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[Ratba]

OP Next time someone follows you home just lay down in your parking lot in the fetal position get your ass whooped / hospitalized then come post it on gaf. You'll get high fives and handjobs. I promise.

Plus you'll be a real chill dude for not avoiding bodily harm.

 

[Hitokage]

Legally though it, if you live anywhere besides Texas it was the right thing today as it then evokes castle laws, not to mention the guy many not realize that it was his home.

Yeah, thought of that and edited my post accordingly.

No but they do conceal and allow you to minimize your profile by having an item to lean against for stability. Not to mention slowing down or deflecting a potential bullet, form what would in likely hood be a small caliber bullet, would not be the worse thing in the world.

Point taken.

 

[Gattsu25]

I feel like there is more to this story than the OP is telling us. It doesn't seem like enough justification for a guy to follow you home.

The guy was driving a pickup truck...why would you doubt the OP when he says that the other driver was being an aggressive asshole?

 

[starchild excalibur]

ok.

exactly my response :lol

 

[Culex]

And what would've happened if the guy was armed with a weapon as well?

You've escalated the situation.

It's not necessarily incorrect to do; but just know that by escalating the situation, you're increasing your chances of catastrophic failure; i.e. you get shot instead.

Moreover, doing so after he's driven into his own drive way? Foolish. Very foolish.

He followed him home and stopped on his property to get out. I doubt he wanted to be friends. If he was armed, there would have been a high probability of him using it.

If I'm being followed to my house by some whacko, AND he gets out of his vehicle on my property, sorry buddy, but you're going to see me brandish my weapon.

 

[Pancakes]

:lol @ the idiot OP and stupid Americans defending him.

Worrying about your own safety and trying to defend yourself is stupid? Shut the fuck up.

 

[natethegreat409]

:lol @ the idiot OP and stupid Americans defending him.

My brother happens to be a cop in a area outside of Birmingham, Alabama. Some of the stories he can tell you will make you realize just how fucked up people are out there.

 

[Souldriver]

:lol @ the idiot OP and stupid Americans defending him.

Yeah that's the way this thread should be going. Not only a fight between pro/anti gun people, but also a fight between insulted Americans and you.







On topic: I have to admit that in this particular case the gun has been the crucial factor to preventing things getting worse. However, this doesn't change my views on gun ownership in the slightest, cause on the level of society, guns do waaay more bad than good. This situation is the exception to the rule, and even then it was still a risky move.

 

[CharlieDigital]

He followed him home and stopped on his property to get out. I doubt he wanted to be friends. If he was armed, there would have been a high probability of him using it.

If I'm being followed to my house by some whacko, AND he gets out of his vehicle on my property, sorry buddy, but you're going to see me brandish my weapon.

Missing from all of this discussion is that the guy now knows where he lives. So stupid. Better to have talked it out or hand to hand like real men.

Pull a gun in this situation? Pussy.

Also: pulling into your own driveway? That's just plain dumb. I mean, what if this guy is a psycho?

 

[Dahellisdat]

Thats a totally legitimate reason to bring out the gun. Taking the safety off could have could have led to a pretty bad accident though. I understand that you wanted to be ready, but taking the safety off with a bullet in the chamber and pointing it at someone is just one twitch away from possibly killing somebody.

 

[Armitage]

Worrying about your own safety and trying to defend yourself is stupid? Shut the fuck up.

Hook

My brother happens to be a cop in a area outside of Birmingham, Alabama. Some of the stories he can tell you will make you realize just how fucked up people are out there.

Line

Yeah that's the way this thread should be going. Not only a fight between pro/anti gun people, but also a fight between insulted Americans and you.

Sinker. Bravo.

 

[Gattsu25]

Missing from all of this discussion is that the guy now knows where he lives. So stupid. Better to have talked it out or hand to hand like real men.

Pull a gun in this situation? Pussy.

Also: pulling into your own driveway? That's just plain dumb. I mean, what if this guy is a psycho?

It's been mentioned more than a few times, actually

The only real bitch move was the pickup driver following the OP to his house

I agree

 

[Shawn]

It sounded like the other driver was ready and willing to initiate a physical altercation with the OP. I think the OP did the right thing. He was prepared to defend himself.

Now I feel like I should have a baseball bat in my car.

 

[Culex]

Missing from all of this discussion is that the guy now knows where he lives. So stupid. Better to have talked it out or hand to hand like real men.

Pull a gun in this situation? Pussy.

Highly unlikely talking it out would work with someone who is intent on following you to wherever you are going, and willing to get out of his vehicle to confront you. Sure, the guy may know where he lives now, maybe not, but he'll know for sure the OP has a weapon.

Nothing pussy about the way the situation unfolded. I'd rather pull out my pistol than get knifed in the gut as the truck driver walks up to me to 'talk'.

 

[Dahellisdat]

It sounded like the other driver was ready and willing to initiate a physical altercation with the OP. I think the OP did the right thing. He was prepared to defend himself.

Now I feel like I should have a baseball bat in my car.

I thought you were a lover not a fighter, Shawn....or do i have that backwards?

 

[Althane]

Doubt he needs it, but that was a good choice, OP.

In fact, this is pretty much one of the best ways to use a gun: To deter the situation without harming anyone, and nobody getting shards of metal slammed into them.

 

[starchild excalibur]

He followed him home and stopped on his property to get out. I doubt he wanted to be friends. If he was armed, there would have been a high probability of him using it.

If I'm being followed to my house by some whacko, AND he gets out of his vehicle on my property, sorry buddy, but you're going to see me brandish my weapon.

The issue at hand is that there are plenty of other, less potentially violent ways, the OP could have handled this. Driving to somewhere public/heavily populated (why would you drive home when someone is following you?) and dealing the situation would have guaranteed that the driver following him wouldn't have tried anything more serious than a punch. And before people start quoting baseless statistics ("Who's to say the guy in the truck wasn't one of the 1% of people who'd shoot the OP in public?!"), realize how much pulling out a gun automatically escalates a scenario, especially if the other dude also has one.

I don't think the OP is a bad guy here, but some of the people in this thread who aren't even willing to acknowledge that he could have handled the situation better seriously have blinders on. Even a self-professed pro-gun poster said what the OP did was illegal. If I cut someone off in traffic, my first thought is they're going to bitch me out or, at worst, try to pick a fight. My first instinct isn't that the dude is some psycho who's willing to kill me over it like some posters in here apparently believe.

I'd hate to see some of you guys with guns. Get pushed by a drunk dude at the bar? A co-worker accidentally sneezes on you? Whip out a gun!

 

[TDG]

The best thing in that situation would really have been for both of them to have a gun. That was a pretty unsafe situation until the first gun was in the mix, but if both of them had a gun it'd have been safer than 99% of our country's playgrounds.

 

[Gallbaro]

I don't think the OP is a bad guy here, but some of the people in this thread who aren't even willing to acknowledge that he could have handled the situation better seriously have blinders on. Even a self-professed pro-gun poster said what the OP did was illegal. If I cut someone off in traffic, my first thought is they're going to bitch me out or, at worst, try to pick a fight. My first instinct isn't that the dude is some psycho who's willing to kill me over it like some posters in here apparently believe.

We do not know what state he lives in, and in fact in most states what he did was legal.

 

[eznark]

Well done OP.

 

[Solaros]

The issue at hand is that there are plenty of other, less potentially violent ways, the OP could have handled this.

Stop right there.

So you agree that this person that has the audacity and rage built up within him to follow you home, get out of his truck, and come toward you in a threatening manner is not going to be violent?

Y or N

I'd hate to see some of you guys with guns. Get pushed by a drunk dude at the bar? A co-worker accidentally sneezes on you? Whip out a gun!

Slippery slopes are slippery

 

[starchild excalibur]

Stop right there.

So you agree that this person that has the audacity and rage built up within him to follow you home, get out of his truck, and come toward you in a threatening manner is not going to be violent?

Y or N

I believe they have the propensity to be violent. Whether they ultimately just want to bitch you out (and there are people who would do this just to bitch you out) or do something worse was yet to be determined.

 

[Ten-Song]

So you agree that this person that has the audacity and rage built up within him to follow you home, get out of his truck, and come toward you in a threatening manner is not going to be violent?

I think he was out to challenge the OP to a hugging match.

 

[Vinzer Deling]

Missing from all of this discussion is that the guy now knows where he lives. So stupid. Better to have talked it out or hand to hand like real men.

Pull a gun in this situation? Pussy.

Also: pulling into your own driveway? That's just plain dumb. I mean, what if this guy is a psycho?

Talk it out about what? The guy is a fucking loon who thinks he has ownership of the roads. All I was doing was minding my own damn business and obey traffic laws and keeping this asshole from getting home 10 seconds later.

I don't give a shit what you think. I'm not trying to uphold your man code. You think this guy would have given two shits about honor and fighting fair if he was the one with the gun? I"m not trying to duel some fool for honor, I'm trying to survive an altercation.

 

[Solaros]

I believe they have the propensity to be violent. Whether they ultimately just want to bitch you out (and there are people who would do this just to bitch you out) or do something worse was yet to be determined.

Ok, so you have a guy that wants to bitch you out, but you don't know that (he could want to beat your ass, kill you, etc). Lets just say that was the least he was going to do. OP pulls out a gun and the guy turns and runs.

Best case scenario with the OP's choices.

Alright then, worst case would be the other guy pulling a gun out and shooting the OP. Luckily the OP has a gun and can defend himself where as you would be six feet under at about 53 degrees.

So, by using what YOU said, why are you against having/using guns again?

 

[TDG]

Ok, so you have a guy that wants to bitch you out, but you don't know that (he could want to beat your ass, kill you, etc). Lets just say that was the least he was going to do. OP pulls out a gun and the guy turns and runs.

Best case scenario with the OP's choices.

Alright then, worst case would be the other guy pulling a gun out and shooting the OP. Luckily the OP has a gun and can defend himself where as you would be six feet under at about 53 degrees.

So, by using what YOU said, why are you against having/using guns again?

Or you could do what any person with an ounce of common sense would do, and drive to the nearest police station.

Or at least not drive into your own driveway, dear god.

 

[zsswimmer]

Missing from all of this discussion is that the guy now knows where he lives. So stupid. Better to have talked it out or hand to hand like real men.

Pull a gun in this situation? Pussy.

Also: pulling into your own driveway? That's just plain dumb. I mean, what if this guy is a psycho?

That's dumbest fucking argument. 'Hand to hand like real men'?

"Hey man, put your dukes up, we'll settle this right here like real men!"

Real men don't follow someone to their driveway over some stupid driving shit. And when does talking to some crazy guy following you ever help? He could pull a knife out and try to kill you.

 

[Solaros]

Or you could do what any person with an ounce of common sense would do, and drive to the nearest police station.

Or at least not drive into your own driveway, dear god.

you missed my

Best case scenario with the OP's choices.

We are just analyzing a situation, not speaking hypothetically.

 

[Escalation]

I wouldn't go to my house if I was being followed. It's good that it was resolved without any violence, doesn't sound like that would have been the case if you weren't armed.

 

[TDG]

We are just analyzing a situation, not speaking hypothetically.

I will say, that if I were in my driveway and being confronted by some lunatic was coming after me and I had a gun in my glove compartment, I wouldn't hesitate to use it.

Not that that'd neccesarily end up being the best thing to do, it could end up making things MUCH worse, but it caused this situation to be diffused, so that's good.

 

[starchild excalibur]

Ok, so you have a guy that wants to bitch you out, but you don't know that (he could want to beat your ass, kill you, etc). Lets just say that was the least he was going to do. OP pulls out a gun and the guy turns and runs.

Best case scenario with the OP's choices.

Alright then, worst case would be the other guy pulling a gun out and shooting the OP. Luckily the OP has a gun and can defend himself where as you would be six feet under at about 53 degrees.

So, by using what YOU said, why are you against having/using guns again?

Oh, I love these hypotheticals. Let's just add some more to that: the dude who followed him is actually a mafioso kingpin and because the OP pulled out a gun, a History of Violence type situation ensues where the dude comes back with 4 goons and a shotgun.

My point is that no one knows at all what would have happened - not you, not me. But you've got to weigh the alternative choices that the OP had that would have just as easily ensured his safety as well as guaranteed that the situation couldn't possibly have escalated. The worst case scenario the OP faces by pulling out a gun is the other dude also pulling out a gun, thus turning what may have been a situation without violence into something greater. Or even if the dude doesn't have a gun, simply knowing where the OP lives is enough to allow him to do harm, especially since he was threatened with a gun.

Why is everything so black and white with the people here congratulating the OP? It must seem really awesome to share a forum with someone who acted like a Clint Eastwood character amirite? I guess I'm just lame for thinking the OP could have handled the situation better. *shrug*

Or you could do what any person with an ounce of common sense would do, and drive to the nearest police station.

Or at least not drive into your own driveway, dear god.

.

you missed my



We are just analyzing a situation, not speaking hypothetically.

No, we are speaking hypothetically because there are other scenarios better or worse than the one you named. Pulling a gun isn't going to send everyone you brandish it to running the other way. And a certain number of those who may initially run away, depending on how petty they are, may ultimately just return to do more harm. An "x" act should yield an "x" response. Sometimes trying to be pre-emptive may only end up causing more harm down the road.

 

[Arozay]

Obviously the best course of action in that situation is to drive to a roundabout and do laps till he's out of petrol.

 

[Sanjuro]

This thread has me thinking for quite a while. While earlier I agreed with someone stating that this was the wrong thing to do, currently I can't bring myself to say he was right or wrong.

1. We have only gotten one side of the story. (Regardless of the fact I personally do take his word for the events that happened)

2. Depending on the state, the legality of what occurred.

3. Possibly inciting of violence and retailiation later.

4. The complete state of both individuals and possible attempt of communication and/or tipping the police before arriving home.

5. Pulling into your actual driveway.


There are just too many factors here to give an honest opinion defending either side. All the things I mentioned are afterthoughts and most would be difficult to come to mind in the heat of the moment. I'll sum my full answer of "You had to be there I guess.". The only thing I sure as fuck would have done is remembered the person's license plate number and call the authorities afterward.

 

[Wired]

My point is that no one knows at all what would have happened - not you, not me. But you've got to weigh the alternative choices that the OP had that would have just as easily ensured his safety as well as guaranteed that the situation couldn't possibly have escalated.

There are no choices that could guarantee the the situation wouldn't escalate. If you can think of one I'd love to hear it.

The worst case scenario the OP faces by pulling out a gun is the other dude also pulling out a gun, thus turning what may have been a situation without violence into something greater. Or even if the dude doesn't have a gun, simply knowing where the OP lives is enough to allow him to do harm, especially since he was threatened with a gun.

Fine, worst case scenario if the OP hadn't pulled the gun is that the other guy would have managed to beat him to death.

Jesus fucking Christ people in this thread are stupid, and I'm not talking about the OP. Some fucking psycho who decides to stalk you home because he perceived he was slighted in some mysterious way isn't fucking rational or stable and I sure as hell wouldn't have waited to see if he wanted to have a calm and friendly debate about the finer points of driving (a hint for all you retards out there: he wouldn't have).

Best case scenario it would have ended with a shouting match, worst case with one of them dead, don't act as if it doesn't happen. But let's take the middle ground and say that it would end up as a good old fistfight, are you guys fucking insane? Are you saying if some random psycho decides that he has the right to beat you up you should just accept your fate and take it like a man? Fuck that noise, the op was right in what he did and if that crazy bastard had taken another step forward he would have been justified shooting him.

 

[starchild excalibur]

Fine, worst case scenario if the OP hadn't pulled the gun is that the other guy would have managed to beat him to death.

Jesus fucking Christ people in this thread are stupid

The only stupid people in this thread are the ones acting like driving home in the first place was the best thing for the OP to do as opposed to driving to one of several other locations where the chance of violence would have been nil.

I'm not anti-gun or pro-gun. I'm pro-people finding ways to prevent the need to even draw a gun. Apparently that makes me stupid now.

There are no choices that could guarantee the the situation wouldn't escalate. If you can think of one I'd love to hear it.

There are choices that would have reduced the threat of either side utilizing violence that have already been named in this thread time and time again. If you're asking me to name some place on Earth where humans are impervious to harm, then you've got me. But unless gun possession now acts as a panacea for all things dangerous, I'm not exactly sure what your point is.

 

[WrathOfOtaibah]

There are some real assholes out there on the road. I would not be surprised if this douche followed the OP home.

 

[Gallbaro]

The only stupid people in this thread are the ones acting like driving home in the first place was the best thing for the OP to do as opposed to driving to one of several other locations where the chance of violence would have been nil.

I'm not anti-gun or pro-gun. I'm pro-people finding ways to prevent the need to even draw a gun. Apparently that makes me stupid now.

I am not saying it would not have been better for him to, say, drive to a police precinct, but what happened happened in that sequence of events and no other.

 

[TransTrender]

I almost shot a stranger over a minor traffic snit.

Should be:

I almost had to shoot someone because they were irate and wanted to beat me to death.

 

[starchild excalibur]

I am not saying it would not have been better for him to, say, drive to a police precinct, but what happened happened in that sequence of events and no other.

Agreed. And I already said that I don't think the OP is a bad guy. If I'd made the mistake of driving home knowing that someone was following me, I don't know what I would have done. I guess I'm just saying that the OP should have made better decisions before deciding on that sequence.

 

[TDG]

There's a lot of narrow-minded people in this thread that's for sure. Issues aren't just black and white, y'know.

 

[notsol337]

I would rather have had it and not needed it than need it and not have it.

In this case, crisis averted, OP wins.

 

[nomster]

Generally don't like the idea of ccw permits, but this is a situation where it works and I dont think the OP was out of line.

The problem is there are plenty of road-ragers who carry and like to flash their piece around. Good thing this guy wasn't.

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

I'm glad you didn't shoot him and this is exactly why giving people concealed gun permits is a bad idea.

What? If a mother fucker followed me home he'd better be wearing a bullet-proof vest. Or, in my case, a baseball bat-proof vest.

 

[jett]

WTF at this thread. Never heard of anyone getting tailgated by some stranger where I live.

 

[VelvetMouth]

If somebody is enraged enough to follow you home and confront you in your own driveway over something as silly as a percieved traffic incident, be prepared to get your ass kicked. Overly aggresive people like that don't stop at a bitch slap, they'll kick your head in.

I would want a gun in that situation and I'm the opposite of a gun nut.

 

[perfectchaos007]

Bad people will get guns regardless of if they are illegal or not, so why keep guns from good people who just use them for protection?

 

[jecclr2003]

If the OP said the guy pulled a knife, it would be a different story. Or a gun. He didn't. Like 99% of these incidents, it was going to be a fist fight. The gun added an element of deadly danger that didn't need to be there. Not everyone is as nice as Vinzer.

He FOLLOWED HIM HOME to his property and threatened violence. It's self defense.

Stop being such a bleeding heart.

 

[WickedAngel]

Worrying about your own safety and trying to defend yourself is stupid? Shut the fuck up.

On this forum? Yes.

You will have any number of anti-gun advocates spouting off about how Vinzer should have let himself be attacked because the guy only wanted to assault him after stalking him down because of a traffic mishap.

The guy escalated the issue and Vinzer effectively deescalated the issue without violence. He didn't unnecessarily shoot the man.

 

[Stinkles]

Stop being such a bleeding heart.

no u

You will have any number of anti-gun advocates spouting off about how Vinzer should have let himself be attacked because the guy only wanted to assault him after stalking him down because of a traffic mishap..

I'm not an "anti-gun advocate" whatever the hell that means. I am pro gun for sport and hunting, and against idiots buying them because they want to feel tough.


Also, I don't think Vinzer's an idiot, I would simply have handled it differently. And I have in the past. Precisely the same situation.

 

[Keylime]

Fuck that noise, the op was right in what he did and if that crazy bastard had taken another step forward he would have been justified shooting him.

You've gone a little too far with this line.

I'm personally torn on whether or not I want to obtain a firearm for protection. I dislike thinking about things that could happen and what I could possibly do to stop it without one. On the other hand having one comes with a lot of responsibility, and I'm sure the temptation to use it could very likely lead to a situation where I reach for it when it was not necessary.

Fickle thing.

In this case having a gun saved the OP from having to deal with violence. Nothing wrong with that in my book. Whether or not what he did was legal was something completely different, but it's safe to say no one who follows you home to your house in a pickup truck is going to call the cops on you for pulling out a weapon. You easily have the "I felt threatened" defense, and it's your word against his. He loses.

...I'm fine with what down in the OP.