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terryg wrote:Does anybody think there could be potential legal issues if you were involved in an otherwise 100% justified shooting while using a weapon in which you had self modified some portion - especially a 'safety' feature?

I am considering whether on not to remove the magazine disconnect on my new SR9c. I understand the potential warranty issues involved. But I was wondering if I might somehow be placing myself in greater legal jeopardy if I was ever required to use the modified gun in a self defense situation - even if that modification had no bearing on the shooting incident. Any thoughts?

austinrealtor wrote:RE: hair triggers and prosecutors

As it specifically relates to the OP's question of semi-auto vs. revolver, I tend not to worry about such things if I ever find myself staring down the gavel from a judge's bench. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6 and all that.

But more importantly, I think most of these "prosecutor's tricks" can be easily countered with sound arguments (of course IANAL so what do I know about such things?)

A trigger that FEELS RIGHT to the shooter and helps the shooter shoot their weapon more accurately is always a good thing in my book. Obviously, as with anything, you can go "too far" with this thinking. A 1911 competition gun with a true "hair trigger" is not a good idea for carrying purposes.

Prosecutor: "Why did you intall that hair trigger on your gun. Isn't that dangerous? You were hoping to kill someone weren't you?"
Me: "No sir/ma'am, I was hoping to hit what I was aiming at - and only what I was aiming at - so that I would not injure or kill innocent bystanders. I customized my Glock with a 3.5-pound trigger connector because with constant range practice I realized that gave me the best chance possible to hit my target if, God forbid, I ever had to use my weapon in self-defense, which is what happened on the day in question."

Now apply the same scenario to hollow point bullets, which as we all "know" serve only one purpose - "to kill human beings"

Prosecutor: "You loaded your weapon with Acme Jacketed Razor Talon Hollow Point Man Killer bullets because you wanted to KILL someone, didn't you?"
Me: "No sir/ma'am, I loaded my weapon with hollow point bullets because numerous studies I've read and amateur testing I've conducted myself show they are less likely to overpenetrate a body and cause risk to innocent bystanders, they are more effective at more quickly incapacitating an attacking person or animal - thus stopping or neutralizing the threat to my physical safety, and because most law enforcement officers carry the same or similar ammunition in their weapons for the same or similar reasons"

Of course, the way lawyers work, there's a good chance I'd never be allowed on the stand in the first place. But my point is, a prosecutor's "tricks" would seem to be easily countered in court with sound reasoning, scientific evidence, expert testimony, etc.

Long story short (too late) ... I don't worry that a prosecutor may use a particular aspect of my carry gun against me. If my gun and ammo are legal and I only shot the person who was threatening me with reasonable fear of immediate serious physical injury or death and did not miss and hit an innocent bystander or someone else's property, then I'll take my chances with idiot prosecutors underhanded tricks.

austinrealtor wrote:My response to same/similar question in another thread below ...

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austinrealtor wrote:RE: hair triggers and prosecutors

As it specifically relates to the OP's question of semi-auto vs. revolver, I tend not to worry about such things if I ever find myself staring down the gavel from a judge's bench. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6 and all that.

But more importantly, I think most of these "prosecutor's tricks" can be easily countered with sound arguments (of course IANAL so what do I know about such things?)

A trigger that FEELS RIGHT to the shooter and helps the shooter shoot their weapon more accurately is always a good thing in my book. Obviously, as with anything, you can go "too far" with this thinking. A 1911 competition gun with a true "hair trigger" is not a good idea for carrying purposes.

Prosecutor: "Why did you intall that hair trigger on your gun. Isn't that dangerous? You were hoping to kill someone weren't you?"
Me: "No sir/ma'am, I was hoping to hit what I was aiming at - and only what I was aiming at - so that I would not injure or kill innocent bystanders. I customized my Glock with a 3.5-pound trigger connector because with constant range practice I realized that gave me the best chance possible to hit my target if, God forbid, I ever had to use my weapon in self-defense, which is what happened on the day in question."

Now apply the same scenario to hollow point bullets, which as we all "know" serve only one purpose - "to kill human beings"

Prosecutor: "You loaded your weapon with Acme Jacketed Razor Talon Hollow Point Man Killer bullets because you wanted to KILL someone, didn't you?"
Me: "No sir/ma'am, I loaded my weapon with hollow point bullets because numerous studies I've read and amateur testing I've conducted myself show they are less likely to overpenetrate a body and cause risk to innocent bystanders, they are more effective at more quickly incapacitating an attacking person or animal - thus stopping or neutralizing the threat to my physical safety, and because most law enforcement officers carry the same or similar ammunition in their weapons for the same or similar reasons"

Of course, the way lawyers work, there's a good chance I'd never be allowed on the stand in the first place. But my point is, a prosecutor's "tricks" would seem to be easily countered in court with sound reasoning, scientific evidence, expert testimony, etc.

Long story short (too late) ... I don't worry that a prosecutor may use a particular aspect of my carry gun against me. If my gun and ammo are legal and I only shot the person who was threatening me with reasonable fear of immediate serious physical injury or death and did not miss and hit an innocent bystander or someone else's property, then I'll take my chances with idiot prosecutors underhanded tricks.

terryg wrote:Excellent quote, thank you. I was thinking along the same lines. "You removed a manufacturer installed safety feature of you weapon. Are you a gun-smith? Do you like the idea of carrying an 'un-safe' weapon?"

PUCKER wrote:if you are justified in using deadly force against the perp then it doesn't matter what the weapon was - ie hand, knee, elbow, bat, golf club, mace, sword, pistol, shotgun, rifle, Jeep, truck, knife, rolling pin, frying pan, legally-owned full-auto machine gun, legally-owned suppressed pistol, legally-owned SBR, etc

gigag04 wrote:

PUCKER wrote:if you are justified in using deadly force against the perp then it doesn't matter what the weapon was - ie hand, knee, elbow, bat, golf club, mace, sword, pistol, shotgun, rifle, Jeep, truck, knife, rolling pin, frying pan, legally-owned full-auto machine gun, legally-owned suppressed pistol, legally-owned SBR, etc

This

PUCKER wrote:

gigag04 wrote:

PUCKER wrote:if you are justified in using deadly force against the perp then it doesn't matter what the weapon was - ie hand, knee, elbow, bat, golf club, mace, sword, pistol, shotgun, rifle, Jeep, truck, knife, rolling pin, frying pan, legally-owned full-auto machine gun, legally-owned suppressed pistol, legally-owned SBR, etc

This

I am considering whether on not to remove the magazine disconnect on my new SR9c

ghostrider wrote:

I am considering whether on not to remove the magazine disconnect on my new SR9c

Its not something I would lose sleep over. In my opinion magazine disconnects (thank you for not calling it a 'safety') are a crutch and encourage bad gun handling practices. I remove them from Browning hi-powers.

ghostrider wrote:(thank you for not calling it a 'safety')

terryg wrote:If anything, i think it is an 'anti-safety' feature for the user. The most optimal time for a magazine change is after the last round of the current magazine is chambered, but before it is fired. But if in the middle of the mag change when my adrenaline is pumping, I am shaking and drop the mag and the BG sees this and rushes me - I want to be able to fire that round!!