Armed Road Rage: Gary, Indiana airport authority member arrested for pointing a gun during road rage incident

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Gary, Indiana airport authority member arrested for pointing a gun during road rage incident

32-year-old Tramel Raggs, of Gary, Indiana, was arrested for allegedly pointing a loaded gun at a motorist Monday night. Raggs is a special assistant to the Lake County Commissioner and was recently appointed to the Gary International Airport Authority.
According to police, a 37-year-old man told them he was at a red light behind a Honda Accord that was blocking two lanes. The man pulled up next to the Accord and made an obscene gesture. Riggs, who was driving the Accord, then allegedly pointed a handgun at the other car and drove off.
Police stopped Riggs and found a black handgun loaded with live rounds in the vehicle.
Riggs was taken to jail and charged with pointing a loaded firearm and intimidation, both felony offenses.

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States have made it easier and easier for motorists to carry loaded guns in their vehicles. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health asked the question, "Are motorists with guns in the car more or less likely to engage in hostile and aggressive behavior? The studies concluded that "riding with a firearm in the vehicle was a marker for aggressive and dangerous driver behavior."

(see Accident Analysis and Prevention, Nov. 2005, issue 38, pgs. 687-695 and 2002, issue 34, pgs. 807-814)

Authors Hemenway, Vriniotis, and Miller write, "Road rage may be most dangerous when an enraged motorists has immediate access to a lethal weapon, such as a gun. Our study finds that motorists who have ridden with firearms in their vehicles are more likely to make obscene gestures at other drivers and to follow other drivers aggressively. They are also more likely to be the victims of these behaviors. Contrary to common claims, it does not appear that 'an armed society is a polite society'."