# Shotgun!! \<---huh? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 18, 2000, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shotgun-huh/7584 "2000-02-18T20:57:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KimberleeAP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5fc32e/32.png) [@KimberleeAP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KimberleeAP)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shotgun-huh/7584/1 "2000-02-18T20:57:00Z")
Okie dokie… My friend and I were watching good ole “Dazed and Confused” the other day and got on the subject of where the saying “Shotgun!!” before anyone else in exchange for the privelidge of getting the front seat of a car. She said that it was from the old days when stagecoaches were still around. Supposedly, the person in the front seat had to carry a shotgun to protect them from getting robbed… Does anyone know if this is correct? Normally I’d just believe her little story but the girl is so full of crap. ~Kimberlee “La Cerveza Mas Fina!!” ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shotgun-huh/7584/2 "2000-02-18T21:00:00Z")
That’s how I’ve always heard it, of course, back then, what if no one called “shotgun”? ---
**Author:** ![frolix8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@frolix8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frolix8)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shotgun-huh/7584/3 "2000-02-18T21:00:00Z")
It’s the person in the front who’s not driving that has the “shotgun” position, the driver can’t carry the shotgun with the reigns in his hands. ---
**Author:** ![jaydabee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c89c15/32.png) [@jaydabee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaydabee)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shotgun-huh/7584/4 "2000-02-18T21:01:00Z")
Oh yes, your friend is right about this one. Just rent an old John Wayne B-movie frm the 30’s and you will probably see Gabby Hayes up there with his shotgun next to the driver. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shotgun-huh/7584/5 "2000-02-18T21:02:00Z")
In regard to my posting above, I concur with the additional comment by Frolix8. I thought the OP had stated that, but I read the posting too fast. * * * “They’re coming to take me away ha-ha, ho-ho, hee-hee, to the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time… :)” - Napoleon IV ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shotgun-huh/7584/6 "2000-02-18T21:37:00Z")
Jesus Christ, that user name scared the piss out of me… * * * Yer pal, Satan ---
**Author:** ![funneefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@funneefarmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funneefarmer)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shotgun-huh/7584/7 "2000-02-18T23:03:00Z")
For calling shotgun and b!tch seats… [http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/003370.html](http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/003370.html) ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2000, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shotgun-huh/7584/8 "2000-02-19T23:26:00Z")
It was partially covered in the other thread but riding “bitch” only applies to rusty camaros full of mulletheads. Here in the West in pickups the middle is the cowboy seat. Not only does the occupant not have to drive or open gates but has complete control of the radio. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shotgun-huh/7584/9 "2000-02-20T01:59:00Z")
Satan: Let me soothe your jangled nerves. I have this great strap-on…