Caught on video: Father with family in SUV chased, beaten by speed-demon bikers

[AtheistCrusader]

398. I hope the police retrieved the remains of the tire as evidence.

Examining how it failed would settle the question of whether it was slashed or not. But my objection was about the plural use of tires. The media repeatedly reported it as plural, but there is only one tire on the vehicle, on the flat bed tow truck, not holding air. (well, gone actually.)

I agree, there could be less severe physical damage, but does that justify running someone over? Again, this overlaps considerably with the use of force in self defense scenarios on the firearms side of the site. The windows weren't broken. There are no major dents at that point in the encounter. Is fearing for the safety of the wife/kid really that much of an issue? They don't seem to have made any major attempt to gain access to the car, until AFTER the first encounter.

I'll grant the bikers were totally being assholes, half of them are bike thieves anyway, broke all sorts of traffic laws, and they brake checked him (at low speed, but still illegal). And there were a lot of them, and many of them around his vehicle. And some were probably upset that he didn't stop so they could do their idiocy on the roadway. Granting all that, is Lien justified in running someone over?

I honestly question it. I would not have powered out through a person, under those circumstances. I would be concerned. I'd be pissed about any damage to the vehicle, and their inhibiting my freedom of movement. But I don't think I would run someone over for it. I certainly wouldn't shoot them. If I can't justify using a firearm in self defense in that situation, I don't think I can justify using a vehicle in self defense either. As far as I know, the bar to justifiably using either is the same.

And I still question whether that tire was slashed, or punctured. It's one tire only, and it happens to be the same tire that went over the bike. Not an unexpected result.