What Lawyers Need to Know?

[Deanimator]

If you were a criminal defense attorney attending a class on firearms, what kind of technical and legal information would benefit you most?

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Treo]

This quote

"Any Lawyer worth his salt will tell the suspect in no uncertain terms to make no statement to the police under any circumstances "

[Deanimator]

This quote

"Any Lawyer worth his salt will tell the suspect in no uncertain terms to make no statement to the police under any circumstances "

He shouldn't have a bar card if he doesn't know that.

I'm thinking more in terms about firearms related things that come up during discovery, trial, etc. I'm talking about the kinds of "facts" that prosecutors sometimes glean from old episodes of "The A Team".

Based on well known examples, like the guy who just got released on appeal, some defense attorneys allow things to be slipped by them that never should have if they had any knowledge of firearms at all.

[razor02097]

I would think a basic understanding of how a pistol, shotgun and rifle works as well as gun "terms" and be able to name basic parts of said firearms.

If the lawyer can be quoted with saying something about a gun without sounding like an idiot such as "he loaded a clip in the glock" (when it was a magazine inserted into a pistol)

Eh maybe I'm just picky

[Deanimator]

I would think a basic understanding of how a pistol, shotgun and rifle works as well as gun "terms" and be able to name basic parts of said firearms.

If the lawyer can be quoted with saying something about a gun without sounding like an idiot such as "he loaded a clip in the glock" (when it was a magazine inserted into a pistol)

Eh maybe I'm just picky

No, those are worthwhile things. I was thinking of some things less obvious.

Of course I grind my teeth when people fumble the obvious.

[boscobeans]

Something I think a defense lawyer must be well versed in are the truths vs the lies that exist about guns and bullets. Terms used like machine gun, automatic, cop-killer, dum-dum, black talon bullets spinning like a buzz saw, and the like.

Depending on the area many jury members may have never even seen a real gun in person. Their only experience or knowledge is from watching the BS on TV or in movies. The above terms can easily stick in a juror's mind during a trial and swing a decision.

"John Doe was at home when Mr PERP broke down his front door to ask for directions. Mr. Doe fired three shots from his .45 caliber automatic pistol. Mr. PERP fell dead on the spot killed as the almost explosive lead and copper dum-dum bullets, spinning at 30,000 revolutions a minute, tore through his chest. Yes, bullets that cannot even be used by our Military in a war. Bullets outlawed by the Geneva Convention. Yes he fired three of these bullets. Even though just one of these specially designed bullets becomes a blender as it kills anyone in its way."

As far as the legal aspects... That's where law school and prior positive defense trial transcripts might come into play.

IANAL and this is OMO . I am sure there is a lot more to it than that.

bosco

[Deanimator]

Something I think a defense lawyer must be well versed in are the truths vs the lies that exist about guns and bullets. Terms used like machine gun, automatic, cop-killer, dum-dum, black talon bullets spinning like a buzz saw, and the like.

Depending on the area many jury members may have never even seen a real gun in person. Their only experience or knowledge is from watching the BS on TV or in movies. The above terms can easily stick in a juror's mind during a trial and swing a decision.

"John Doe was at home when Mr PERP broke down his front door to ask for directions. Mr. Doe fired three shots from his .45 caliber automatic pistol. Mr. PERP fell dead on the spot killed as the almost explosive lead and copper dum-dum bullets, spinning at 30,000 revolutions a minute, tore through his chest. Yes, bullets that cannot even be used by our Military in a war. Bullets outlawed by the Geneva Convention. Yes he fired three of these bullets. Even though just one of these specially designed bullets becomes a blender as it kills anyone in its way."

As far as the legal aspects... That's where law school and prior positive defense trial transcripts might come into play.

IANAL and this is OMO . I am sure there is a lot more to it than that.

bosco

Those are the sorts of things I'm talking about.

Thanks.

Any more?