How come people say I got shotgun when siting in the front of a car?

Question

Why?

Answer 1

To ride shotgun is to sit in the front passenger seat when riding a car or other vehicle, a phrase commonly heard in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. It is also heard in several European countries such as Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Denmark and the United Kingdom, as well as other countries with large English-speaking populations such as South Africa. In contemporary tradition, in order to claim the seat, one must "call shotgun" according to some set of informal rules. To call shotgun is, at minimum, to yell out "shotgun" while approaching the vehicle.

History
The first known reference to "riding shotgun" in print occurred on 27 March 1921, when it was used to refer to riding as an armed guard in the front of a stagecoach. The first use of the phrase in print to refer to automobiles occurred in 1954 when the TV series Gunsmoke became extremely popular, and used the terminology of riding shotgun nearly weekly.[1]

Today many automobile passengers consider riding in the front passenger seat preferable to riding in rear seats largely due to it having greater control over leg room, an unobstructed view of the road in front, and access to the vehicle's audio and air conditioning systems. Another benefit is that entry and exit from the vehicle is often easier, especially in two-door cars. In addition, some passengers find that riding in the front seat reduces car sickness. There is also a tradition in family life that adults sit in the front and children in the rear; hence sitting shotgun provides a sense of adulthood.

Prior to the advent of seatbelts and airbags, the front passenger seat was considered the most dangerous to be seated in if there were an accident; therefore the shotgun position also came to be known as the suicide seat.

Answer 2

That's an easy one. Back in the days when folks rode around out west in stagecoaches, there was a driver up top and the guy that was the guard sat next to him, he carried a double barrel shotgun as well as his six shooter, generally a Colt Single Action Army revolver and a rifle as well. He rode shotgun and that's where the term comes from.

Answer 3

From the old Stagecoach days when only the coach driver and the guy with the shotgun sat up front.

Answer 4

Shotgun goes back to the western stagecoach days when the strongbox guard, armed with a shotgun, would sit next to the driver.

Answer 5

If you ever watch an old Western movie, you will see that an armed man with a shotgun sits next to the driver of a stage coach. That is what is meant by riding "shotgun."

Answer 6

Years ago, when the stagecoaches ran the country, there were obviously alot of robberies out in the field. To curtail this, the stagecoach companies hire ment osit up next to the driver with a gun to watch for robbers. Since most of these guys carried shotguns.......The term "riding shotgun" was born.

Answer 7

It comes from the days of stage coaches, where a guy with a shotgun road next to the driver to protect against theives robbing the stage coaches.

Answer 8

Riding shotgun?? LOL was when drivers carried valuable goods and carried a passenger armed with a shotgun for protection!

Answer 9

Cause back in the gangster days, the guy riding passenger in the front would be carrying the shotgun.

Answer 10

Because during the days of the old West while driving the stage coach they had to worry about outlaws and Indians. The driver couldn't drive if he had to watch out for or protect himself and his cargo so they had a guy sitting beside him who carried a street howitzer, The Shot Gun! So the guy who rode beside the driver rode shot gun. Ta Daaaaaa