Aaron1124
Regular Member
imported post
I often hear/read people discussing the liabilities in using a firearm in self defense, and the potential legal repercussions that may come with it. I am aware that self defense laws vary greatly, state by state, but I live in the state of Washington, and am well aware of the self defense laws here, including use of force, when justified, and justifiable homicide. It's not really a gray area. State law is very clear.
My question is more so asking for your opinion. Why do you feel that there are more people who are immediately more concerned with potential legal repercussions of their actions? How many state's have such a gray and shady area of self defense?
I often hear people saying how you'll have to "prove yourself innocent in front of a jury."
In all of the articles and news broadcasts that I've read and watched, I have never once heard of a case where an individual, who truly and justifiably defended there self against an attacker, who also had to prove his innocence in front of a jury. In every case I have read or watched, the prosecutor did not even bring up charges on the individual. Usually, if the prosecutor brings up charges, then that prosecutor has reasonable evidence to believe you truly did not act within self defense, or used more force than necessary.
If, by chance that the prosecutor was wrong in his/her charges, and you truly were innocent, then your chances of convincing a jury would seem pretty good, as long as you're completely truthful about the situation, don't fabricate evidence, and don't overly mix your story up. I have a friend who is a prosecuting attorney, and he said that it's actually normal for a story to get mixed up a little bit, considering the heat of the moment, and the fact that you may not be thinking too clearly when giving your description of the incident.
Anyway, what are your opinions on true self defense cases that actually make it to trial VS ones that aren't even prosecuted at all? It seems very 90-10 to me, with 90% of them not even getting prosecuted in the first place. At least where I'm from, and their sources.
I often hear/read people discussing the liabilities in using a firearm in self defense, and the potential legal repercussions that may come with it. I am aware that self defense laws vary greatly, state by state, but I live in the state of Washington, and am well aware of the self defense laws here, including use of force, when justified, and justifiable homicide. It's not really a gray area. State law is very clear.
My question is more so asking for your opinion. Why do you feel that there are more people who are immediately more concerned with potential legal repercussions of their actions? How many state's have such a gray and shady area of self defense?
I often hear people saying how you'll have to "prove yourself innocent in front of a jury."
In all of the articles and news broadcasts that I've read and watched, I have never once heard of a case where an individual, who truly and justifiably defended there self against an attacker, who also had to prove his innocence in front of a jury. In every case I have read or watched, the prosecutor did not even bring up charges on the individual. Usually, if the prosecutor brings up charges, then that prosecutor has reasonable evidence to believe you truly did not act within self defense, or used more force than necessary.
If, by chance that the prosecutor was wrong in his/her charges, and you truly were innocent, then your chances of convincing a jury would seem pretty good, as long as you're completely truthful about the situation, don't fabricate evidence, and don't overly mix your story up. I have a friend who is a prosecuting attorney, and he said that it's actually normal for a story to get mixed up a little bit, considering the heat of the moment, and the fact that you may not be thinking too clearly when giving your description of the incident.
Anyway, what are your opinions on true self defense cases that actually make it to trial VS ones that aren't even prosecuted at all? It seems very 90-10 to me, with 90% of them not even getting prosecuted in the first place. At least where I'm from, and their sources.