Can you afford to defend yourself ???

[Plato]

I often read of the legal expense involved in even a perfect defensive shooting and wonder "what's a guy to do?" Some of us working stiffs would be in finacial ruin if hit with $50k in legal fees -makes an hourly wage Joe think its better to just take your chances and leave the guns at home.

I guess I'm wondering how you guys deal with these issues. Or is CHL just for rich folks

[atxgun]

The question you need to ask yourself is "Would I rather end up in debt for $50k or be dead?" Neither is desirable but one seems more preferable to me at any rate.

[KRM45]

The question you need to ask yourself is "Would I rather end up in debt for $50k or be dead?" Neither is desirable but one seems more preferable to me at any rate.

+1

I do not plan to get into a shooting situation. You see a lot of people say they will not use their firearm to defend anyone but thier own family. I don't agree, but I understand thier reasoning.

I would not trade my life or the life of any of my family members for $50,000, or any amount for that matter.

[WildBill]

I often read of the legal expense involved in even a perfect defensive shooting and wonder "what's a guy to do?" Some of us working stiffs would be in finacial ruin if hit with $50k in legal fees - makes an hourly wage Joe think its better to just take your chances and leave the guns at home.

I guess I'm wondering how you guys deal with these issues. Or is CHL just for rich folks

Your original question was "Can you afford to defend yourself?? My answer is "Can you afford not to?"

It's a sad state when people are worried more about the District Attorney than the criminals.

I think that part of the mind set that "every bullet has a lawyer attached to it" is part of the rhetoric that tries to discourage self defense and concealed carry. Think about it this way. If you get sick why bother going to the doctor, since you might die anyway?

Life is a gamble and sometimes things happen that you can't control, but with proper planning and training you can control your reaction to them. It is a valid concern to me, but that is why I do my best to keep up with the laws, take advanced training, practice, keep alert and try my best to stay out of dangerous situations.
Best of Luck to all of us!

[The Annoyed Man]

Can you afford to defend yourself ???

Can you afford not to? With all due respect, your question borders on the facetious. You do what you have to do. Not defending yourself is not a viable option. The state of Texas, in its wisdom, has seen fit to recognize the right of self-defense by whatever means necessary to stop a threat. If you have a CHL, and you act in accordance with the law, then you have nothing to worry about. It isn't going to cost you $50K to get no-billed, although it won't be free of cost either.

The silly part isn't that there might be a lawyer attached to every bullet - although that's bad enough - it is that the right to self-defense by whatever means necessary actually needs to be codified in law when the recognition of that right dates back to British common law, before our nation even existed.

[Stupid]

not sure what to answer. Assuming your wife has 100K life insurance. If someone's trying to kill her, since a justified self-defense shooting would cost you 50k while losing your wife would net you 100k, you would hold and let the wife die???

I know some people would do that and some wives probably deserve that, but certainly not in my case. Well, mostly she doesn't have 100K life insurance as an incentive. (Just kidding).

I think my family and my friends are worth more than 50k.

[Oldgringo]

There exists a group which allows you to prepay legal expenses for self-defense shootings.

I was not interested, but my belief is that you paid a certain amount each year (sort of like insurance).

Hopefully, someone else paid more attention to the ad, and can supply more information. It sounds like something you would be interested in.

Well, if one prepays for last rites (Boot Hill) one can reasonably assume the services will be needed - sooner or later. One can't help but wonder what happens to the prepayment of CHL defense funds if one never anyone?

[amber]

There exists a group which allows you to prepay legal expenses for self-defense shootings.

The ones I saw don't pay for the legal expenses of the trial. Just the stuff before it goes to trial. How broke do you have to be to get a public defender?

[Frost]

I am of the opinion that building wealth is important for a variety of reasons. If you are not sure how to build wealth then i would suggest looking up Dave Ramsey. He has an excellent get rich slow program.

[MBGuy]

$50,000? Maybe in Travis county where the county grand jury would go ahead and indict. The rest of Texas? Harris, Bexar, and Tarrant counties, maybe..........but the rest of Tx I would think it'd be an open and shut case when it's really a clear self-defense case.

In either case, I'd rather live and have a monthly payment to the lawyer for 20 years than have me or my family go 6 feet under, and experience even worse while on the way there.

[stevie_d_64]

Cost, like failure is not an option...

Like so many have already stated...Can you afford not to...

[casingpoint]

It's a sad state when people are worried more about the District Attorney than the criminals

Sad, but true dat.

The D.A. didn't phase Joe Horn, but the stars may not all be in such perfect alignment for the next person.

[bat1]

Plato,
In 1985 I was approached by two boys, with a base ball bat, I ended up in the hospital for 10 days, IT did not quit cost $50,000 dollars, but I was out alot, IT was close to have cost me my life. So, IF I had a CHL at that time, and I HAD to shoot to save my life.. I would have..

The Big question, You should never plan to shot, to where you need a lawyer, you should ONLY SHOW YOUR WEAPON IF THEY MAKE YOU!!! And THEY MADE you shoot them.. Then you should not need a lawyer!

If your at a point where you have to save your life, the lawyer should never come in your head.. I'm a working man, but I do want to see another day. I learned the hard way. The Question is do you want to learn the hard way or learn by others..


BUT, IF you decide to carry, do not just take the CCW class, you need read any of books, go to as many classes, as you can.
MY self, I want follow fully within the LAW, and understand !!

I will say, you have taken the correct step in using this forum, that does say a lot for you Good Luck


BAT

[BTin]

I have felt recently like it is unfortunate that low income people, who statistically are the most likely to need to defend themselves with a CHL, can't afford it. I wish there was a way to make the CHL fees cheaper for these people.