" I don't know how the driver who blocked the other in was approached however two wrongs don't make a right! Show alittle courtesy goes along way and prevents this idiotic stuff from happening! "

" If you are driving around like a mad man, then pick a fight with the guy you cut off, then you have to expect that you are going to tick the guy off and he might not back down. The "victim" deserved what he got for starting the whole thing and at the very least should be prosecuted for wreckless driving. "

" These children - and yes they are children developmentally - have had no role models for resolving such conflicts. Worse, the very same so called adults e.g. track coaches, sports figures and even deputy districts attorneys charge out and attack first now. How could this be any different in this current social context? Where I live *many* people are armed and think nothing of shooting others dead over the slightest traffic infraction. Tip # 1. Keep your doors closed and *locked* at all times. Do not verbally or suggestively escalate any road conflict. Stay in your vehicle ( with the doors locked ) and call the local PD pronto if it looks like any situation is threatening. I myself keep a police flashlight on the passengers side of my seat at *all* times at night just for this purpose as I have had young teens in their parents hulking SUV get out of them and walk up to my widow challenging to fight. I have also taught myself how to smile, laugh, shake my head and blow it off right there. It de-escalates the situation and totally confuses them. Some days however nothing works and I have had water bottles thrown into my windshield on I-80 at 65 mph and friends of mine threatened at gunpoint. Americans are sick of one another and hate each other now. It's a depraved, shallow, debased and empty fast food culture that we have to live in now. I have no answers, just haunting questions. _R. _____________________________ “My heart is broken in the face of ... the stupidity of my species,” -- Joni Mitchell 2007 "

" Dear "Civility & Immaturity:" If you are carrying that police flashlight for purposes of self-defense, then you are violating Penal Code section 12020(a) - Possession of a deadly weapon, a felony. Another ironic twist of our amazing society. "

" Come on: If you confront another driver you are asking for trouble. It takes two to tangle! "

" I feel a sense of dread and loss every time I read the endless litany of these road rage incidents. If young people today ever needed mature and wise adults it is truly now and I don't know where they are handing out those qualities in 2007. However, there are *many* people from all walks of life who walk this journey with a quietly dignity and respect. I think it's time we all reevaluate our behavior and actions daily as this is the only life we have and there is another younger generation "always" watching us for the cues and suggestions on just how to behave in this world. Let's set and example or at least attempt to. As far as that flashlight is concerned my neighbor was able to knock down a pit bull with one when it attacked him as he was getting out of his car at night. In a one block area here there are no less than four of these lethal dogs. Pepper just makes them more enraged. "

" We have trouble in river city, have a serial killer downtown with 2 murders unsolved, and now we have to put up with a generation raised up to mimic the violence they seen all the years they were growing up on TV and movies, and of course lets not forget the violent video games we let them play as they grow up also. This situation is out of hand and the police presence downtown is lacking for whatever reason. People were so much kinder to each other in the old days when one was allowed to carry a weapon. No one dared pull any of this road rage stuff or anything else, it was all yes sir and no mame and politeness and manners, cause everyone was packing. We need to get back to those days, let all those who can buy a gun be allowed to carry the same. Crime against others would plummet guaranteed "

" 2 murders? "

" My comment is to Stacy Marvelous who wrote to "let all those who can buy a gun, be allowed to carry the same"...I want to pretend that your comment was not a serious one, but one out of frustration and concern. Do you honestly think that would solve anything? Do you not think people would just shoot others when they got mad without realizing their actions? People who are able to buy a gun, have guns...they are locked up in safes in their homes for protecting themselves and their families. By allowing everyone to "carry" them around town, in their vehicles, to work, etc...would give them the ability to discharge it when they "feel" it is appropriate. And might I ask you, what rules would be given to go along with such a law? I can't imagine you honestly thought that comment through completely before you made it. I can only hope you realize that people kill people with guns...whether they are allowed to carry them or not...someone who kills should be apprehended and charged to the fullest, our Napa Police department is working everyday on the 2 homicides to determine the killer(s). I would love to invite anyone to apply for the department and see if they can figure these crimes out faster than what you think they do now. I for one am proud of our police department for doing what they can with the personnel they have in a hard time like today when crime seems to be on the rise. In the future it is up to the city to rethink our budget, and put aside repaving, road projects, etc...and realize they need more police in our town. I think it's time for everyone to make that point and come together as the great community we once were to support the need for more help. Give those who have been properly trained the right to carry a gun. Not those who would take advantage of their rights and kill anyone who pisses them off! "

" I would like to start by voicing my concern about the reporter that wrote this article. After having read it I got the feeling that she was rushing to get a story to print and failed to spend enough time researching all the facts (a problem many in the media seem to have). As a news reader I get the feeling the reporter is siding with the so called “victim”. She does not hesitate to vilify Mr. Barker by using his full name while withholding the name of the other party. She also has him convicted of a crime without all the facts. Everyone has the right to defend themselves. Who was the real aggressor? Did Mr. Barker stab this person or did he use the handle of the knife to hit this person? If Mr. Barker was still in his car, how close was this person to allow him to get hit with such force as to need staples? Whatever happened to reporters being a neutral party reporting the FACTS? Only those people directly involved know what transpired at the window of Mr. Barker’s car. And nearby witnesses can speak to the events prior to that. But put yourself in Mr. Barker’s place for a moment, you are in a line of traffic and for some reason (which only you know) you blow your horn at the car in front of you (I can only speculate that the car in front was not moving after the path was clear)(in any case a bonehead move). Then the other driver gets out of the car and approaches your vehicle (another bonehead move). What starts going through your mind? You’re sitting there suddenly with your back up against a wall (figuratively speaking), you Spouse or Girlfriend sitting next to you and you feel threatened. What do you do? Human nature says you defend yourself and the person with you. The truth is, when faced with danger (perceived or real) and no apparent way out, many people would do anything (even pull a knife) to defend themselves and the ones they love. It doesn’t make it right but it’s going to happen. Both parties in this case made serious errors in judgment, Mr. Barker should not have honked the horn and the “victim” should have stayed in his car (hindsight is great). But now it is in the hands of the legal system and hopefully gets to the truth of the matter. I only hope that if the courts find that Mr. Barker was acting in self defense the reporter that wrote the initial article is big enough to write an apology for raking him over the coals and convicting him without all the evidence. "

" I was yet to form an opinion on this matter and now I feel compelled to do so. How does a laceration on the back of someones head come in self defense? a "knife" requiring 10 staples? Sounds like some really big knife was swung to me, pretty scary stuff. No naming names but the assailant just isnt a good person. I Dont feel the need to say much more. "

" What did they forget in this article? Did they get the weapon the he used? kitchen knife? pocket knife? machete? butter knife? steak knife? what? "