Many Connecticut residents and other Americans spend hours a day in their cars -- sometimes sitting in stop-and-go traffic, seemingly moving nowhere. This frustration can and does lead to road rage.
Increasingly, according to a recent study, the number of road rage incidents involving guns is rising. A non-profit organization that deals with firearm issues reported that there were 1,300 such incidents from 2014 through 2016. Nearly half of those occurred last year alone.
So what is to blame for the increasingly violent nature of altercations on the road? Some have linked it to concealed carry laws. A spokesman for the Trace noted that Florida led the country during the period study in road rage incidents involving guns. That state "also has the largest number of concealed-carry permit holders." Connecticut also allows concealed-carry permits.
One politician blamed the problem on drugs. He noted a familiar refrain among gun advocates. "A gun is an inanimate object. It accelerates nothing. It's only a weapon when somebody decides to use it as a weapon."
Still others blame low speed limits for the problem. Some state legislatures are even passing laws to improve traffic flow and prevent people from driving too far under the speed limit in the so-called "fast lanes."
It's all too easy to let anger get the better of you when another driver cuts in front of you, tailgates you, moves too slowly or gives you a less-than-friendly hand gesture. However, things can escalate quickly. If you find yourself facing criminal charges for a road rage incident, it's essential to seek legal guidance.
Source: CBS News, "Study: Road rage incidents involving guns are increasing," April 10, 2017