Before giving you guys the scenario I just want to say I do understand at the end of the day using a firearm is ultimately a personal decision, no textbook or step by step on how to approach as each situation is different and many variables. I also understand the legal ramification may occur after even if i had the right to discharge.
#1 - You are overnight say at a truck stop, Walmart, empty beach parking lot or somewhere in BLM where all locations are pretty empty and not many rigs around, you are woken to noises coming from someone jiggling the side door handle & lock. Then the jiggling move to the passenger door. At this point its obvious that someone is try to break into your van or RV and you can actually see him. However, you can't tell if he is armed or not, nor his true motives are.
At this point, you are armed inside your van and what is your next move??
How can you deescalate the situation? Would you announce you are inside the rig and hope he runs away by either yelling, banging from inside the van or honking horn? or would you try to escape either out the back door and set up in a defensive position outside and call for help or 911? or would you be totally silent and see if he actually breaks in, as he might be just trying to find an unlocked door but once he find its lock, he moves on.
I struggle with this as I don't know if he is there to make a quick theft or desperate enough to rob and kill I just don't know. I am leaning towards banging and yelling from inside of my van and be ready to escape and seek help. if help can't be found, reposition myself in darkness. I feel like if I continue to stay inside the van, I'll be sitting duck if he decides to fire thru the van from outside if we were out in the desert somewhere.
#2 - He actually breaks the lock or window and opens the door and make entry at the same time you just woking and armed yourself
. . . what's next?
Fire. What choice do i have in that split second situation not knowing if he is also armed. Like if someone just kick down my front door and entered my house.
I would like to hear how you would approach the above just to compare, like sharing notes. I hope situations like this never happens but wouldn't hurt to at least talk about it as you just never know.
#1 - You are overnight say at a truck stop, Walmart, empty beach parking lot or somewhere in BLM where all locations are pretty empty and not many rigs around, you are woken to noises coming from someone jiggling the side door handle & lock. Then the jiggling move to the passenger door. At this point its obvious that someone is try to break into your van or RV and you can actually see him. However, you can't tell if he is armed or not, nor his true motives are.
At this point, you are armed inside your van and what is your next move??
How can you deescalate the situation? Would you announce you are inside the rig and hope he runs away by either yelling, banging from inside the van or honking horn? or would you try to escape either out the back door and set up in a defensive position outside and call for help or 911? or would you be totally silent and see if he actually breaks in, as he might be just trying to find an unlocked door but once he find its lock, he moves on.
I struggle with this as I don't know if he is there to make a quick theft or desperate enough to rob and kill I just don't know. I am leaning towards banging and yelling from inside of my van and be ready to escape and seek help. if help can't be found, reposition myself in darkness. I feel like if I continue to stay inside the van, I'll be sitting duck if he decides to fire thru the van from outside if we were out in the desert somewhere.
#2 - He actually breaks the lock or window and opens the door and make entry at the same time you just woking and armed yourself
. . . what's next?
Fire. What choice do i have in that split second situation not knowing if he is also armed. Like if someone just kick down my front door and entered my house.
I would like to hear how you would approach the above just to compare, like sharing notes. I hope situations like this never happens but wouldn't hurt to at least talk about it as you just never know.