Gun ownership isn’t just about owning the gun itself. Obviously, yes, owning the gun is fundamental to the idea of gun ownership, but you also have to have many other things to make gun ownership practical.
The list of items that you need for this is longer than most people have considered and includes ammunition (both full metal jacket and, for many situations, hollow points), eye protection for the range, ear protection for the range, safe storage options (especially if you have small children in the house), and ammunition storage options.
What you may not have considered, though, is a specific piece of technology that you may want to have installed in your vehicle so that you cover your backside if you have a defensive gun use situation near your vehicle.
A recent story about a grandfather protecting his grandchildren illustrates the point (hat tip to here for the lead). Luke McCoy writes,
A terrifying road rage incident in Louisville [Kentucky] on February 26 ended with one man shot and another facing multiple charges after a violent confrontation escalated to the point of deadly force.
According to Louisville Metro Police, the incident began around 9:30 a.m. near Taylor Boulevard and Beecher Street, when 41-year-old Graham Bain allegedly cut off a van carrying a man and his three young granddaughters. Dashcam footage from the van captured what happened next — a dangerous pursuit where Bain repeatedly brake-checked the van, chased it through traffic, and ultimately began ramming the vehicle.
The situation actually escalated and got worse with the attacker’s ramming nearly flipping the vehicle being driven by the grandfather with his grandchildren inside. McCoy continues:
Fearing for his and his granddaughters’ safety, the driver of the van fired a warning shot in an attempt to stop the attack. However, the pursuit continued. Finally, after the final ramming incident, the grandfather drew his firearm again and shot Bain once in the stomach when Bain appeared to be trying to put his vehicle back into gear, possibly to strike the van once more.
Bain was taken to the hospital for treatment and is expected to survive. He has been charged with four counts of wanton endangerment. The van’s driver, who has not been publicly identified, is not currently facing any charges, and police have credited the dashcam footage with helping establish the sequence of events.
Now, on a quick side note, I do not recommend firing warning shots as they can lead to unintended damage or injuries and because many areas have laws against that type of random discharge of a firearm.
Having said that, from the article, it sounds like the grandfather’s dashcam on his vehicle was instrumental in him not being charged for shooting the attacker.
So, along with the other various equipment, you may want to consider getting and installing a dashcam on your vehicle for evidence in case you need it in a defensive use situation like this.
Doing so could be what keeps you out of jail.