I think Jason’s comments are worth reading several times over, very interesting food for thought. I especially like the idea of making the trip and stop in a nicer area, away from Chicago, and even Cook County.
Lately, I’ve given more thought to who will be on the jury, and who the judge will be, God forbid. If I had to “use”, would I prefer the judge and jury be in and from Chicago or Cook, or elsewhere, less biased, and or more accepting of self-defense rights. I almost feel sad thinking about it, because I also face your dilemma Rich.
The group here might provide some great insight, what an interesting scenario you present. Making us think of the legalities, tactics, and safety for all. I’m new to this field of study, but I might personally worry about all three of the options, but more so, how you described them. Those are just three, I’m guessing the group might come up with several more ideas, again, thanks to your great question, yet all too real a possibility:
Simply show my robin egg blue 9 mm and hope that’s a deterrent? - Could that be illegal brandishing? Would I want to waste time brandishing when he’s pointing his gun toward me, when instead I could be doing something else?
Fire a vertical warning shot and hope that’s a deterrent? - I’d fear someone else could get hurt; Then I’m responsible for that legally, and have to live with that emotionally.
Wait till an assailant gets close to the driver’s door and shoot him? - Why wait before taking action? Is there time enough to drive away? If he’s pointing a gun at me, I’m not sure I could draw fast enough to shoot first, so this one I really look forward to others to help with safety maneuvers.
If I’m in my car, I wonder if I could drive away, and call 911. However, in your scenario, I can see how my having to “use”, might happen, especially if they pointed a gun at me.
On a personal note:
One of my course instructors shared he had to draw, when in a store, bandits threatened to shoot - with their hands and fingers in their coat pockets, when they saw his gun and him shout at them, they pulled their hands out, empty, shouted to each other “He’s got a gun!; And ran out of the store”.
A fellow CCL course student shared that he was carjacked at gun point, while working, with a company truck. One of my coworker’s son in law was car jacked at gunpoint. Last year, in my town,
a man was shot several times when he was carjacked, luckily he survived.
Looking forward to the helpful responses on your great training question kind Sir.