Riding shotgun

Wagons in the old west. To protect themselves from bandits an armed guard would ride up front next to the driver.

So the story goes.

The custom was more on stagecoaches than ordinary wagons.

there are specific rules that must be obeyed when calling SHOTGUN

These rules can be summarized as follows.

(I am an expert on the act of calling shotgun, In highschool, that was my nickname. of course many of the teachesr had different ideas as to the origin of the appelation

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SHOTGUN CAN ONLY BE CALLED WHEN IN SIGHT OF THE CAR. YOU MUST BE OUTSIDE THE CAR AND ,YOU CAN ONLY CALL SHOTGUN WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE AN ACTUAL TRIP IN A CAR IS ANTICIPATED. fOR EXAMPLE, IF A GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO, SAY, BI-POLAR BEARS PLACE THIS WEEKEND FOR SOME SERIOUS GNOSHING, NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO , CALL SHOTGUN IMMEDIATELY AFTER A TRIP IS PROPOSED(LIKE IMMEDIATELY AFTER I POST THIS). THAT WOULD BE TERRIBLY UNCOOL.
I, HOWEVER DID ONCE CALL A HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND VERY LATE ONE EVENING AND YELLED SHOTGUN OVER THE PHONE. WE WERE PLANNING A TRIP WITH WHICH TO "SCOPE" IN ANOTHER TOWN AND MY FRIEND HAD A VETTE. THERE WERE THREE OF US AND ONE OF US(NOT ME) WAS REUIRED TO RIDE IN THE BACK, THAT IS THE PERIGEE OF COOL.

The seat next to the driver is also known as the suicide seat, particularly when the seat belts are ignored.

Oh, are we going to Bi-Polar Bear's hideout, farmerman? In that case...SHOTGUN!

Wheeee!!

riding shotgun
thank you all for your help