What if a criminal thinks they have the drop on you while your in your car. You see them coming with a pistol in hand. I have no way out. What should my next move be.
*Hey Kevin! I told you to keep doing this kind of videos. By the end of the year USCCA will have a few million subscribers. This channel will be like Active Self Protection, but way better because people need to know about the real stuff about law and guns in real life situations.*
driving you can sometimes be presented with uncontrollable situations, ex: where one person cuts u off which makes u cut off someone else by accident and that other dude didn't see the initial cut off from the first guy... now he has a stick up his butt about you.. when All you were trying to do is get out of the way of the initial guy..
Totally agree, this is what gives the other people the ammo (no pun attended) to make their videos/claims saying oo look at this person with a firearm they are all crazy, and the fact this guys hand was all over the place firing also, just glad no one was injured when this happened
@@jimbeam4111 are you going to sign up to try and get them. If you want more blood across this country that's a good way to get it. Leave our guns alone
@@tgs9740 look man, the majority of you clowns will concede and give up the guns. If not, you can sit your behind in a prison cell while your old lady is off with an educated man.
@@jimbeam4111 you sir sound idiotic. Someone breaks into your home your family is asleep and just out of a hunch u wake up to a armed intruders what you gonna do without a gun call the cops and wait for the dude to shoot you or keep a gun and light that ass up when needed
I almost got car jacked one night in Atlanta. Stopped at a red-light at 1am with my window down. A guy starts yelling "hey man hold up" and begins running across the street from my left with one hand in his pocket. As he gets near my truck he starts to tell me to get out while acting like he's got a gun in his pocket. I was carrying a chambered firearm on my hip and probably could've drawn and fired before he could (assuming he wasn't just pretending to have a gun). But the the better choice was to just put my truck in gear and run the red-light. There was no other traffic on the street with me at the time either so worst case, they mail me a ticket from the red-light camera. Luckily for me, there was no camera and I never had to find out what that guy actually had or wanted.
I agree with you a hundred percent I just can't believe somebody would be that irresponsible and stupid to pull a gun out and start shooting wildly like that
@@divisionbyzer0474 I can tell from your comment that you didn't watch any of the Rittenhouse self defense trial, probably you were too busy watching 'The View' or CNN (Communist "News" Network). There are distinct differences between what happened in these two instances. But apparently you are either too lazy or brainwashed (CNN rots your brain) to see that.
Pulling your firearm is an absolute last resort when all other options have been exhausted. The driver (seemingly) saw his firearm as a first option and IMO should be sentenced to the fullest extent that the law will allow.
If this has been a true road rage situation the other car would have pulled up beside and started firing, not just winged by, thrown something and kept going. This guy may have set this off by brake checking the other driver, then he opens fire closed eyes and all, not even seeing what other cars and people are around. Totally wrong on all points. This guy has no business having a water pistol much less a real gun.
"Just because you can, doesn't always mean you should." As a retired LE, I (and other coworkers) always ran "what if scenarios" with trainees and newer cops. This happens (whatever the problem is), what can you do? What are your other options? What might be the best option? In the end, just because you can, doesn't always mean you should. Just saying.
That guy that fired the gun is a criminal, the only reason his charges in 2012 were dropped was because he quit from the fire dep , they need to find videos from real law abiding citizens not entitled criminals with guns...
I agree. Your vehicle is probably a better self defense tool than using your firearm. Crazy people like this are why so many people want to get rid of our second amendment rights. I carry my firearm every day but it is always an absolute last resort. Thanks for the great videos guys.
You exactly right, heck I can't even tell if that driver was making sure there were no children riding with the guy he shot at:) Some people are so foolish.
The other car threw a water bottle at his car... (news story confirmed that) this guy called 911 himself and claimed self defense... this is a gun owner that never bothered seeking training (not even online) on the proper use of his gun.. good thing he is not out anymore
But he had the gun concealed in his car.. don't most states require some kind of at least safety course before you can get a concealed carry permit? Cuz if this guy doesn't have one then that's another law broken depending on the state
I just want to say, these videos USCCA puts out, are really great and are appreciated. Even people who are trained should still watch them. Especially the legal advice. We all should have this knowledge and advice drilled into our heads to not say to ourselves, ehhhh I already know that. That's the attitude that will get you time in prison. So thank you for these videos and this channel. It is much appreciated.
Using a firearm is ALWAYS the last resort. Some people have very little self control or situational awareness. Even with my temper I have e never pulled a gun on anyone because I know there's a possibility that I could unintentionally kill someone and end up in prison. And that is the last place I want to end up. Glad I was taught the importance of gun safety at a young age
I’d say it’s hard to justify this incident. I’m thankful I was not this guy but I would have stopped and let the little things go. If this guy shot an innocent person, it would be something he would have to live with. Have a defensive weapon and walk away when you can. You just can’t lob bullets while driving.
hard to justify something that has no justification. he could have slowed down and avoided the guy, he could have sped up and taken an exit, he could have de-escalated the situation, but instead incited it. like the hot takes at the end, "if someone cuts you off in traffic, dont immediately shoot them".
So. I love that you said "find a tactical solution" and that "tactical" was not find a better place to shoot! I've had this happen to me where I brake checked someone, turned out to be a little gangbanger with a sawed off shotty. He pulled in front of me blocking my entrance to my community. Guess what i did... I drove around him, threat neutralized and I didn't have to go to jail. I no longer brake check people in Tucson Az. So the solution was for ME to change my behavior.
This guy was extremely irresponsible with his firearm. He instigated the road rage by cutting-off the other driver, then brake-checking him after he blew his car horn at him (seen in the entire video). The other driver threw a water bottle at him but even at that moment, this guy should’ve changed lanes and driven off instead endangering other drivers. He was a fire inspector in Miami, FL. Now he’s out on a $50K bond.
Wow. That looks like a guy who is going to jail. I read elsewhere here that what happened was that he had something thrown at his car. That still doesn’t at all seem to remotely come close to justify, “empty a magazine into everything around you.”
@@USCCAOfficial I would love to be a member but my state of WA views this type of insurance as an insurance policy for criminals; it’s completely wrong and unjust.
@@lukek5804 in WA as well and a USCCA instructor.. they're working hard on it.. it's extremely silly how our state views this subscription service. Hopefully soon enough we'll be able to get it.
The other driver threw a plastic water bottle. The way I read it, Doofus was planning to brandish his gun at the other driver to prove that he was the bigger man or something. But then he heard the thump and assumed he was being shot at, because that's where his head was at. Also, it looked to me like Doofus was the major aggressor in the road rage incident. But according to John over at ASP, it was Doofus who pulled over and called 911, and he was totally shocked to learn that HE was in trouble! Fortunately, he didn't manage to shoot anyone, even by accident.
Good video. The shooter did not appear to have been shot at, as he was slow, methodical, and waiting for the other driver to reach him. It looked like an ambush.
I was in a fender bender a while back, a guy had rear ended me. I can’t remember the reason, but I wasn’t armed at the time. We pulled off into a neighborhood, and while my first instincts could have been to cuss the guy out and escalate the situation, I actually went up to him to make sure he wasn’t injured ( in hindsight, I may have been better off staying in the car and waiting for law enforcement before interacting with him in the event he was belligerent, but I was concerned). Everyone was okay, we were both calm about it, and currently in the process of getting it fixed through his insurance. It’s never worth escalating a situation that doesn’t need to be.
I just saw this item on the tube and live in FL. I researched it quickly to find that to date, only the shooter has been (charged), fortunately, no injuries, the shooter (thought) he was hit by a gunshot, and to date, the second party professed to have thrown a water bottle. The shooter cut off the guy in the car which (initiated) the incident. The shooter was a (former) emergency services personnel. The media has called this a shootout, giving the (impression) that both parties were shooting (prejudicial). The media says both cars, were covered in bullet holes, same (insinuation) (prejudicial). These are my highlights. TY
The way I have always thought is shooting from a moving car is nearly always the wrong move. Unless he clearly saw in his mirror a guy holding a gun up behind him I don't even know why he went for the gun. If he did clearly see a gun I think pulling off and or evading quickly is a far better choice. With that choice taken and you are stopped and the person you saw with the gun backs up towards you gives you a much better chance from a stopped and braced position to stop the threat.
Time for E & E driving (escape & evasion) not shooting and wasting Ammo save it for when you can aim and have a better then 10% chance of hitting, Remember spraying is bad Aiming is good. One other thing when you blow holes in your windshield you can have glass shards coming back at the speed your traveling think about your eyes. but maybe more important how effective are your bullets after going through your windshield even if they hit the other car ? I going to ask those guys who do all the gun test to try this one out. Thank you for the Legal ADVICE.
There was a road rage incident here in my home town about 25 years ago. Two women got into it during afternoon rush hour on I-65. Bad news? Not Yet. They both got off at the same exit. The one turning left was stopped at a red light. The one who wanted to turn right was blocked on the off ramp behind her. Single lane exit at that time. Naturally, the one in front was further enraged and charged back to confront the one behind. So, in the heat of the moment, the one behind thought the other one was armed and shot her to death. Forehead shot. Bad move, she wasn’t armed at all. Just enraged. Instant prison time one who was otherwise a pillar of the community. I saw this from my vantage point from a nearby convenience store. Nobody knew I saw it, though, and I kept my mouth shut. I couldn’t see enough to actually know anything. I was too far away. But I heard the shot.
All of this is true! As firearms carriers, we have to think about bystanders, and the damage our actions could cause. If I’m standing in a convenience store, and someone tries to rob the cashier, will shooting at him cause him to shoot at the people standing near/behind me? Will his buddies waiting in the car start firing into the store, and strike bystanders? There are many scenarios that we need to envision PRIOR to being in a shoot/no shoot situation.
1:22 POS shoot up your car,endanger EVERYONE'S life,NOT thinking,PLUS you may NEVER be able to handle or own a firearm,PLUS give the REST of us GOOD people a BAD NAME..........Thank you for this video hope it helps EVERYONE to THINK what NOT to do.......
This wasn't some instant surprise. He had time to move his little pillow, open center console, unlock a safe, and pull the gun out. Plenty of time to think about better defensive actions.
Here’s another issue with this video. It looks like he emptied his magazine, I hope he has extras. Because he may have just started a gun fight and he’s out of ammo.
Had someone try running me off the road one night. Had a friend with me. Guy kept purposely swerving at me and laughing in the mirror. He quit laughing and took off when he saw my 1911 raise up at low ready by my chest.
I seen this on the news the other driver threw a water bottle prompting the idiot to start shooting his defense was when the water bottle made contact with his vehicle he thought he was being shot at.
I'm not near as aggressive of a driver since I started carrying. I don't flip people off anymore, I just wave like, ok, sorry, it was probably my fault.
So. The shooters name is Eric Popper. He was charged with aggravated assault after turning himself in. He bonded out same day. The other driver claimed he only threw a water bottle. However, BOTH vehicles were riddled with bullets. Both fired on each other. So one is lying out the gate. Don't take my word for it, look it up. See the information for yourself.
To your knowledge, was there any result for Popper’s trial. I’m reading he was set to appear in court in April but there doesn’t seem to be any reporting on if he was convicted or not.
The biggest incriminating factor is that it took 30 seconds for him to get pissed and finally have his gun in hand. That's 30 seconds of showing intent of harming someone with the firearm. 30 seconds is not a life/death choice, that's choosing to do harm. As someone who personally carries, I've had plenty of road rage incidents... I get mad, I'll seethe, I'll swear, but one thing I've never done was even think about reaching for my firearm. No matter how wronged I've ever felt on the road, someone's life wasn't even close to worth it.
Man this guy should not touch a gun EVER AGAIN !!! I’m 21 and nor do I believe your weapon should be your first resort !!!! I’m a member and I’m glad I train myself for this wow people are dumb!
I've learned after going though the court system for non traffic offenses where I was in the right its best to avoid the system as a whole. If you can walk away walk away.
I am a truck driver and I get cut off every single day it can be frustrating but that never Justified shooting someone I tried my best to not let it bother me I tried to chop it up to being human we make mistakes I have made boneheads mistakes while driving we need people to be more patient in this world with others
I got pulled over by a sheriff's deputy one time. I IDd myself as a CCP holder. He wanted to secure my firearm. Sure, I hand it over, we do the speeding stop, no ticket. Deputy proceeds to give me an earful about NOT having one in the chamber. I explained that we are going down the highway, I am NOT getting in a shootout rolling down the highway. There's 1 million other things to do before I start grabbing my pistol and slinging lead. He argued with me. I just let it go but why tell a citizen to be "ready any time"?
In any situation if you carry you should automatically assume your freedom is over. No going back no do over and the way prosecutors seem to think your both at fault.
The driver didn’t “brake check” the other vehicle as you claimed. The driver of the other vehicle rammed him from behind. Watch and listen carefully. He was rammed from behind. When this guy looked into his rear view mirror, did he see the other driver pointing a weapon at him? That’s a question that comes to mind. When the other vehicle passed by him, he had his window down and his arm extended out of the window. I couldn’t clearly see, but did the other driver have a gun pointed at him? Another question that could be answered. All that said. What this guy did would not have been my reaction. As this lawyer said, he’s flying by you. Put your brakes on and fall behind him. And let him continue. He can’t really get a good aim at you to not you if you are far behind him. Then if the other guy actively re-engages, all bets are off. This driver endangered himself and others by firing indiscriminately.
You can see from the camera that the driver who shot clearly slowed down rapidly. As he passes the other cars you can see how it goes from him passing people, to other vehicles passing at a high rate of speed. Unless those people driving knew what was about to happen, they had no reason to suddenly accelerate. Odds are the driver did a break check and then sped up thinking he'd be hit, which is why his package slid back instead of forward, which if someone rear ended you're more likely to hit the breaks than the accelerator.
I love the deep inside comment at the end here's a deep insight for you. When he shot out the side window of his car he was not shooting at a fleeing suspect the guy was even with him could have been pointing a pistol at him or whatever. When he shot through the windshield he's shooting at the back of a fleeing suspect. Very difficult to claim somebody was shooting at him as he swung and fired repeatedly pop pop pop pop pop pop as the guys went past him and sped away.
Best way to avoid road rage is to be a courteous and defensive driver, and remember the lesson taught by Mike O'Shey who died maintaining his right of way, his right was clear, his will was strong, but he's just as dead as if he'd been wrong.
If you are in a multi-vehicle incident were you are driving one vehicle, you always have a way out of the conflict without firing a shot. I wouldn't say that there's never gonna be a case where you need to return fire from a vehicle but I'd put the chance of that situation at maybe 10% if I'm being generous. As my mother once told me: "Better to be thought of as an idiot than to open your mouth and prove it." I think the same can be said about use of weapons with a slight change of words.
Looks like he could be charged with premeditated attempted murder. This guy was the aggressor and the car was driving by. He threw a water bottle by the way. That's what the pop was. This is a good example to consider the aftermath if you are in the wrong.
I’m not a lawyer but I see two things that is pretty damning. 1. He was fine: He was singing happily and took his sweet time to pull out that gun. He waited for a good while too with the gun in his hand for his victim to approach. 2. No discipline in his shots. This Is just from as a gun owner. I see tons of videos where stupid kids pull out their pimped out polymer 80 glock, 50 round drum, with a laser or some other stupid attachment and shoot like this guy. Hitting everything but the target. People that shoot like that have no training, have put no thoughts into he moral ground you stand on when you carry a gun. They just want the gun because it makes them feel cool and powerful. That’s what I get from watching this guy shoot.
@@romak4756 lasers are stupid when you see that the shooting is everywhere but the target. Meaning they use a laser to feel cool. They prove are trying to feel cool when they can’t shoot, have a laser, 50 round drum, and pumped out gun
A gun should only be used if your life, or the life of someone else is in _imminent, perilous, mortal danger._ This guy is probably in prison right now, woefully regretting what he did - and he's going to have a long, long time to reflect on this incident! That's why I would never conceal carry in public, even though it's now perfectly legal in TX. Guns in public are more trouble that it's worth. The chances of having to use a gun to save your own life or the life of someone else is very remote - despite the way things are today. And even if you are absolutely, perfectly justified, the system is still going to rake you through the coals - and you will never get that gun back to top it off! Just look at what Kyle Rittenhouse went through!! But that's just my own personal opinion. And if you are going to conceal carry, use a cheap revolver or semi-auto because, like I said, you'll never get that gun back even if you use it justifiably, so don't carry a gun that you value highly! Again, just my humble opinion.
Your vehicle is your castle, the shooting was legitimate in the state of FL. My little brother went through this incident exactly how this guy did.... He caught a ticket for shooting into an occupied vehicle..... And got it dropped
I always love the legal aspect. I also love when at times we bring realistic view of things as well. Naturally speaking. Driving then you hear what sounds like dude is shooting. Natural instinct would be what he did. Suppress fire in a attempt to throw the other person off frim his bullets hitting him. Now like you even said. Us regular citizens know. We are responsible for every bullet. 😭 we all can accept that reality. Fine I'll do the time if it comes to that. Then when all dust settles. We find out. It wasn't a bullet. The other driver threw a water bottle. At those speeds. I can see how he was OH SHIT he shooting at me! But at same time. Now he is responsible for what happens next. Same way when cops assume you had a gun and kill you. Difference is. That cop going home and keeping his job. You aka is we are going to jail. Because we thought dude was ACTUALLY shooting. When I first watch the video. I too was like damn. Dude shooting at the MAN wow. Then was told it was a water bottle. 😭😭😭 I knew right away. He going to jail if he doesn't have a good lawyer. 😭😭😭. It's always easy to say what SHOULD have been done. Like Mike Tyson use to say. EVERY ONE HAS A PLAN UNTIL THEY GET PUNCHED IN THE FACE. This guy had a plan. Until what he thought was a fun went off. Then it was what happen on the video. All and ALL. Great video.
Yea, i was thinking that too, if and i mean the low chances of “if” he hit the driver, the car is going to smash into all that traffic causing injuries to other people in cars or walking pedestrians (if it’s not on highway) Even if he didn’t hit the driver the other car could panic, swerve, and smash into the other cars regardless.
One take away from this and to quote John Correia, (Not deliberately plugging another channel I promise.) "It's always a good idea to have something between a harsh word and a gun." Be it OC, a baton, taser, or defensive driving you should expend all possible outcomes before firing your weapon.
Good vid! As my family likes to point out with regularity, I just happen to have one of those faces that naturally pisses people off, especially out on the highway. A simple 3-4 hour trip can, let's say, net two cars swerving in front of me and three 'birds.' I'm just driving down the road... All that for this--I regularly see road rage, usually towards me but not always. Simply slowing down and letting the EDA (enraged dumb•ss) pass ends up stopping whatever youth hormone got tripped. Slowing down will add approximately 15 seconds to my overall 3-4 hour drive. I don't know the EDA and don't care what stories he tells his homies that afternoon. I'm safe, my family is safe and we arrive alive at the destination and I'm not subject to metro bracelets. That crap on this vid of a guy shooting all over the place through glass (reminds me of cops shooting though windshield...no, no, no...) out on the highway is bullocks. Pure and simple BS.
Did anyone else notice he wasn't even looking down the sights? Not even close.. dude looked like he was having a seizure.. this is why people who want to own guns legally should also TRAIN TO USE THEM EFFECTIVELY
I was thinking that he might have seen the guy behind him brandishing a gun, and pointing it at him. I know that I wouldn’t even consider using a firearm INSIDE A CAR, unless I believed that my life depended on it! Talk about deafening?!?
I fired a 22 revolver out the window of my van decade’s ago. I was shooting at a ground squirrel. Never ever do that again. It is hard to imagine how much louder a gun is inside a vehicle. Even with ear plugs I think it would hurt.
The other person never shot at him. He threw a cup full of liquid or a bottle of water at his window. I'm in Miami and I remember this clearly when it happened.
Good video. But it amazes me people have to be told using your firearm is a action of last resort. Seems like common sense but not everyone thinks clearly in these stressful situations.
I am a felon on probation and I almost got killed the other day and is not even fun. Theres something that need to be done is sad a felon high risk of dying killed because he can’t defend himself when a armed person that is actually carrying conceal with permit threatens you with their weapon is a messed up situation to be in be safe guys!
As of March 2023, the Miami Dade prosecutor dropped all charges against this guy. 😳😳😳 How this wasn't reckless behavior is beyond me. He claims he was shot at, other guy claims he threw a water bottle after this guy brake checked the guy. Tempers got in the way of reasonable decisions. This dude should be in jail.
If I remember correctly, the person in the other car threw a water bottle which is what made that first shot sound. The driver turned himself in after finding that out.
You NEVER draw your weapon over a road rage incident. That shouldn't even be an option. The only reason you should use your firearm, is if your life, or if someone else's life is in danger.
No one said he should have called the police first. If he had at least he would have notified someone that a dangerous situation was in progress and it would be on record before he used his weapon.
Don't ever shoot through your own windshield from inside your car. It's going to deflect your shots and you stand basically no chance of hitting your target, and you're likely to catch a face full of glass shards.
