It is unfortunate to mention that the world we live in “ain’t like it used to be.” As individuals who enjoy our liberties, believe in the 2nd Amendment and take an active role in protecting ourselves, we often look to role-play, practice, or prepare for as many self-defense scenarios as possible. We might be turning an accidental blind eye to one facet of our life though, and that is the amount of time we spend in our vehicles. A small group of those reading this might have done some kind of “vehicle work,” or essentially shooting firearms in, or around, vehicles on a gun range. It is important to be aware of what is cover versus concealment beside a vehicle as well as other quirks like shooting under your vehicle or retreating and using your vehicle as a visual obstruction from bad guys. What we really want to discuss today though is defending yourself from inside your vehicle – with and without a firearm.
Firstly, before we get into “vehicle combat,” or other high-level tasks, you want to have your rudimentary bases covered. Whether you are headed to the office, or you are on a long road trip, you want to have essentials to ensure that you reach your destination like flashlights, cutters, glass breakers, jumper cables, multi-tools, food, and water. Many of these can be improvised tools for defense (a tire iron or glass breaker could do damage to someone threatening your family). Next, you want to pack some situational awareness. Be vigilant in scanning the roads, parking lots, and surrounding areas. Stay off the radio, Google Maps, and your cellphone. Either let your co-pilot do that or pre-program those things before you leave your house. Situational awareness gets beaten to death by many instructors, but it is incredibly important. Keep your head on a swivel and utilize your mirrors for 360° awareness of what’s going on around you. So, the saying goes: "Would you rather survive a situation? Or prevent one?"
Now, to the “vehicle combat.” That is an incredibly loaded term simply implying you might need to fight from the inside of your vehicle. If you find yourself in a situation where you must fight from your vehicle because a window is broken, left open, and/or you feel trapped (driving away is always advised if there's room to do so), then these are some things you should do. For starters, stow your seat belt out of the way under your window-side armpit. This gets your seatbelt off your body – not across your chest – so, it cannot be used to strangle/choke you, and if you unbuckle, the seatbelt easily clears your body (not snagged or hooked in a limb). Next, you will want to brace your window-side knee against the door. This gives you a strong, firm position to punch, shoot a firearm, spray pepper spray, or club an evildoer with your metal Stanley coffee mug. Moreover, if someone is trying to abduct you, your wife, or your family – and they know how to do this – it is a significantly stronger position to resist being taken out of a vehicle (even for weak individuals).
A final word of caution when using a firearm for self-defense in a vehicle: lethal force typically isn't justifiable until a breach of the vehicle occurs, and it's only THEN justifiable if your state has a “Castle Doctrine.” So, before you think you can shoot through your glass windows, or even at someone if they’ve breached your vehicle, you should assess what is, and is not, legal in your state, city, or municipality.
In the end, make sure to get out there training, honing your craft, getting reps with your firearms, and Tyrant can help you along the way with some rad accessories. Until next time, continually check out our blog, join our newsletter, and watch the website for new and exciting updates! As always, let us know all your thoughts in the comments below. We love it when you participate in our articles and keep the conversation going!
