LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
I see lots of postings with opinions about the best guns, best holsters, best ammunition, best tactics, etc, etc, etc.
I hope a few of you will take the time to think about all the issues involved in lawful concealed carry, well beyond having the latest, most powerful, highest capacity, highest velocity, deadliest, etc, etc, etc.
We carry our handguns because we have become enlightened to the threats and hazards posed by life in modern America. I carry car insurance with no intention of having an accident. I carry homeowners insurance with no hope that my house will burn down. I carry a pistol, not because I intend to get into a fight to the death, but because if a fight is forced upon me it will be better to have it than not to have it.
Events involving lethal force occur in two stages.
Stage one takes place very quickly, with little or no warning, and is usually over in a matter of seconds. The object of the exercise during this stage is PHYSICAL survival.
Stage two takes place over the course of several years. During the first few weeks or months there will be a very serious investigation of the incident itself, of all the individuals involved in the incident, all of the circumstances attending the incident, and all of the items used in the incident. The object of the exercise is LEGAL survival to this point. My advice is this: LAWYER-UP immediately, strap on the baddest lawyer you can find, keep your mouth shut, and let the pit bull do your talking for you.
Stage two continues, hopefully after the grand jury or coroner's inquest (or whatever other procedures are used in the jurisdiction wherein said incident occurred). You can expect to have a visit from a nice process server who will bring you the greetings of the courts, requiring you to respond to the claims of the "victim" and/or survivors of the nice people who have suffered unduly from your malicious/willful/negligent/unlawful use of a weapon resulting in death/bodily injury/property damage/psychological damage/loss of consortium (look it up)/etc/etc/etc. The object of the exercise now is financial survival. The advice is (a) lawyer-up immediately, say nothing to anyone other than your lawyer, express no opinions or thoughts on the matter except as directed by your lawyer; and (b)call your liability insurance company (most homeowners insurance policies contain personal liability coverage, make sure yours is as high as you can afford because the "victim" and/or everyone related to him/her is looking to reach deeply into your pocket as a means of alleviating the terrible consequences they are now having to live with because of the actions of the "victim" and your choices based solely upon self-interest. Your liability carrier will assist in your defense because they do not wish to have to pay any damage awards).
You can be absolutely sure that all of your actions will be under scrutiny and attack for months, if not years. Your background, your experiences, your job history, your mental stability, your decision to carry a weapon, your perceived need for self-defense, your reasons for being where you were when you were there.
Certain to receive great scrutiny will be your selection of sidearm, your firearms training and experience, your selection of ammunition, your method of carrying and concealing your weapon.
I genuinely sympathize with the poor SOB who selected a weapon based upon its lethal capabilities, or the dumb SOB who has had his pistol modified in any way/shape/form from the way it was manufactured, or the nutcase who chose ammunition that is significantly greater in lethal effect than some other ammunition that was readily available (especially anything with "magnum", "+p", "high velocity", "hollow point" or other red flags for that nice liability lawyer to grill him about on the witness stand.
God bless the guy whose pistol received glowing recommendations in a gun magazine, or whose ammunition was featured in 'Soldier of Fortune' or some other rag. Please have absolute pity on the poor unlucky guy whose shot went astray and hurt a bystander.
I think you have the picture by now, so I will close with just a few thoughts for your consideration.
Selecting a handgun and ammunition that is in general use by local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies is not a bad idea. Lots of research has been done, and can be brought to court to support the selections made.
Document all of your training, along with the certifications and qualifications of instructors. Keep a record of your practice sessions (a simple notebook can work, with dates and total times, number of rounds consumed, etc).
And I hope that I have remembered to say "LAWYER-UP" and "KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT".
Being under psychological treatment yourself for post-traumatic stress related to the incident FORCED UPON YOU by the dead/injured party may not be a bad idea. Everything related to such treatment is completely confidential between you and the provider, and it gives your lawyer a means of quickly ratcheting up the defense when the other side becomes aggressive in questioning.
Here ends the thoughts of a two-tour Vietnam vet and 24-year retired copper who has carried a gun just about every time he's been out of the house for the past 40 years. Been there, done that.
I SINCERELY HOPE THAT NO ONE WHO READS THIS WILL EVER NEED TO EXPERIENCE THESE THINGS FIRST HAND.
I hope a few of you will take the time to think about all the issues involved in lawful concealed carry, well beyond having the latest, most powerful, highest capacity, highest velocity, deadliest, etc, etc, etc.
We carry our handguns because we have become enlightened to the threats and hazards posed by life in modern America. I carry car insurance with no intention of having an accident. I carry homeowners insurance with no hope that my house will burn down. I carry a pistol, not because I intend to get into a fight to the death, but because if a fight is forced upon me it will be better to have it than not to have it.
Events involving lethal force occur in two stages.
Stage one takes place very quickly, with little or no warning, and is usually over in a matter of seconds. The object of the exercise during this stage is PHYSICAL survival.
Stage two takes place over the course of several years. During the first few weeks or months there will be a very serious investigation of the incident itself, of all the individuals involved in the incident, all of the circumstances attending the incident, and all of the items used in the incident. The object of the exercise is LEGAL survival to this point. My advice is this: LAWYER-UP immediately, strap on the baddest lawyer you can find, keep your mouth shut, and let the pit bull do your talking for you.
Stage two continues, hopefully after the grand jury or coroner's inquest (or whatever other procedures are used in the jurisdiction wherein said incident occurred). You can expect to have a visit from a nice process server who will bring you the greetings of the courts, requiring you to respond to the claims of the "victim" and/or survivors of the nice people who have suffered unduly from your malicious/willful/negligent/unlawful use of a weapon resulting in death/bodily injury/property damage/psychological damage/loss of consortium (look it up)/etc/etc/etc. The object of the exercise now is financial survival. The advice is (a) lawyer-up immediately, say nothing to anyone other than your lawyer, express no opinions or thoughts on the matter except as directed by your lawyer; and (b)call your liability insurance company (most homeowners insurance policies contain personal liability coverage, make sure yours is as high as you can afford because the "victim" and/or everyone related to him/her is looking to reach deeply into your pocket as a means of alleviating the terrible consequences they are now having to live with because of the actions of the "victim" and your choices based solely upon self-interest. Your liability carrier will assist in your defense because they do not wish to have to pay any damage awards).
You can be absolutely sure that all of your actions will be under scrutiny and attack for months, if not years. Your background, your experiences, your job history, your mental stability, your decision to carry a weapon, your perceived need for self-defense, your reasons for being where you were when you were there.
Certain to receive great scrutiny will be your selection of sidearm, your firearms training and experience, your selection of ammunition, your method of carrying and concealing your weapon.
I genuinely sympathize with the poor SOB who selected a weapon based upon its lethal capabilities, or the dumb SOB who has had his pistol modified in any way/shape/form from the way it was manufactured, or the nutcase who chose ammunition that is significantly greater in lethal effect than some other ammunition that was readily available (especially anything with "magnum", "+p", "high velocity", "hollow point" or other red flags for that nice liability lawyer to grill him about on the witness stand.
God bless the guy whose pistol received glowing recommendations in a gun magazine, or whose ammunition was featured in 'Soldier of Fortune' or some other rag. Please have absolute pity on the poor unlucky guy whose shot went astray and hurt a bystander.
I think you have the picture by now, so I will close with just a few thoughts for your consideration.
Selecting a handgun and ammunition that is in general use by local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies is not a bad idea. Lots of research has been done, and can be brought to court to support the selections made.
Document all of your training, along with the certifications and qualifications of instructors. Keep a record of your practice sessions (a simple notebook can work, with dates and total times, number of rounds consumed, etc).
And I hope that I have remembered to say "LAWYER-UP" and "KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT".
Being under psychological treatment yourself for post-traumatic stress related to the incident FORCED UPON YOU by the dead/injured party may not be a bad idea. Everything related to such treatment is completely confidential between you and the provider, and it gives your lawyer a means of quickly ratcheting up the defense when the other side becomes aggressive in questioning.
Here ends the thoughts of a two-tour Vietnam vet and 24-year retired copper who has carried a gun just about every time he's been out of the house for the past 40 years. Been there, done that.
I SINCERELY HOPE THAT NO ONE WHO READS THIS WILL EVER NEED TO EXPERIENCE THESE THINGS FIRST HAND.
