If travel plans take you outside your home state, be sure to know the laws of transporting firearms in the states you will be visiting. In previous videos, we have discussed the best general rules for traveling through anti-gun states; keep your gun unloaded and locked in a secure gun case in the trunk of your vehicle while passing directly through a hostile state. Even in states that recognize your license or permit to carry, there can be peculiar quirks in the law about carrying that can get law-abiding gun owners in trouble.
Protecting Yourself on the Road
But what if you do have to defend yourself and your family? What do you do when an aggressive driver pulls alongside your vehicle and starts screaming obscenities and insults for no reason? They are looking increasingly like a threat, and you are not without the means to defend yourself. What if they try to run you off the road?
Unfortunately, road rage is a problem that is plaguing the highways of the United States. These incidents can happen in the blink of an eye, and your choice to use force or deadly force can mean the difference between making it safely to your destination or spending time behind bars in an unfamiliar state. Even if your conduct is justified, the investigation alone could last hours and could mean a return trip to that locale for court proceedings.
Display of a Firearm—Not Recommended
Often when people feel threatened on a roadway, their first instinct is to show their firearm to the other driver. Although this may scare off the road rager and prevent further attack, this action is NOT recommended, because of the potential legal consequences. Many states criminalize the act of displaying or brandishing a firearm, which could constitute a serious felony. Even when acting in defense, the other driver is likely to call the police to report a “crazy person with a gun,” and from that point on, it’s your word against theirs.
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Evasive Tactics—Recommended
Rather than staying to fight, oftentimes the best defense is attempting to avoid the altercation altogether. If there is a reasonable safe alternative to pulling your firearm, retreating from a road rager can keep you safe and save you from having to deal with the legal consequences.
In fact, some states require you to retreat before using force or deadly force. Even in states that do not have a duty to retreat from the conflict, the overwhelming response from law enforcement after a road rage incident involving the use of a firearm is, “Why didn’t you just drive away?” Sometimes, there is no safe way to retreat from the situation. But more often, being in a vehicle gives you many options to safely escape. Take a side street, exit the highway, or even drive to the local police station. Because even when you are 100% justified and are forced to display your firearm, law enforcement officers, district attorneys, judges, and juries alike may ask why you didn’t try to get away.
The Last Resort
Your family defense firearm should be your last resort. Just because you are in a vehicle does not mean that you lose the right to defend your family. However, your actions must be reasonable and should only be taken as a last resort. If you are ever involved in such an incident, make sure you contact an attorney before you make any statements to law enforcement.
We hope you never have to experience such a traumatic event, but road rage is a pervasive problem. Know the law in advance to keep your family safe. If you have any further questions about the law of defending yourself in your vehicle, contact U.S. LawShield and ask to speak to your Independent Program Attorney today.
Your Protection Starts Here!
The information provided in this publication is intended to provide general information to individuals and is not legal advice. The information included in this publication may not be quoted or referred to in any other publication without the prior written consent of U.S. LawShield, to be given or withheld at our discretion. The information is not a substitute for, and does not replace the advice or representation of a licensed attorney. We strive to ensure the information included in this publication is accurate and current, however, no claim is made to the accuracy of the information and we are not responsible for any consequences that may result from the use of information in this publication. The use of this publication does not create an attorney-client relationship between U.S. LawShield, any independent program attorney, and any individual.
Are you legally required to admit that you have a firearm in your vehicle?
This is the most relevant question to the topic presented here. Once the LEO runs your tags, they know you are a licensed gun owner, other than asking you if you have it on your person, can they ask about it( the gun ) being in your car. Can they legally search your car? Are you required to answer the question?
I and surely many others would like a clarification to this issue. At least as far as Texas law is concerned.
How about one of those ‘Protected by Smith & Wesson’ stickers on the side windows?
“No Officer, I didn’t point to or show my weapon… the rager just saw my sticker.”
Fly or not fly?
In Texas a Basic Course about handling a firearm must be mandatory to understand the importance of knowing and how to use it.
Helpful article, thank you
Good insight to a possible event. Best to think now before having a problem.
Thank you, very helpful and a good reminder for all of us.
Thank you so much for sending me this information, very helpful and very appreciated.
This is great info. My wife and I always try defusing first. We have never had to go further. As always, there are very few people who do the wrong thing first, but we know it happens. Keep up the great work you’re doing. Thank you.
This is great info. My wife and I always try defusing first. We have never had to go further. As always, there are very few people who do the wrong thing first, but we know it happens. Keep up the great work you’re doing. Thank you.
I’m just glad I’m not alone in my concerns for protection as I travel out of my city and state. How can you protect yourself if your firearm is in the trunk and not loaded?
This really reminded me of the need to evade/escape/avoid first & foremost the need to exercise “the last resort defense” use of a firearm.
Face it, these anti-gun nuts will never agree you had a right to use your firearm for self-defense BEFORE you are dead, maybe not even after that. Dealing with a dead body or bodies means less paper work for all concerned so they prefer you to shed your mortal coil and argue your case in heaven or hell, whichever the case may be so they have less work to do.
If a thief grabs your purse and is running away, are you allowed to shoot them?
What?????? Since when is a stolen item worth a life? Even if it’s your purse, if the act didn’t endanger your life (or the life of someone with you) there’s no reasonable excuse or explanation to shoot someone in the back.