Road rage and how to handle it if you are armed !

[rajveer]

Definetly the arms here is licensed one and senerio is typical Indian.

Friends isn't it true a loaded weopen near to our belly givs us , a devine confidence, sense of security not only for us but for our near and dear once also.
So I think it is our duty to have a cool mind.
I am following this priniciple for last 15 years with a loaded weopen near my belly.

I request all learned friends to give their advise, suggestions, do and dont do, also real life experiece about this senario.

Regards.

[timmy]

For me, it is a mixed bag. I always worry that being armed will skew my decisions, making me do something when I would normally (i.e., when I'm unarmed) walk away. I also find that any sense of security is offset by the idea that I would have to go to jail because of some dirt bag.

Having a weapon adds one more level of thinking to the whole equation. I've never experienced the warm sense of security and confidence you mention, however, when I've been on a trip and armed with my family, I do feel a bit like having done my duty as the family's protector.

[subodh22]

i like to keep metal pipe about 2'6" in my car as back up if things get out of hands (this way i don't have to deal with law trouble and their millions of idiotic questions) well why if you ask? i live in Pune and situation here is getting worse day by day people don't follow rules on road and everybody thinks they are "bhai". using gun or even flashing it is not an option in my opinion but if a situation arrives where its do or die then its alright. i think due to all those people coming in Pune from different places from India and abroad scene is getting very intense here "i talking about the trouble mongers and not the honest earner's" so please don't start any debate because locals are also equally responsible if not less.

[Mark]

Personally, my favorite method of dealing with road rage is simply to be polite to everyone. If someone is driving too fast or too aggressively perhaps there is some reason? I am not condoning their anger, but isn't it possible that person is at a tough crossroads in their life at that moment? Perhaps he is angry because his child just died, for instance? Anyway, slowing down even if you were in the right, or giving a nod and a quick smile at the appropriate time, or letting someone in the queue in front of you even if he was driving on the shoulder will do wonders to prevent an incident from happening.

I don't want to act all Ghandi-esque, but killing someone because of a difference of opinion about driving a vehicle is a terrible waste of a life, no matter what someone might think of that persons character.

[goodboy_mentor]

I basically agree with the views of timmy and mark. A weapon is not a solution to common social problems like road rage, drunk driving etc. All options to avoid trouble should be used in the first place. Avoid places and times where/ when trouble is most likely to occur. One should carry a weapon with great responsibility. Use of weapon should only be a last resort when all other options have failed and it is matter of life and death.

Before using your weapon, if you are not inside the security of your home, you should make sure you are not in a situation where you can be caught by the gang members/ friends/ sympathizers of the person/s you attacked in self defense. If you are caught by them, regardless whether your act was justified or not by law, most likely you will be grievously beaten or lynched by them under influence of vengeful anger. So it would be best to ensure that you run away from such scenario. Once you are away from the scene you can take help of a good criminal lawyer/ relatives/ friends and accordingly surrender at police station or court.

Please do not take this to be a legal opinion. It is just my personal opinion. For legal opinion one should sit with an experienced and good criminal lawyer and discuss the matter in detail.

[xl_target]

I want to echo what Mark and Timmy say. if someone wants to pass, let him. If someone cuts you off, let him. Why would anyone risk taking a life over something like "right of way" on a highway?

I'm not a person who goes around looking for confrontations normally and my behavior does not change if I am armed. I find that when going armed, it makes me more careful and more apt to try an avoid any incidents. My firearm is a last resort to be used to save my life and/or the lives of my loved ones.

Carrying a firearm doesn't make me a bigger man or a tougher man. Anyone who gets an attitude because of the weapon that they carry, shouldn't be carrying. They are going to get themselves and the people around them into trouble.

[choombak]

I want to echo what Mark and Timmy say. if someone wants to pass, let him. If someone cuts you off, let him. Why would anyone risk taking a life over something like "right of way" on a highway?

I'm not a person who goes around looking for confrontations normally and my behavior does not change if I am armed. I find that when going armed, it makes me more careful and more apt to try an avoid any incidents. My firearm is a last resort to be used to save my life and/or the lives of my loved ones.

Carrying a firearm doesn't make me a bigger man or a tougher man. Anyone who gets an attitude because of the weapon that they carry, shouldn't be carrying. They are going to get themselves and the people around them into trouble.

This, Sir, is the crux of it. Aptly put.

[hornet]

we all can make mistakes. if u carrying a live weapon while travellin long which we almost do.it is no gaurantee that u cannotbe assaulted ;only praying u dont. anyway if we are carrying a weapon then better be prepared with the moment of usage; it can get u out of trouble or land u in trouble only god knows.as all say keeping yourself in senses is clearly the message.also avoid bieng drunk.99% of the mishappenings are these youngsters armed inside or outside discos or clubs;generally in and around chandigarh this the scenerio.marriage parties are another.carrying of weapons of course concealed should always a big no.although while travelling long should be thought about and that too with family makes a situation awkward .good cltured fellas in pakistan dont travel at night somebody was reffering.a chinese .30 is only for 50k.an ak for 1lac.however save yourself fromgetting angered.

[shooterz]

I agree with most of the other posts here. I have driven for a living for the last 20+ years, and been carrying for as long. There have been dozens of times when people were very rude for no good reason. I honestly never even thought about my gun, or settling a problem with it. I will walk away from verbal abuse. It's only words, and sometimes they get words back from me. Having seen so many stupid things that people do while driving, not much bothers me. And if someone was intent on trying to escalate a situation, I think threatening them with a gun is not smart. If they actually tried to do physical harm to me, then they will see Mr. Glock. Otherwise I'm just any other non assuming guy trying to get from one place to the other, just like you.