Is there a Full Moon Tonight? Or are people just taking Crazy Pills!
Today on the way to the Veterans Center some idiot committed Road Rage. They pulled up on the right side of my vehicle in their truck, claimed I hit their vehicle, then rubbed their left front tire against my right rear bumper and right rear quarter panel; then raced back alongside me and demanded I pull over!
I noticed what appeared to be an unmarked police vehicle, a dark blue SUV with a crash-bar bumper and spotlight attached to the left-front doorpost. So, I pulled into that parking lot. The other driver got out of his vehicle screaming. I waited until two uniformed police officers exited their vehicle before getting out myself.
The idiot approached the officers, who possibly saved his life, and was yelling at them too!
They asked him to calm down, and state what his issue was. He claimed I struck his truck with my car, then pointed to damage that was above the roofline of my car (nor do I have a roof rack nor anything else that could have struck that portion of his vehicle).
The officers separated us I pointed to the minor damage, mostly tire-marks on the back portion of the right-side of my car. I told the officer that I believed the other driver had deliberately "rubbed" against my car, but could not prove it.
Although the "damage" did not match his description of the incident, he began yelling that I "wouldn't pull over"
I told the police sergeant (who had been speaking to the crazy-acting guy) that I was concerned by the other driver's apparent anger, and spotting what appeared to be a LEO vehicle, pulled into this parking lot some one-hundred-fifty yards from the incident.
This idiot was still yelling and pointing to damage that could not have been made by my vehicle, nor was their any corresponding damage to my vehicle; only the marks made by his tire.
The police sergeant appeared bemused, and separated us once more. When the idiot demanded "charges be filed, and I be arrested" the police sergeant explained the only obvious damage was to the rear of my vehicle, thus he would be deemed responsible under the law.
Only then did he "agree" to "drop the matter" because I told the sergeant I could probably just scrub off, or if necessary, buff-out the "damage" because the damage was below my deductible, and not worth reporting an accident.
The sergeant held me back, and told the other guy to go. He then gave me his business card, and gave me directions to go out the back and an alternate route to my destination so I would not be likely to encounter the idiot again.
On my way home I stopped at a Lowe's hardware store. While I was checking out an "agitated" person, quite likely a vagrant, entered through the exit and began yelling at several employees. The store has recently employed a uniformed security guard, he quickly came to the scene of the disturbance. The female clerk who was manning the cash register tried "locking down" the store by activating the door locks and causing metal "shutters" to drop down.
Leaving my merchandize at the check stand, I moved away from the confrontation; although I maintained situational awareness. The intruder assaulted one, possibly two of the employees as the security guard quickly ended his call to the police, and tried to defuse the situation.
I told the cashier I would provide the police a statement, if required. So, for the second time today, I was giving a statement to Law Enforcement Officers about an aggressive person acting crazy!
I am now back safe in my hovel. The reasons I am reluctant to leave my "cave" continue to multiply!
No "Caveman" (or "Cavewoman") should ever leave their "Cave" without their "Club" because the world outside is Not "safe"...more than ever too many people act as if there is no one armed and prepared for self-defense, and They can just act aggressive, even Violent and there will be No Consequences...
I avoid confrontations, and try to keep away from dangerous areas (since I am no longer on active duty). I am a disabled veteran, and although I have been trained for physical confrontations, I am not as fit as I used to be. If I had been shoved to the ground, such as the Lowe's employee, I would be quite vulnerable. Similar to many of my friends, I do the best I can to remain trained in firearms, and licensed to carry concealed. Part of the training in self-defense is knowing to back away when possible, and allowing LEOs or security guards to handle any situation when practicable.
Too many locales, including where I live, Politicians are restraining Law Enforcement Officers from arresting criminals, too often even violent criminals. Too often prosecutors refuse to press charges, even on repeat violent offenders. I wonder if they realize that it is Law Enforcement Officers who are Protecting the Criminals from armed citizens? "De-Policing" has already resulted in a more than Doubling of the Murder Rate, and other violent crimes in the County and State where I live.
I am concerned about dangerous and violent criminals; many abusing drugs. Vagrants and other "low-level" Criminals who act with impunity, and seemingly don't face any consequences. I fear that soon we will be witnessing ordinary citizens who feel they have no choice but to Defend Themselves; or worse "vigilantism"...I Fear that is the Politicians (including Prosecutors) who are "Taking Crazy Pills!"