re: What Would You Actually Do? (Carjacking)

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1997, there was a surge of carjacking in N.O. and a “shoot the carjacker” law was passed. NY Times quote: All states have laws that allow self-defense measures, but the Louisiana measure appears to be the first to focus specifically on carjacking, legislators said. The law was passed by the Legislature in June. But even in this state where it is legal for people to carry concealed weapons, the law has drawn criticism. ''Essentially, it's just a law that allows you to kill car thieves,'' said Bert Garraway of the public defender office in Baton Rouge. ''As is usually the case, the Legislature overreacted.''

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Actually, motor vehicle in La was an extension of your home in the eyes of the law in La before 1997.

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I've always considered I would get out, give them the car and try and kill them once I'm out the car and they let their guard down

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You'd be the one going to jail and the carjacker would be canonized.

Not many states allow deadly force for protecting property anymore.

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Until he is out of sight, he is a threat. I'm not leaving my fate in the hands of a criminal.

This guy complied, and was shot at multiple times as the criminals drove away with his truck.

LINK

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Why do you people think giving your keys to these animals is going to prevent further violence. They do not value life, period.

You’re still going to get shot.

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I'd be willing to bet the vast, vast majority (not all) of carjacking cases do not result in any shots fired. I live in Chicago, not New Orleans, but probably similar trends. The county's attorney here is absolutely terrible. If people are caught after carjacking, they get a slap on the wrist. Partly due to that, police are often lackadaisical when it comes to searching for perpetrators. And then the motives can range from wanting to have a car not registered to them when they commit a different crime in a separate location, to selling car parts, to just boredom/wanting a joyride/a thrill; very rarely are carjackers looking to actually kill the person they're carjacking. All those reasons (especially that last one) might seem pretty stupid to hold a gun up to someone's face but given it's unlikely they'll be caught - and if they are, they won't face much of a punishment - there's not a huge deterrent in place, short of "don't be a scumbag and rob someone's car".

If they were to kill a person in the carjacking, all of that "lackadaisical" stuff goes out the window. Now the police are going to search hard. And if the carjacker's caught in that case, they will get significant, significant jail time.

So they're often not out to actually cause violence/physical harm to you. But if you pull a gun, obviously all that changes. Now they're going to do what they can to protect their life. The wise thing (especially if you're facing more than one, but even facing just one) is to hand the keys and walk away.

"Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word."

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I think I would just stare straight ahead and ignore them

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I was thinking this - I doubt many of them have the balls to fire into a car window.

Or if you have the right kind of vehicle just plow ahead.

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The people that say they would just hand over their keys and surrender boggle my mind. Are you under some false pretense that the criminal carjacking you would simply take the vehicle and let you leave with your life? Why would he be compelled to do that? Because he has such a strong moral compass?

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Because he's much more likely to both get caught and face a lot more jail time if caught if he shoots at you/kills you.

I'm not sure why you say that's a "false pretense". The vast majorities of carjackings do not result in shots fired. The false pretense is that you're likely to get shot when getting carjacked. Doesn't mean it hasn't happened and won't happen at all in any future carjackings, but it's not likely.

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In this situation, I'm firing until I'm out of bullets - not because I'm "tough" or "macho", but because it gives me my best chance of survival (family or not).

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I think part of the discrepancy in opinion might be on how we're envisioning the carjacking would take place. Trying to shoot definitely does not give you the best chance of survival if he already has a gun aimed at your head. He has the advantage. It's not a duel or a Mexican standoff where you're starting on equal footing and first on the draw wins. For example, your car is parked, you are out of your car and a guy(s) sneaks up on you.

If it's a situation where you can see it developing (e.g., a car "blocks" you in the street while you are driving and you see a guy get out of the car with a gun that he's not in position to fire) that could change the calculation.

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Tell my kids to run lock my wife's door. They will probably leave her and the car in 3 minutes

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My wife would be more concerned whether they had washed their hands or had dirty shoes in her car than anything else.

Give them the keys and throw them some money to fill it up …. Can always get another vehicle

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Say your driving

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who’s driving?