I've always seen a trigger job as just another mod to help user acquire the target. How is it any different than me replacing front/rear sights, changing out grips, or the finish on a gun? All those are done to make it easier to unholster, shoot, etc. If legal issues start to arise just because I decided to polish the trigger or change out springs to get a lighter pull, then that same scope of law has to be used for every modification that has ever been made. How many of us carry and own firearms that stick to having factory sights, trigger, grips, etc. and never bother making it our own? Probably 90% of us make some sort of mod. For example, I could add custom grips or a trigger stop to my revolver that allows for a shorter trigger reach and decrease my time to completely pull it back in a situation. How is this no different than lightening a spring?
I read a little online about that case mentioned in the article link above, NY v. Magliato. It was a lot more than just a light trigger than landed him in jail. Magliato had an altercation with someone, went back to his home to arm himself, goes back to the scene, then shoots the other guy from a distance of 15 yards. I know Ayoob is a great guy but I think he's blowing the whole trigger being lightened way out of proportion. If the case stood on that alone I could understand, but it was not the determining factor that landed Magliato in jail.
New York -vs- Magliato: Some Useful Lessons[/quote
Good post to an excellent synopsis of the case.
Magliato also claimed the trigger pull was an accident, which also conflicts with a valid claim of a justified shooting where he also claimed he shot out of fear for his life. His conflicting statements, the fact that he did not call the police after the shooting, the fact that he fled the scene, hid his car for several days, and the fact that he only initially gave a false version of what happened days later after his buddy had already given the police the actual story complicated his situation, and not a gun modification.
He testified tbat he did not recall pulling the trigger. Under the law justifiable homicide or self defense could only be sustained by a deliberate act and not an accident as he claimed.