Short version:
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/9312403/
This being my hometown and all, made me think about this one very carefully. So let me set this up as best as possible to eliminate unknown variables. I have a solution that I think is best, but I'd like to hear from others...especially if my idea is not a good way to handle it.
So let's put our place in this guy's shoes and look at what we may see transpire and decide how we would react. I'll try to eliminate as many variables as possible. Here are the facts:
- Convicted felon driving a stolen car collides with innocent single father with children in the car.
- Suspect gets out f the car and shoots the driver and his daughter with a 22.
- Thankfully, everyone lives.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/9312403/
This being my hometown and all, made me think about this one very carefully. So let me set this up as best as possible to eliminate unknown variables. I have a solution that I think is best, but I'd like to hear from others...especially if my idea is not a good way to handle it.
So let's put our place in this guy's shoes and look at what we may see transpire and decide how we would react. I'll try to eliminate as many variables as possible. Here are the facts:
- You are driving along with a child beside you, a child behind you and no significant other. You have a semi auto on your hip with 10+ rounds of your favorite caliber. You have your spare mag on your weak side.
- Someone just hit you from behind and your electronically nanny-fied car has shut down everything to prevent a fire. You aren't going anywhere.
- A quick glance reveals your kids aren't bleeding or in life threatening shape. A quick glance in the mirror and you see a man walking hastily from the car that hit you, looking angry and he has a firearm in hand, so you are already behind the 8 ball and outdrawn.
- You tell your kids to get in the floor and stay there NOW. It is 6 lane road with a turning lane. If you tell them to run, they may not stop to look for traffic.
- Draw as you open the door, one leg out of the door and firing from a modified kneeling position with your weapon close to the doorjamb so there is as little as possible of a target presented. Pros: You're firing from partial concealment with less target presented. I've practiced firing from positions like this. Cons: It may be hard to get a good, firm stance from here. When presented with a situation this stressful, your two kids will want to run to safety. Safety is perceived by your kids as being close to you and they don't have far to go. This puts him shooting at you while you and your kids are in partial concealment...strong possibility for them to get hit. We don't know for sure he has a 22...we just see a gun and assume it's a 357 and it'll shoot through the car easily and retain deadly force.
- Draw as you are opening and exiting so that you have a shot on him as soon as possible. Continue moving away from the car to draw his fire away from the car and your kids. Pros: He fires towards me, not my kids. I've practiced drawing and firing while moving laterally. Cons: There's a possibility that you both empty your mags and you are both still standing. Now you have put the threat between yourself and your children.
- This is the solution I feel is best. Draw while exiting, trying every way possible to have your target acquired before that 2nd foot hits the ground. Then fire center of mass until empty while advancing on the target. Pros: I run drills when I practice where I advance on the target from 20-15 yards to point blank. I know that while advancing, I can get all 15 rounds very rapidly into a 6" circle or less while practicing. I'd hope I could do the same here. My chances of getting good, solid hits increase as I get closer. Even if he gets me center of mass, my adrenaline may keep me going long enough to put enough rounds in him to stop him before I collapse or bleed out. Hopefully his fire is drawn more towards me, lessening the chance of his rounds entering my car. Cons: His chances of getting good, solid hit increase as I advance.