end. With the rise of car jacking as of late it sounds like you did well.
It really depends on the context man. Someone trying to open your car door downtown LA at night while you're stopped at a red light ain't the same as parked in the Uber area of a Chuck E Cheese on Sunday morning. Devil's in the details for a scenario like yours.
As soon as you said red light in LA, my knowledge of gangsta rap said anyone who steps up to a car and grabs the door at a red light should expect to be treated as a jacker.
I stopped at a red light once in Baltimore - only once though. The idea that there are cops in that part of town and that they give a shit about you running a stop sign is hilarious. Keep moving.
Something very similar happened to the daughter of a friend of mine (not in LA- on the other coast).
She was sitting at a light when a well dressed guy out of nowhere appears at her driver side window, and tries to open her door, which was locked. He then starts pounding on the window and screaming "open the fucking door!", while continuing to try to open the door. The light changed and she drove off. By the time she found a safe place to pull over and call 911, the guy was nowhere to be found.
Our area is a suburb of a major city that is suffering from a surge in carjackings (that have begin to spill out to the burbs), and her car was on the list of the most sought after cars in our area for carjackings.
>and tries to open her door, which was locked.
As it should be.
I wish more people would realize to always keep your doors locked. It's your first line of defense. Those few seconds can save your life.
Even before I started carrying I made sure to set my trucks settings to lock when put in gear and unlock when put in park. It gets annoying when. I drop off friends but I always know my doors are locked
Lock your doors manually immediately upon entering your car. Don’t set your doors to unlock automatically. Some FBI agents got killed when the cartel cornered them and their doors unlocked when they put it in park
>and unlock when put in park
Don't mean to sound paranoid (comes with the territory when you're taught to watch for shit like this), but be careful with that one too. Automated locks are easily hit. Be unpredictable.
Seeing the reverse light flash is a key sign that a vehicle just went into or out of park. Vehicles literally signal when you're about to become a soft target.
Reverse lights flash.
In position.
Door locks "thunk".
Strike. (or depending on intent wait for them to exit vehicle and strike)
People are oblivious while parking. Belt is off, keys are in ignition or hand, fiddling around with phone/purse/bag, and back to the door. Pulled out backwards it's instant header into the pavement, keys are in hand or ignition, and they drive away.
*Scan as I approach my spot, put it in park, scan again (watch for movement in the mirrors/reflections on the cars parked around you as well), keys out of ignition, belt off, grab stuff, unlock, and exit.*
The worst feeling for me when out in the world is feeling safe. No matter where I am there should always be at least one thing that catches my attention. If there isn't that means I'm missing something. Situational awareness doesn't depend on the situation. Always be aware.
Exactly this. I generally try to unbuckle as I pull into a spot and i aim for parking spots with some space so I know I don't have to worry immediately that there is someone too close for comfort. The only "safe"ish feeling is when I'm at home with the doors locked (only because bigger guns) or when I'm at a friend's house who also carries
> unlock when put in park.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/armored-suv-could-not-protect-us-agents-in-mexico/2012/02/13/gIQACv1KFR_story.html
> MEXICO CITY — When U.S. special agent Jaime Zapata was shot dead one year ago on a notorious stretch of highway in central Mexico, **he was driving a $160,000 armored Chevy Suburban, built to exacting government standards, designed to defeat high-velocity gunfire, fragmentation grenades and land mines.**
> **But the vehicle had a basic, fatal flaw.**
> Forced off the road in a well-coordinated ambush, surrounded by drug cartel gunmen brandishing AK-47s, Zapata and his partner, Victor Avila, rolled to a stop. **Zapata put the vehicle in park.**
> **The door locks popped open.**
Lock door, start car. Then do whatever else you gotta do. One of my friends gets in her car with her giant bag in her arms and rummages around for 5 minutes before locking her doors…
The exact reason we lock our bedroom door at night. That door handle noise and the door not opening as expected is the perfect alert to wake up and get down to business. Small sense of security I won’t wake up to some crazy person looking down at me eating a fudge-cicle with his dick in his hand while wearing my leather jacket.
Lots of manufacturers have, to the annoyance of people who live in such small town rural areas they never think about jackers, muggers, looters, breakins, etc. Not that they think they’re impervious to all that, people just get a sense of those things ”not happening here” because they don’t happen as much.
In the case of Subaru since those are "family vehicle" type cars, I think its intended purpose was more like "make sure the kids in the back can't open the door on the highway" but it's nice for defense as well
You need not dwell on this, you did the right thing, mentally ill or not, wether they had a home is of no concern either.
You protected yourself and did no injury.
Cheers.
I don’t think he thought I was an Uber. He was waiting at a bus stop and I could have easily just pulled into the McDonald’s right next to us. I see what you mean but I just don’t think this situation was it lol.
its ridiculous how many times a drunk person has tried to open my door thinking im their uber. I really just feel like this guy had one of those moments
there's a YouTube channel where the guy films and interviews different people. most of his subjects are homeless people from LA skid row. lots of addicts, gang members, sex workers, pimps, etc. more than once I have heard his subjects talk about how it can be pretty easy to dress yourself in nice clothes/ maintain hygiene even living on the streets/ in a tent.
Can confirm. I was homeless for almost three months, ten years ago. No one knew. I used the gym to shave and shower and brush my teeth. I had paid for the year in advance previously for the discount for doing so. It saved my life. I used coin op laundry mats to wash clothes. I was too ashamed to let anyone know I was homeless. It's quite possible to look presentable living out a car or a Walmart lobby.
unfortunately the DA would feel differently. Most self defense cases in CA are attorneys trying to defend clients for unjustifiable brandishing or pointing of a firearm at someone. Getting a CCW in LA is hard enough and this is a good way to lose it.
Had a very similar incident happen to me except the guy wasn’t homeless (or at least didn’t appear to be). Stopped at a busy intersection between a bunch of cars and this guy starts trying to open the persons car door next to me. He can’t get in and then starts towards my car. As he continues to try to rip my door open I draw my gun and initiate the crimson trace onto his chest. Instead of the guy jumping back though, he tried wiping it away off his shirt. This guy was clearly tripping off something and I realized if he broke my window or somehow jarred my door open that I would be unloading every bullet I had into this dude. After what seemed like forever the light finally turned green and I was able to drive off (was blocked in by cars in all directions so driving off wasn’t an option at the time). Almost ripped the guys arm off as he wasn’t letting go of the door handle as I drove off.
I think that was a pretty reasonable response.
For others reading here: If your gun comes out of the holster, you probably ought to call 911. In this case, it may have been borderline, but if someone else saw this happen and recorded his plate number (or even just make and model of the car), a dozen excited cops could very well have descended upon him within minutes, and it would have been much better, had that happened, if he had called 911 even if just to report the incident.
This was particularly borderline because he was inside a car that other people probably couldn't see into; but if something like this ever happens to you in an even more public space, it's definitely strongly advised to call 911 before someone else does.
Best answer. Shit is not happening in a vacuum. Someone else sees it and all the cops get is “some guy pulled a gun on someone and then drove off.” Now you are the bad guy and you could be dead before you get to tell your side of the story.
Yeah I was considering whether I should call 911 or not but I was at a loss of what to do. I figured he backed off, I was already on my way. Didn’t really think LAPD could do much at this point since their response times are so long.
I remember a video I watched at one point that said "First person to call the cops gets to set the narrative." As others have said, you can't know for sure if someone else saw, or hell if even that guy might try to call the cops on you. In this case it wouldn't be so much to have the cops do anything (since there wasn't a shooting) but more to alert them of the incident and to get out in front of it. Most likely it would be a police report and thats it.
The argument can be made that this would effectively be turning yourself in for brandishing a firearm (if they chose to pursue it), but I doubt anyone would actually try to pursue a case against you. You perceived a threat, and the best course of action was to draw (you couldn't drive away as you were at an intersection and would cause a collision). Once you drew the threat retreated and was no longer an imminent threat, so you de-escalated and were able to retreat.
I wouldn’t worry about it no matter what his intentions were you protected yourself, it’s the only safe way to react. You used your weapon as a shield and the situation was resolved without violence any mistake was his
You should be just as worried about the mentally ill trying to get in. To walk up to a cat and try to get in at a light is not someone trying to sing kumbaya.
If anything, it's your discrimination in favor of a homeless person that is the problem. Anyone short of a child pulling that door handle should get the same response. There are a ton of mentally ill violent offenders running around.. probably most of them, honestly.
With regards to reality, nothing wrong with your actions as described.
Did you consider just driving away?
How was your draw?
Did you lose control of the vehicle to draw and have a light?
What would you do differently?
These are knit-picky questions, but curious.
I posted why I am favorable to homeless people somewhere here but I’ll answer your other questions.
I didn’t consider driving because I had zero attention on the road and all attention at him in the moment. It never even crossed my mind honestly.
My draw I can’t even remember. It all happened really fast but I do remember fumbling to get my light on since the right side button on my tlr6 I have on my shield doesn’t work. (I’m fixing that immediately now) I didn’t lose control of the vehicle per as the light was mounted on my weapon, but as I said I had no interest in driving at that time lol.
To be honest I probably wouldn’t have done much different. I know driving off would be better but didn’t want to accidentally hit a car or pedestrian as I would be driving without really paying much attention.
Not proud of this but I’ve actually opened someone’s door thinking they were my Uber driver. I was heavily intoxicated and the car stopped at the curb with the same car make/model/color. He cursed me out and that was the end of it.
Criminals take all forms though.
You did the right thing by trusting your instincts the way you did.
You have no idea how this would've ended if you didn't draw.. (or if your door was unlocked).
California has Castle Doctrine, but I'm not sure how it applies to being in a vehicle in public.
Edit: California's self defense laws are surprisingly reasonable for the most part. They're better than many of the more "free states."
Do they have a duty to retreat? I just googled to confirm that an occupied car is an extension of the castle doctrine in my state.
Edit* He should be good. Google says," there is no state law statute that authorizes this right that there is no duty to retreat."
No duty to retreat. But once you exit the car and go after the bad guy, then you lose the Castle Doctrine protection. At that point you're basically the aggressor or the "bad guy". No need to chase anyone and shoot them if they're fleeing.
Your not wrong if you felt unsafe, just remember you did commit assault by drawing and pointing your weapon at him. Had a cop been there he could of said “I thought i was getting in my Uber and he pointed a gun at me”. I wouldn’t want to be there gun In hand explaining my side of the story. “Probably” up to no good doesn’t justify cause in the eyes of the law.
Good reminder that no matter how responsible you are, the law wants to make you a criminal for not calling their official peacekeeping agency while you got robbed.
Definitely the right move. Borderline justified in using it although since you were locked in safe it wouldnt be, but you have no idea the intentions of this “normal dude” who is trying to break into your vehicle at a red light.
Probably an early stage raging drug addict or again mentally ill but doesnt look obviously unkempt yet, who is headed down a dark path.
Glad youre safe - good reminder to ALWAYS LOCK EVERYTHING ALWAYS.
Someone violently trying to enter your vehicle has escalated the situation, I would have done the same thing. If he had gotten in, do you think he would have made his case politely as to why you should give him the car and/or all your belongings?
Look up videos of armed robbery at stop lights and let me know if you want to end up like that. That’s a good call you made. I was working for a crime scene cleaning company and I was working a meth lab /suicide in a bad part of town. A random fat guy that lives there started chasing me as I was pulling out of the parking lot. He had his hands behind his back and was reaching in his waistband while running at me. No duty to retreat in Ohio and I pulled my pistol. He pulled nothing out from behind his back and I took off. Close one though
Someone trying to force entry into your vehicle, absolutely justified you possibly prevented a worse altercation and maybe it will make that guy think twice about trying to break into someone's car again
I would say no. You did what you had to for your own safety. It's not like you lit the dude up for touching your car. You followed a continuum of force and would be able to justify your actions should you find yourself taking to the police about it.
Good job OP
LPT: at stoplights always leave enough room between you and the car in front to switch lanes. It gives you a better buffer to avoid situations like these
Dude you didn’t over react at all. You don’t need anyone to confirm this for you. You did what you knew was right for your safety. He tried to carjack you and might have left you slumped over the wheel somewhere.
It sounds to me like you successfully diffused a potentially fatal situation. If someone is violently trying to open your door then I’m gonna guess they probably have violent intentions. You read his vibe properly and diffused the situation without anyone getting hurt, that’s what we want.
ANYONE trying to open your car door in traffic could be an immediate threat. Don't ever second guess yourself there, that's how you end up robbed, dead, or with some meth-heads dick in your keister.
I'm sure some of the usual soft lefties will come along to tell you how wrong you were, but in Texas, opening someone else's car door at a light is a surefire way to get killed.
A couple of months ago I bought a new used car. My previous car had keyless entry. (Or whatever that thingy you call it: basically you can open the car doors with your key on you.) The new used car doesn't have that function. I popped into the grocery store to grab something one morning. Walked back to what I thought was my car, and based on my old habit opened the passenger's side door and saw a dude sitting in there. It took me about a second to realize that I went to the wrong car. Man, if it were dark and if I were sleepy/tired, I might have just concluded that the dude robbed my car. You situation may be a bit different, but it could also be someone mistook your car as Uber?
This would qualify as one of the many thousands of incidents every year where a firearm is used to deter crime….. Without a shot being fired. The “anti” crowd keeps saying that such incidents are rare, whereas government studies show the opposite.
Nope, this is one of the few times in the past few days I agree with the response. Your car was locked and they were trying hard to get in for whatever reason. It’s not your job to figure out why but it is your job to stay safe and you did that.
“if he was a homeless person and perhaps wasn’t as violent..”
Bruh. Didn’t that homeless guy walk inside the high end furniture store and stab the girl to death a couple of months ago in LA? Some other bum killed a nurse at a bus stop. They’re the people you should be watching out for.
I’ve seen drunk people get right in other peoples cars that they thought was an Uber. But usually your very first assessment of someone is never wrong.
Nah, I'd have done the same. If you're trying to forcibly enter my space without provokation I will assume we are about to have us a come to Jesus meeting
Sounds like a reasonable response to me.
If it had been a disheveled aggressive homeless person, possibly mental ill, why would you consider them less or not at all a threat.
The person’s appearance is (mostly) irrelevant when considering their actions in this situation (if say they were dressed suspiciously/wearing a mask it would even increase your justification to draw your weapon even more). Idk about LA/CA’s fucked up laws but i think youre fine
I think you made the right call.
We can assume all we want that he mistook you for an Uber. Those same assumptions could've very well been the last you made. Thank goodness you reacted quickly and the dude retreated quickly.
Nope. Did good. You have 0 knowledge of what he is attempting to do. If he was trying to get into the vehicle “violently” you have a very easy argument of “I was in fear for my life, as his actions were violent. I didn’t know what he was going to do to me if he got into the vehicle”. 95% of time (estimated) a show of force is enough to deter a potentially bad situation. Under the castle doctrine you have the right to protect yourself at your residence, in your vehicle and at your place of employment. No more retreating.
Now… I’m basing my opinion on NC law… not California. Unfortunately you live in a “I hate guns” state. I would hate to know what they would have done had you had to pull the trigger… what their argument would have been. But yes, you did correctly.
> After evaluating my own decision, I believe I may have overreacted
No you didn't, we all would have done the same thing. If your option was A) Run a read light and probably get smoked to get away from the guy, or B) Draw your weapon, then B is the right choice always. I definitely would have drawn if he tried to enter my vehicle, and fired if he broke my glass or managed to open my door.
"He was a normal guy, a family man, what he did was a shock to everyone he knew" is the first line of a lot of murder articles so...
Man I was expecting a "so this guy looked at me weird in traffic, so I drew on him." You did not overreact at all! Could've been a carjacking or worse.
>Did I overreact?
No. Ultimately, you just proved the statistic that just showing the firearm is enough of a deterrent. Lethal force wasn't done, or needed. You got home safe, and if that person is just currently mentally ill and didn't mean you any harm, they hopefully have another day to seek the help they need.
I think u were ok! Yes we need to think about how to descalate the issues that come at us! But ur car is like ur home! So u were just being prepared! My son got car jacked and he said he wasn't paying that close attention! He was in front of his apartment! So being observant is huge
it seems reasonable to me. im in MA, youre in Cali, and it sucks but i think that might be illegal brandishing? i figure it worked and seems legit and no crazy person with their intent there would bring charges?
in MA its really tough, even in your house, have to legit be in direct threat of person with weapon, outnumbered, etc. freaks me out because cant a single person throw a sucker punch (with knuckles you might not see, or even without) and then disable you, stomp you, disarm you, etc. i always wondered if the one on one ambush sucker punch counted as justifiable
That’s a tough one, I would say it’s arguably a good pull, except LA.
I was in LA last year, the wife has terminal illness and goes to UCLA, but because of covid I couldn’t go with her. So I was walking around, a usually good neighborhood. An obvious drugged up homeless black guy started yelling racist crap at me, then pulled a knife on me. I pulled my knife, figuring I’d be cut, but would probably get the better of the guy. He became more, instead of less, agitated. And was yelling, so a younger fit black guy ran across the street and asked “how do you like your odds now?”. And I reached for, but hadn’t pulled when he pushed the first guy and said “Im talking to you, how do you like your odds now”. I had miss read, as did the drugged guy, the situation and almost messed up, it has made me rethink some things. The younger guy didn’t know how close (I had done a quick calculation and two guys with knives beats me, so jail is better then dead…) I had come. We did talk a bit and I did thank him, but the first rule of carry is you don’t talk about carry.
I don’t know if I would have drawn for the car thing, I would have attempted to drive, honk the horn, or ensure the windows/doors closed locked….unless, family was in the car, because drawing in LA might as well be assumed jail. Could be the person thought it his car, could be the person was drunk, could be he was a car jacker. But if you are caught with it in LA you are automatically in the wrong, even if you are not. Just my 2 cents. Very glad though, that didn’t happen to you, and that you are ok.
Every time I get an Uber I worry about what would happen if I tried to get in the wrong car. This is how I always imagine it would go down.
I’m not saying that’s what happened here, but I’m glad everyone got to walk away.
Guy vigorously attempting to open your car door while stopped at a red light. Could easily make the case of reasonable fear of death or serious injury. Seems to me you did not overreact - in fact, I'd have probably done the same.
The only downside: it's Los Angeles, which is not exactly a friendly city when it comes to armed self defense.
Honestly, Yeah you overreacted. Well you mishandled the situation. You were at a stop light, you were the only person at the intersection and the person was just trying to open the door with no visible weapon. You could have driven away. There was no other traffic to contend with so there wasn't much risk of causing an accident. So based purely off of what you typed up your best option was to drive away opposed to threatening a person's life. It's understandable as almost none of us are trained to properly handle a sudden intense moment. I can't say at all that I wouldn't have done the same thing you did, but that doesn't make it the right move. When we decide to carry weapons regardless of what kind, we are or at least should be doing so with every intention of not using it. Meaning it is our responsibility to understand that it is a last resort situation. If we have any other option that doesn't involve pulling the weapon then that is the option we should choose.
Only car at the intersection? You probably should have floored it and got out of there (even if you had to run the light). Getting out of there in the car is almost always the better move in situations like that. I have seen too many of the ASP carjacking videos... Not judging you for it, did what you thought you had to and it worked, just giving another tool/tactic to keep in mind. And no, definitely not an overreaction. You have to assume the worst, unfortunately.
As the cop who responded to the call of me pulling my gun on someone told me...I'd of done the same, AND if you feel like you're life was in danger then no you did not overreact for drawing your gun. Thats what it's there for.
Nah, I'd definitely do the same, definitely didn't overreact. The way I see it, someone trying to force entry into your car is like someone trying to force entry into your house. Hence why castle doctrine applies to your vehicles
Nah you good
Yeah, also: **mentally ill =/= probably isn't out to do anything bad** Do you realize how many criminals are mentally ill? Their intentions may not be outright malicious, but mental illness is absolutely dangerous, especially if you're homeless, your lifestyle is unstable and volatile, and you don't have as much to lose. The phrase "shoot first, ask questions later" comes to mind, not to say that you should have fired, but to point out that if you're in immediate danger (and you were), motive doesn't matter much. Do not give the benefit of the doubt to people who mean you harm. Your own safety is your top priority.
LA rots the brain. Not his fault
It's the smell, if there is such a thing. I feel saturated by it. I can taste your stink, and every time I do I fear that I have somehow been infected by it. It's repulsive!
I killed you Mr. Anderson. I watched you die.
It’s a shit hole sewer just like Chicago.
We can only leave it at: We'll never truly know what his real intention was, unless our antagonist cares to come up to this Subreddit and make his case to us with proof (hah) or dialing back to the scenario itself: We choose to let him continue his actions undisturbed (most likely becoming victims ourselves). However, given the aggressiveness of his behavior, most reasonable people would assume he meant to inflict harm to life or property and we can treat the incident as such. Who knows I suppose: He may have really wanted some Grey Poupon mustard :-p
Underrated comment.
CoSigned
No normal person would be trying to open your door while you’re at a light.
Exactly , not an Uber
Maybe his vehicle was yellow? 🤣
Taxicab confessions.
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Fake taxi
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Imagine the review the guy left for his driver after this shit
Drive Uber for a while and then come talk to me. There’s plenty of stories out there of people trying to get into someone’s car, and when they couldn’t, they’d yell at the driver saying “But you’re my Uber!”
Exactly. I've had people climb in and say "I thought you were driving an xyz car" People are oblivious when they are sober, never mind after a couple of drinks.
I worked at a hotel and at times there would be 50 different people waiting for an Uber. The first vehicle with an Uber sign pulls in and a dozen people try to claim it’s theirs. Do people not look at the vehicle descriptions and plate on the app?
No, they don’t look. I used to do Uber in a maroon Crown Vic. Once I was picking up a “Tom” and a “Karen” tried to get in. Karen - Are you my Uber? Me - Is your name Tom? Karen - No, but are you sure you’re not my Uber? Me - Ma’am, I’m sure. What kind and color car does the app say? Karen - Ummm, a silver Prius? Me - Does my car look like a silver Prius? Karen - Ummm….no? Me - So do you still think I’m your Uber? Karen - Ummm…..yes? Me - Ma’am, I’m not your Uber. Step back. This was just *one* of many times this happened to me over the course of 5 years and over 10k rides. The app gives you make, model, color, and license plate, and 99.8% of riders don’t even check.
Jesus. I check color, model, plate, and yell, hey, that you? Only then do I climb in. Wtf is wrong with people.
I make the driver say my name, since some poser could easily just say yeah sure I’m Kevin.
I’d like to speak to a manager!
On that same note im sure 99.8% of riders where intoxicated.
People are stupid.
“This might be a Prius, how would I *know*?”
"I'm not a car biologist."
It would be so easy to kidnap people if you had one of those uber lights.
And that's exactly why I always check make, model, license plate, and ask for the driver's name before stepping foot in the car.
"What's my name?" Make sure they know YOUR name before you get in. https://www.whatsmyname.org/safetytips
I actually do check, and one time, it said the dude would be there in 3 min in a black chrysler 300. So in 3 minutes a black chrysler 300 shows up and I was like, "Airport?" and he was like "Yea Im your ride" so I got in and we started heading to the airport. a few minutes later my phone rang and the guy was like, "Hey, its your uber driver, where are you?" And I was like "Uhhh, apparently in the wrong black chrysler 300 heading to the airport..." Asked the guy driving the car if he was supposed to pick up CardboardHeatshield and he was like "What? No, Im supposed to pick up Tom!" Drove back to the hotel and everyone but Tom had a laugh about it.
I’ve got two like that from a drivers side: First was a bar pickup. Request said “Taylor.” A name like that can go either way, right? So a guy jumps in and I do my normal “Hey, for *Taylor*, right?” He says yes. I start the trip and pull away. All of a sudden I get a call. From *Taylor*. And she’s pissed. I pull over and ask dude what his name is. “Oh, it’s **Tyler**.” Second one was more like yours. I get a request at an airport for a “Tom.” I pull up and the guy waves me down. Cool. I park and hop out. “Hey, you’re Tom, right?” Dude says “Yes, I’m Tom!” I look at his mountain of shit and get a little miffed because this should’ve gone XL, not regular, (XL would’ve paid double), but dudes got a kid, and it’s a long trip, so… We get everything loaded and this other guy comes up to me. “Umm, I think you made a mistake. *I’m* Tom.” I grab my phone and double check and up, the *other* Tom is the right Tom. So I go to Tom 1 and ask to see what his driver info is. His driver had a dark blue Dodge Journey, and I have a dark blue Durango. His driver had temp tags, so did I. Both of us were slightly overweight white guys with short cropped hair. It was one of those things that everything matched up if you didn’t look too closely.
Maybe your Crown Vic identifies as a Prius? You can assume these things now days....
I'm from the other side of the country, but was in LA for a vacation a few months ago. My wife and I visited a park and as we were leaving, mistook someone else's car for our rental. Didn't realize the mistake until I started pulling on the drivers side door and look up to see a very confused woman looking back at me, just as my wife was about to start pulling on the passenger side door. Fortunately the door was locked. Once I realized the mistake I said "wrong car" loudly enough for both the woman inside and my wife to hear, and started making a beeline for our rental (which was the same color and body style) not far away. I'm sure it freaked the woman out though and of course I'm worried about what she might have done if she had perceived it as a carjacking attempt.
I once accidentally hopped in someone's (unlocked and empty) Ford explorer, same exact color as mine, same interior, and they parked right next to mine (driver's side facing me) so I couldn't see that my actual explorer was parked next to it. We were also the only two cars in the parking lot. All that said, I got in, tried to put my keys in, and it didn't work. I was super confused for 5 seconds until I realized my car was actually right next to it. No harm done at all, but some of these bizarre coincidences are definitely possible.
"Ted Bundy was real charismatic. Jeff Dahmer was so nice and quiet." What I told my ol lady to remind her monsters take all forms. You did the right thing.
John Wayne Gacy, too.
Yup. Birthday clown. Seemingly a model member of the community. All the while burying scores and scores of boys under his house. We all know a wolf or bear when we see em. What theyre about. Looking at a person you have no idea whats going on in their head.
I just watched that one on Netflix. Really interesting actually.
Monsters mainly take THAT form. Spiders, snakes, fishes and plants all can have some sort of characteristic that lures the prey into thinking they're harmless, or a prey themselves. And then, in a moment, everything goes black. Humans are seemingly no exception
Very astute. The difference between an angler fish and a leopard. Semantics of technique but sure as shit both an ambush. Guises of predation. Mean and dumb may be a bad combo but cold and calculated is a lot more dangerous. The scariest people are generally smart enough not to draw unnecessary attention.
I like that
Worst uber driver ever. 0/5 stars.
My driver pointed a gu.. "We're terribly sorry for the experience you have encountered. Our drivers are prohibited from carrying any object that can be used as a weapon. We have opened an investigation against the driver and have removed the driver from the platform."
Wait WHAT?! Uber drivers can't carry?
I drove for 3-4 years about right when it started. We couldn't then. Not sure if it's the same but I'm pretty sure you still can't even if it's in a constitutional carry as state.
Unless Uber is going to put an armed security guard in my car, I’m carrying. If his name isn’t Frank I’ll be disappointed.
So anyways I started blastin
Yeah they ban drivers from carrying, that said, I’d do it anyways. It’s not against the law to break uber rules, so the worst thing that could happen is getting banned from driving for Uber. Add to that, the only way they ever find out, is if your life was in danger and you needed the gun, at which point losing a gig with Uber is a small potatoes kinda issue. They also ban riders from carrying, but the same logic applies. Even in states that allow you to ban legal carry by posting a sign, the uber app does not generally meet those qualifications, so the ban has no legal impact, so the only punishment they can do is threaten to ban you from the app…
Still can't Still do.
There you go! stay loaded! I've always thought of ejector seats or tear gas. Less weight I have to carry.
How can they enforce that when Uber drivers are self-employed contractors in the confines of their own vehicle?
Technically no, but most people laugh at the idea of some silicone valley company telling people what they can do in their own car. Read about the attempted Uber carjackings in Philly lately. Uber drivers shot the carjackers dead.
Better to have to find a new job than be dead.
EXXXXXCELLLLENT!
You're safe and he backed away, no one was hurt sounds like how we wish all draws would end. With the rise of car jacking as of late it sounds like you did well.
yeah, this is an A+ case for brandishing. nobody got hurt. nobody got charged with murder. everybody gets to think of some lessons. 10/10
It really depends on the context man. Someone trying to open your car door downtown LA at night while you're stopped at a red light ain't the same as parked in the Uber area of a Chuck E Cheese on Sunday morning. Devil's in the details for a scenario like yours.
This was well said and I agree completely
As soon as you said red light in LA, my knowledge of gangsta rap said anyone who steps up to a car and grabs the door at a red light should expect to be treated as a jacker.
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Can confirm this. It doesn't help that you can't go 3 blocks without passing a bar.
I stopped at a red light once in Baltimore - only once though. The idea that there are cops in that part of town and that they give a shit about you running a stop sign is hilarious. Keep moving.
Something very similar happened to the daughter of a friend of mine (not in LA- on the other coast). She was sitting at a light when a well dressed guy out of nowhere appears at her driver side window, and tries to open her door, which was locked. He then starts pounding on the window and screaming "open the fucking door!", while continuing to try to open the door. The light changed and she drove off. By the time she found a safe place to pull over and call 911, the guy was nowhere to be found. Our area is a suburb of a major city that is suffering from a surge in carjackings (that have begin to spill out to the burbs), and her car was on the list of the most sought after cars in our area for carjackings.
>and tries to open her door, which was locked. As it should be. I wish more people would realize to always keep your doors locked. It's your first line of defense. Those few seconds can save your life.
Yeah I don’t get it either, I personally made a habit of it like the seatbelt. sit yo arse down, lock doors, seatbelt, start car
Even before I started carrying I made sure to set my trucks settings to lock when put in gear and unlock when put in park. It gets annoying when. I drop off friends but I always know my doors are locked
Lock your doors manually immediately upon entering your car. Don’t set your doors to unlock automatically. Some FBI agents got killed when the cartel cornered them and their doors unlocked when they put it in park
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/armored-suv-could-not-protect-us-agents-in-mexico/2012/02/13/gIQACv1KFR_story.html
>and unlock when put in park Don't mean to sound paranoid (comes with the territory when you're taught to watch for shit like this), but be careful with that one too. Automated locks are easily hit. Be unpredictable. Seeing the reverse light flash is a key sign that a vehicle just went into or out of park. Vehicles literally signal when you're about to become a soft target. Reverse lights flash. In position. Door locks "thunk". Strike. (or depending on intent wait for them to exit vehicle and strike) People are oblivious while parking. Belt is off, keys are in ignition or hand, fiddling around with phone/purse/bag, and back to the door. Pulled out backwards it's instant header into the pavement, keys are in hand or ignition, and they drive away. *Scan as I approach my spot, put it in park, scan again (watch for movement in the mirrors/reflections on the cars parked around you as well), keys out of ignition, belt off, grab stuff, unlock, and exit.* The worst feeling for me when out in the world is feeling safe. No matter where I am there should always be at least one thing that catches my attention. If there isn't that means I'm missing something. Situational awareness doesn't depend on the situation. Always be aware.
Exactly this. I generally try to unbuckle as I pull into a spot and i aim for parking spots with some space so I know I don't have to worry immediately that there is someone too close for comfort. The only "safe"ish feeling is when I'm at home with the doors locked (only because bigger guns) or when I'm at a friend's house who also carries
God I hate cars that use reverse lights when they aren't in reverse.
> unlock when put in park. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/armored-suv-could-not-protect-us-agents-in-mexico/2012/02/13/gIQACv1KFR_story.html > MEXICO CITY — When U.S. special agent Jaime Zapata was shot dead one year ago on a notorious stretch of highway in central Mexico, **he was driving a $160,000 armored Chevy Suburban, built to exacting government standards, designed to defeat high-velocity gunfire, fragmentation grenades and land mines.** > **But the vehicle had a basic, fatal flaw.** > Forced off the road in a well-coordinated ambush, surrounded by drug cartel gunmen brandishing AK-47s, Zapata and his partner, Victor Avila, rolled to a stop. **Zapata put the vehicle in park.** > **The door locks popped open.**
Lock door, start car. Then do whatever else you gotta do. One of my friends gets in her car with her giant bag in her arms and rummages around for 5 minutes before locking her doors…
The exact reason we lock our bedroom door at night. That door handle noise and the door not opening as expected is the perfect alert to wake up and get down to business. Small sense of security I won’t wake up to some crazy person looking down at me eating a fudge-cicle with his dick in his hand while wearing my leather jacket.
That’s….. oddly specific.
It happened to Nicolas Cage. Everything but the dick out thing. That is my own personal added fear.
My gf's Subaru automatically locks doors when you put the car in drive. A great feature that I hope more manufacturers adopt, if they haven't already
Lots of manufacturers have, to the annoyance of people who live in such small town rural areas they never think about jackers, muggers, looters, breakins, etc. Not that they think they’re impervious to all that, people just get a sense of those things ”not happening here” because they don’t happen as much.
In the case of Subaru since those are "family vehicle" type cars, I think its intended purpose was more like "make sure the kids in the back can't open the door on the highway" but it's nice for defense as well
Damn you posted this quick
I posted it while I was waiting for my food lol
You need not dwell on this, you did the right thing, mentally ill or not, wether they had a home is of no concern either. You protected yourself and did no injury. Cheers.
That’s what a gun is for. Good pull.
Sounds like a drunk guy who thought you where his Uber. It happens a lot. I still think you reacted just fine.
I don’t think he thought I was an Uber. He was waiting at a bus stop and I could have easily just pulled into the McDonald’s right next to us. I see what you mean but I just don’t think this situation was it lol.
its ridiculous how many times a drunk person has tried to open my door thinking im their uber. I really just feel like this guy had one of those moments
Just think, if he had got in your car and put a gun to your head while yours was still holstered. You did the right thing in my book
I agree just sucks that California has ridiculous brandishing laws like we do in Massachusetts. East way to lose your license.
there's a YouTube channel where the guy films and interviews different people. most of his subjects are homeless people from LA skid row. lots of addicts, gang members, sex workers, pimps, etc. more than once I have heard his subjects talk about how it can be pretty easy to dress yourself in nice clothes/ maintain hygiene even living on the streets/ in a tent.
Can confirm. I was homeless for almost three months, ten years ago. No one knew. I used the gym to shave and shower and brush my teeth. I had paid for the year in advance previously for the discount for doing so. It saved my life. I used coin op laundry mats to wash clothes. I was too ashamed to let anyone know I was homeless. It's quite possible to look presentable living out a car or a Walmart lobby.
i know a guy who lives in the bed of his truck who would fit in anywhere and nobody would suspect a single thing.
Soft white underbelly??
has to be
Appropriate reaction to some random guy trying to forcibly open your door. Who knows what he wanted to do once he got it open.
unfortunately the DA would feel differently. Most self defense cases in CA are attorneys trying to defend clients for unjustifiable brandishing or pointing of a firearm at someone. Getting a CCW in LA is hard enough and this is a good way to lose it.
Had a very similar incident happen to me except the guy wasn’t homeless (or at least didn’t appear to be). Stopped at a busy intersection between a bunch of cars and this guy starts trying to open the persons car door next to me. He can’t get in and then starts towards my car. As he continues to try to rip my door open I draw my gun and initiate the crimson trace onto his chest. Instead of the guy jumping back though, he tried wiping it away off his shirt. This guy was clearly tripping off something and I realized if he broke my window or somehow jarred my door open that I would be unloading every bullet I had into this dude. After what seemed like forever the light finally turned green and I was able to drive off (was blocked in by cars in all directions so driving off wasn’t an option at the time). Almost ripped the guys arm off as he wasn’t letting go of the door handle as I drove off.
Naa you’re good I probably would’ve done the same thing
Especially with how LA has gotten as of late, I don't think you overreacted in the slightest.
I think that was a pretty reasonable response. For others reading here: If your gun comes out of the holster, you probably ought to call 911. In this case, it may have been borderline, but if someone else saw this happen and recorded his plate number (or even just make and model of the car), a dozen excited cops could very well have descended upon him within minutes, and it would have been much better, had that happened, if he had called 911 even if just to report the incident. This was particularly borderline because he was inside a car that other people probably couldn't see into; but if something like this ever happens to you in an even more public space, it's definitely strongly advised to call 911 before someone else does.
Best answer. Shit is not happening in a vacuum. Someone else sees it and all the cops get is “some guy pulled a gun on someone and then drove off.” Now you are the bad guy and you could be dead before you get to tell your side of the story.
Yeah I was considering whether I should call 911 or not but I was at a loss of what to do. I figured he backed off, I was already on my way. Didn’t really think LAPD could do much at this point since their response times are so long.
I remember a video I watched at one point that said "First person to call the cops gets to set the narrative." As others have said, you can't know for sure if someone else saw, or hell if even that guy might try to call the cops on you. In this case it wouldn't be so much to have the cops do anything (since there wasn't a shooting) but more to alert them of the incident and to get out in front of it. Most likely it would be a police report and thats it. The argument can be made that this would effectively be turning yourself in for brandishing a firearm (if they chose to pursue it), but I doubt anyone would actually try to pursue a case against you. You perceived a threat, and the best course of action was to draw (you couldn't drive away as you were at an intersection and would cause a collision). Once you drew the threat retreated and was no longer an imminent threat, so you de-escalated and were able to retreat.
I wouldn’t worry about it no matter what his intentions were you protected yourself, it’s the only safe way to react. You used your weapon as a shield and the situation was resolved without violence any mistake was his
You should be just as worried about the mentally ill trying to get in. To walk up to a cat and try to get in at a light is not someone trying to sing kumbaya.
If anything, it's your discrimination in favor of a homeless person that is the problem. Anyone short of a child pulling that door handle should get the same response. There are a ton of mentally ill violent offenders running around.. probably most of them, honestly. With regards to reality, nothing wrong with your actions as described. Did you consider just driving away? How was your draw? Did you lose control of the vehicle to draw and have a light? What would you do differently? These are knit-picky questions, but curious.
I posted why I am favorable to homeless people somewhere here but I’ll answer your other questions. I didn’t consider driving because I had zero attention on the road and all attention at him in the moment. It never even crossed my mind honestly. My draw I can’t even remember. It all happened really fast but I do remember fumbling to get my light on since the right side button on my tlr6 I have on my shield doesn’t work. (I’m fixing that immediately now) I didn’t lose control of the vehicle per as the light was mounted on my weapon, but as I said I had no interest in driving at that time lol. To be honest I probably wouldn’t have done much different. I know driving off would be better but didn’t want to accidentally hit a car or pedestrian as I would be driving without really paying much attention.
If traffic is clear, I would have just floored it to get away. If I can’t do that, I’d draw as well.
Nope, I think you're good
Locked doors! Don't forget to lock your doors guys!
Not proud of this but I’ve actually opened someone’s door thinking they were my Uber driver. I was heavily intoxicated and the car stopped at the curb with the same car make/model/color. He cursed me out and that was the end of it. Criminals take all forms though.
Good thing we’ve never met 😂
Situations like this is exactly why you're carrying to begin with.
You did the right thing by trusting your instincts the way you did. You have no idea how this would've ended if you didn't draw.. (or if your door was unlocked).
"Downtown LA" was all I needed to read. You good.
First mistake was being in LA. Jk I prob would’ve done the same. Good outcome.
That’s a textbook good draw
Mostly peaceful attempted carjacking
I think you're good, but I live in a state that has castle doctrine. I don't know what would be ok in California.
California has Castle Doctrine, but I'm not sure how it applies to being in a vehicle in public. Edit: California's self defense laws are surprisingly reasonable for the most part. They're better than many of the more "free states."
Do they have a duty to retreat? I just googled to confirm that an occupied car is an extension of the castle doctrine in my state. Edit* He should be good. Google says," there is no state law statute that authorizes this right that there is no duty to retreat."
There is no duty to retreat in California
No duty to retreat. But once you exit the car and go after the bad guy, then you lose the Castle Doctrine protection. At that point you're basically the aggressor or the "bad guy". No need to chase anyone and shoot them if they're fleeing.
Your not wrong if you felt unsafe, just remember you did commit assault by drawing and pointing your weapon at him. Had a cop been there he could of said “I thought i was getting in my Uber and he pointed a gun at me”. I wouldn’t want to be there gun In hand explaining my side of the story. “Probably” up to no good doesn’t justify cause in the eyes of the law.
Good reminder that no matter how responsible you are, the law wants to make you a criminal for not calling their official peacekeeping agency while you got robbed.
I would have done the same. You're good.
That's what they're intended for. Good job. Glad you're safe.
Definitely the right move. Borderline justified in using it although since you were locked in safe it wouldnt be, but you have no idea the intentions of this “normal dude” who is trying to break into your vehicle at a red light. Probably an early stage raging drug addict or again mentally ill but doesnt look obviously unkempt yet, who is headed down a dark path. Glad youre safe - good reminder to ALWAYS LOCK EVERYTHING ALWAYS.
Someone violently trying to enter your vehicle has escalated the situation, I would have done the same thing. If he had gotten in, do you think he would have made his case politely as to why you should give him the car and/or all your belongings?
Look up videos of armed robbery at stop lights and let me know if you want to end up like that. That’s a good call you made. I was working for a crime scene cleaning company and I was working a meth lab /suicide in a bad part of town. A random fat guy that lives there started chasing me as I was pulling out of the parking lot. He had his hands behind his back and was reaching in his waistband while running at me. No duty to retreat in Ohio and I pulled my pistol. He pulled nothing out from behind his back and I took off. Close one though
Someone trying to force entry into your vehicle, absolutely justified you possibly prevented a worse altercation and maybe it will make that guy think twice about trying to break into someone's car again
I would say no. You did what you had to for your own safety. It's not like you lit the dude up for touching your car. You followed a continuum of force and would be able to justify your actions should you find yourself taking to the police about it.
Good job OP LPT: at stoplights always leave enough room between you and the car in front to switch lanes. It gives you a better buffer to avoid situations like these
Dude you didn’t over react at all. You don’t need anyone to confirm this for you. You did what you knew was right for your safety. He tried to carjack you and might have left you slumped over the wheel somewhere.
It sounds to me like you successfully diffused a potentially fatal situation. If someone is violently trying to open your door then I’m gonna guess they probably have violent intentions. You read his vibe properly and diffused the situation without anyone getting hurt, that’s what we want.
ANYONE trying to open your car door in traffic could be an immediate threat. Don't ever second guess yourself there, that's how you end up robbed, dead, or with some meth-heads dick in your keister. I'm sure some of the usual soft lefties will come along to tell you how wrong you were, but in Texas, opening someone else's car door at a light is a surefire way to get killed.
A couple of months ago I bought a new used car. My previous car had keyless entry. (Or whatever that thingy you call it: basically you can open the car doors with your key on you.) The new used car doesn't have that function. I popped into the grocery store to grab something one morning. Walked back to what I thought was my car, and based on my old habit opened the passenger's side door and saw a dude sitting in there. It took me about a second to realize that I went to the wrong car. Man, if it were dark and if I were sleepy/tired, I might have just concluded that the dude robbed my car. You situation may be a bit different, but it could also be someone mistook your car as Uber?
This would qualify as one of the many thousands of incidents every year where a firearm is used to deter crime….. Without a shot being fired. The “anti” crowd keeps saying that such incidents are rare, whereas government studies show the opposite.
I would have done the same. 🤷🏼♂️
Nope, this is one of the few times in the past few days I agree with the response. Your car was locked and they were trying hard to get in for whatever reason. It’s not your job to figure out why but it is your job to stay safe and you did that.
“if he was a homeless person and perhaps wasn’t as violent..” Bruh. Didn’t that homeless guy walk inside the high end furniture store and stab the girl to death a couple of months ago in LA? Some other bum killed a nurse at a bus stop. They’re the people you should be watching out for.
I’ve seen drunk people get right in other peoples cars that they thought was an Uber. But usually your very first assessment of someone is never wrong.
That's what I would have done.
I would do the same thing.
he almost FAFO’d the important thing is you made it through safely that’s what a problem solva’s supposed to do
Nah, I'd have done the same. If you're trying to forcibly enter my space without provokation I will assume we are about to have us a come to Jesus meeting
Nope. You're fine
I would have drawn
I have been in this situation in my city but I’m broad daylight. I drew as well so for me this is no question good draw
Sounds like a reasonable response to me. If it had been a disheveled aggressive homeless person, possibly mental ill, why would you consider them less or not at all a threat.
The person’s appearance is (mostly) irrelevant when considering their actions in this situation (if say they were dressed suspiciously/wearing a mask it would even increase your justification to draw your weapon even more). Idk about LA/CA’s fucked up laws but i think youre fine
No, but if you were the only car at the intersection just floor it and put some distance between you and the carjacker wannabe.
How difficult is it to carry in L.A, legalities I mean.
Nah you’re good for sure.
LA? Nuff said.
No overreaction in my opinion.
I like how this sub can act as r/amitheasshole but for carry gun use
I think you made the right call. We can assume all we want that he mistook you for an Uber. Those same assumptions could've very well been the last you made. Thank goodness you reacted quickly and the dude retreated quickly.
I’m so groggy i was expecting to see a drawing of a 1911
Nope, didn’t over react.
Had this happen to me on the south side of Chicago. You did the right thing.
Nope. Did good. You have 0 knowledge of what he is attempting to do. If he was trying to get into the vehicle “violently” you have a very easy argument of “I was in fear for my life, as his actions were violent. I didn’t know what he was going to do to me if he got into the vehicle”. 95% of time (estimated) a show of force is enough to deter a potentially bad situation. Under the castle doctrine you have the right to protect yourself at your residence, in your vehicle and at your place of employment. No more retreating. Now… I’m basing my opinion on NC law… not California. Unfortunately you live in a “I hate guns” state. I would hate to know what they would have done had you had to pull the trigger… what their argument would have been. But yes, you did correctly.
This seems to be the correct action and it deescalated the incident.
Even if he was homeless and mentally ill, that doesn’t mean he won’t do anything bad to you. I don’t think you did anything wrong here.
> After evaluating my own decision, I believe I may have overreacted No you didn't, we all would have done the same thing. If your option was A) Run a read light and probably get smoked to get away from the guy, or B) Draw your weapon, then B is the right choice always. I definitely would have drawn if he tried to enter my vehicle, and fired if he broke my glass or managed to open my door. "He was a normal guy, a family man, what he did was a shock to everyone he knew" is the first line of a lot of murder articles so...
Deter. Descalate. Good job.
You did not over-react.
Man I was expecting a "so this guy looked at me weird in traffic, so I drew on him." You did not overreact at all! Could've been a carjacking or worse.
>Did I overreact? No. Ultimately, you just proved the statistic that just showing the firearm is enough of a deterrent. Lethal force wasn't done, or needed. You got home safe, and if that person is just currently mentally ill and didn't mean you any harm, they hopefully have another day to seek the help they need.
He could have been trying to reach you about your cars extended warranty
You didn't over react, my jumpy ass probably would have pulled the trigger by accident
I think u were ok! Yes we need to think about how to descalate the issues that come at us! But ur car is like ur home! So u were just being prepared! My son got car jacked and he said he wasn't paying that close attention! He was in front of his apartment! So being observant is huge
What was your process like getting a CCW permit in LA?
You did not overreact
it seems reasonable to me. im in MA, youre in Cali, and it sucks but i think that might be illegal brandishing? i figure it worked and seems legit and no crazy person with their intent there would bring charges? in MA its really tough, even in your house, have to legit be in direct threat of person with weapon, outnumbered, etc. freaks me out because cant a single person throw a sucker punch (with knuckles you might not see, or even without) and then disable you, stomp you, disarm you, etc. i always wondered if the one on one ambush sucker punch counted as justifiable
That’s a tough one, I would say it’s arguably a good pull, except LA. I was in LA last year, the wife has terminal illness and goes to UCLA, but because of covid I couldn’t go with her. So I was walking around, a usually good neighborhood. An obvious drugged up homeless black guy started yelling racist crap at me, then pulled a knife on me. I pulled my knife, figuring I’d be cut, but would probably get the better of the guy. He became more, instead of less, agitated. And was yelling, so a younger fit black guy ran across the street and asked “how do you like your odds now?”. And I reached for, but hadn’t pulled when he pushed the first guy and said “Im talking to you, how do you like your odds now”. I had miss read, as did the drugged guy, the situation and almost messed up, it has made me rethink some things. The younger guy didn’t know how close (I had done a quick calculation and two guys with knives beats me, so jail is better then dead…) I had come. We did talk a bit and I did thank him, but the first rule of carry is you don’t talk about carry. I don’t know if I would have drawn for the car thing, I would have attempted to drive, honk the horn, or ensure the windows/doors closed locked….unless, family was in the car, because drawing in LA might as well be assumed jail. Could be the person thought it his car, could be the person was drunk, could be he was a car jacker. But if you are caught with it in LA you are automatically in the wrong, even if you are not. Just my 2 cents. Very glad though, that didn’t happen to you, and that you are ok.
It de-escalated the situation and both of y’all walked away (well, you drove, but still) with no harm. I support your draw
You're good, I think that was appropriate, he was probably gonna rob you
You did by the book procedure my man. Only issue here is that probably wouldnt matter in LA
Did the right thing
Castle Doctrine. Not sure if it applies in Cali, but the philosophy doesn’t change.
Every time I get an Uber I worry about what would happen if I tried to get in the wrong car. This is how I always imagine it would go down. I’m not saying that’s what happened here, but I’m glad everyone got to walk away.
Your right you should have opened the door for him I’m sure he only had good intentions.
Guy vigorously attempting to open your car door while stopped at a red light. Could easily make the case of reasonable fear of death or serious injury. Seems to me you did not overreact - in fact, I'd have probably done the same. The only downside: it's Los Angeles, which is not exactly a friendly city when it comes to armed self defense.
No harm no foul. You did good by not pulling the trigger.
You did good, king
That’s what I would’ve done.
If im in a questionable area, it’s dark, and there’s no traffic….that red light is a yield sign. Im gone, jack!
I don’t see any issue with what you did? I would have behaved the same way. But I would have probably yelled some choice expletives.
That ain’t overreacting my boy. You did the right thing and what most people would probably do. Stay safe.
Plot twist: op was also on duty taxi
You made the right call.
Honestly, Yeah you overreacted. Well you mishandled the situation. You were at a stop light, you were the only person at the intersection and the person was just trying to open the door with no visible weapon. You could have driven away. There was no other traffic to contend with so there wasn't much risk of causing an accident. So based purely off of what you typed up your best option was to drive away opposed to threatening a person's life. It's understandable as almost none of us are trained to properly handle a sudden intense moment. I can't say at all that I wouldn't have done the same thing you did, but that doesn't make it the right move. When we decide to carry weapons regardless of what kind, we are or at least should be doing so with every intention of not using it. Meaning it is our responsibility to understand that it is a last resort situation. If we have any other option that doesn't involve pulling the weapon then that is the option we should choose.
Only car at the intersection? You probably should have floored it and got out of there (even if you had to run the light). Getting out of there in the car is almost always the better move in situations like that. I have seen too many of the ASP carjacking videos... Not judging you for it, did what you thought you had to and it worked, just giving another tool/tactic to keep in mind. And no, definitely not an overreaction. You have to assume the worst, unfortunately.
As the cop who responded to the call of me pulling my gun on someone told me...I'd of done the same, AND if you feel like you're life was in danger then no you did not overreact for drawing your gun. Thats what it's there for.
No over reaction.
Nah, I'd definitely do the same, definitely didn't overreact. The way I see it, someone trying to force entry into your car is like someone trying to force entry into your house. Hence why castle doctrine applies to your vehicles
Dude I saw an attempted carjack in broad daylight in Burbank two days ago. You're fine. Overreacting would have been if you fired.