[rusnak]

True, CCW classes teach you to keep your gun holstered and concealed unless you're going to shoot to kill.

But when hairy chit is goin down, you don't have time to think about what's prudent and start second guessing the situation. You have to have it worked out in advance so that you can react.

If there is a threat to yourself, then the first choice is to leave the area safely. You don't have an obligation in many states (including Calif), but by all means that is my first preference. If you can't leave without the enraged knucklehead trying to hurt you, then....well that's how people end up dead I guess.

About a year ago, I was in my 911 at a stop light. A guy on a bike tries to ride over to my driver's door and open it. I revved the motor, and dumped the clutch. Left in a big cloud of smoke and skreetching tires. What the idiot didn't know is that Plan B was to make him dead. Since then, I've worked out a Plan C which involves a police taser. I would not hesitate to go with any of them.

It gets more complicated when you see someone assaulting another person. I've encountered that too, and elected to wait until weapons are produced. They were not.

Edit: I should add that he had his hand on the door handle, and I yanked it out of his hand when I burned rubber out of there. Would you even stop to say to yourself "omg what about a lawyer?" I can tell you that you won't.