The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Defense and Tactics => Topic started by: bbbean on April 19, 2009, 12:55:35 PM
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I'v heard the standard argument that any gun you might use for self defense should have at least a 4 lb trigger and not be TOO customized, etc. I understand the logic, and think it makes a lot of sense.
On the other hand, I spend most of my time shooting guns with a 2 lb trigger, and if mife depended on it, I'd sure rather have the gun I'm used to shooting under pressure, at moving targets, etc.
What I'm curious about is whether anyone can cite specific cases where someone's trigger weight or use of competitive gear was introduced in court, or was cited as a major factor in someone being charged or convicted for a self-defense shooting.
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If you shot a bad guy in your house with a gun with a two pound trigger I don't think anyone would say a thing. I believe what they are talking about is in a stressful situation, having a gun with a two pound trigger pull is not a good idea becuse of the chance of a AD.
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One other thing i'd like to add. I also shoot competition and reload my own rounds. Just for competition! I wound never use reloads for self defense! I use factory defense loads only. Not that I don't think that I can make good defense rounds. It's just that I don't want to be in front of a jury some day defending myself that i'm some kind of a vigilante. I could invision some lawyer up there saying "Over the counter bullets were'nt good enough for him! He had to make his own hot rounds, just to kill someone!"
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When I visited with my attorney he would not be the one defending me if ever needed. Not because he had an issue with it, but because it was not an area he was well versed in. He told me that if I found myself in need to call him, and he had two very good attorneys available for this.
I asked him some basic questions, a couple of which touched on comepetition guns and reload ammo. I asked these, because if I ever find myself needing this at home (inside or in the yard) it is possible that the gun and ammo I take could be a competition gun I grab. His colleagues both responded that if I am a competitor they would have no problem with guns or reload ammo in a defense. However, they prefered that they not have explain an open gun to the jury ... I never said anything about types of guns, and my attorney knows nothing about guns or what I have, so these guys gave me some confidence just off of understanding of competiton.
Their biggest concern was that I not load specific loads just for self defense. But hotter, faster, slower, heavier and lighter for competiton were a non-issue, as were bullet style.
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The issue of a light, or "hair" trigger could be brought up by a prosecutor...let's face it, they are more concerned with conviction rates than they are with truth, common sense, or justice.
That being said, a light trigger on a ccompetition pistol, or even on a good custom pistol can be easily overcome by a good defense lawyer who asks the right questions to counter the prosecutor.
Pros: "Didn't you, in fact, lighten the trigger on your gun to make it MORE DEADLY like an old west gunfighter?
Defendant: "No, quite the opposite. I had the work done by a professional gunsmith to make the trigger lighter AND safer, to aid in accuracy, thereby making it MORE SAFE, and MORE ACCURATE thereby reducing the chance of a missed shot hitting a bystander. This is the gun I most often practice with, and am very competent with this pistol."
So, if the right answers are given, you are in a good shape. Just be sure to read ALL of Ayoob's books on self defense, and be prepared to field stupid questions out of left field.
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If you carry you should consider joining The Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network. Like your gun, let's hope you never need it, but also like your gun, it's nice to know they are there if you do.
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Once again, I'm not so much looking for conversation about what COULD happen as I am looking for instances of light trigger, FO sights, grip enhancements, or simply the fact that one is a competitor being used against a self-defense shooter.
There are a lot of gun store lawyers out there to think up every possible thing that could go wrong, but I'd like to read about when things go wrong in real life.