Oklahoma House Votes to Give Drivers Immunity if They Hit a Rioter with their Car in 'Self Defense' - Granite Grok

Oklahoma House Votes to Give Drivers Immunity if They Hit a Rioter with their Car in ‘Self Defense’

Peaceful protest action set

The New Hampshire House recently advanced legislation that allowed the use of deadly force to protect motorists under assault. A product of watching rioters block cars and harm drivers, no doubt. Oklahoma took a different approach. Their State House just passed immunity for drivers who hit rioters while fleeing for their own safety.

Related: NH House Expands “Allowable” Use of Deadly Force to Include ‘Threats’ to People in Motor Vehicles

 

House Bill 1674, introduced by Republican state Rep. Kevin West, would allow prosecutors to charge rioters with a misdemeanor for interfering with traffic and endangering drivers. If passed, motor vehicle operators would not face criminal or civil charges for hitting a rioter if they were fleeing for safety or exercised “due care” at the time of the injury or death.

 

If the New Hampshire law passes and driving away is not an option, you or someone outside the vehicle could shoot your attacker(s). This typically removes any impediment and relives the threat. The person shot is probably not going anywhere. The people who heard or saw it are likely to scatter like roaches (or politicians) when the light removes all the shadows.

You can’t then leave the scene of a crime unless your life is still in danger, but the Oklahoma bill appears to give permission to leave the scene, assuming all other conditions merit it.

I can’t say I disagree.

In fact, I think this is cutting-edge personal safety in an era when prosecutors give partisan mobs preference. I also think that when it becomes clear that you being in front of a vehicle surrounded by people who seem threatening enough might mean the end of you, that’s less likely to happen, and when it does, a Darwin Award might be in order.

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