[Lunch Meat]

One thing that I notice frequently on this forum is people starting threads asking "What are the gun laws in this state?" or " Is it okay for me to carry here?"

When these questions get asked it seems that one of the more common responses is "Well some random unnamed cop/ gun store employee/ my concealed carry instructor whose class I took 10 years ago said....."

So I'm wondering how many people here have actually troubled themselves to sit down and read their state's black-letter self-defense laws.

 

[Badazuwanme2b]

I have. Would be silly not to.

 

[Lunch Meat]

I have. Would be silly not to.

You would think but clearly a lot of people haven't.

I was reading a story on Facebook yesterday. Happened in Virginia two guys met to sell a cell phone and apparently one guy decided to steal the cell phone from the other. So the thief gets the phone turns to run away and the victim of the theft shoots him and kills him. The shooter just got sentenced to seven years in prison for voluntary manslaughter because the shooting wasn't justified.

In the face of insurmountable evidence to the contrary over half the people that responded to that discussion said the shooter was completely in the right to shoot somebody over a property crime and that they would do the same.

 

[Spats McGee]

So I'm wondering how many people here have actually troubled themselves to sit down and read their state's black-letter self-defense laws.

I routinely read Arkansas' statutes, and I monitor the case law in my state and circuit.

 

[johnmltb]

Absolutely! Before I received my pistol permit and first forearm, I read the North Carolina statutes and regs. (while I was waiting a few days!

 

[oregon9mm]

Out of state travel makes even more important to do so. The variability can be significant. As a ccw guy it’s bit of an obligation to learn local and state laws.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Lunch Meat]

I routinely read Arkansas' statutes, and I monitor the case law in my state and circuit.

The fact that you chimed in on this reminded me of a discussion about Colorado gun laws on THR.
One of the moderators in the legal forum stated the Colorado law specifies if you have a firearm in your vehicle it must be carried in plain view. No such law exist in Colorado

 

[Lunch Meat]

I routinely read Arkansas' statutes, and I monitor the case law in my state and circuit.

Case law is important. There was a case in Colorado where a man was arrested and charged with felony menacing because he slapped his hand on his hip or his gun was under his jacket well he was arguing with the man about a debt that the man owed. He wasn't convicted but the amount of hassle that he went through was enough to make me very careful how I interact with people when I'm carrying a gun

 

[Americanpatriot]

It's in everyone's best interest to be well versed in use of force law's and gun laws wherever we may be carrying. In addition to firearm safety as we are accountable. for our actions.

 

[fl_snub_noz]

in order to operate within the law you need to know and understand it so yes i have read them

 

[CHNeal]

Over and over and over...

 

[Spats McGee]

The fact that you chimed in on this reminded me of a discussion about Colorado gun laws on THR.
One of the moderators in the legal forum stated the Colorado law specifies if you have a firearm in your vehicle it must be carried in plain view. No such law exist in Colorado

I'm a mod on THR, so I'll go take a look at that one. If you know the name of the thread or want to PM me a link (so as not to derail this thread), feel free. It would shorten my search.

 

[Bren]

I have. Would be silly not to.

I agree, but people who have read them are rare among those who carry guns.

You would think but clearly a lot of people haven't.

I was reading a story on Facebook yesterday. Happened in Virginia two guys met to sell a cell phone and apparently one guy decided to steal the cell phone from the other. So the thief gets the phone turns to run away and the victim of the theft shoots him and kills him. The shooter just got sentenced to seven years in prison for voluntary manslaughter because the shooting wasn't justified.

In the face of insurmountable evidence to the contrary over half the people that responded to that discussion said the shooter was completely in the right to shoot somebody over a property crime and that they would do the same.

We often see the same here. Many Glock Talk members feels that any fistfight can be ended with a gun, regardless of what their state laws say.

 

[Bruce M]

I routinely read Arkansas' statutes, and I monitor the case law in my state and circuit.

I agree, but people who have read them are rare among those who carry guns.



We often see the same here. Many Glock Talk members feels that any fistfight can be ended with a gun, regardless of what their state laws say.

You two guys ought to know better than most, from perusing a few threads here from time to time, that it is pretty evident that a fair number of guys have not read the applicable statutes. And, perhaps even more importantly, that just because someone read a statute and/or a couple decisions, does not mean that they actually understand it.

 

[Spats McGee]

You two guys ought to know better than most, from perusing a few threads here from time to time, that it is pretty evident that a fair number of guys have not read the applicable statutes. And, perhaps even more importantly, that just because someone read a statute and/or a couple decisions, does not mean that they actually understand it.

Absolutely.

 

[ChuteTheMall]

Yes, I carefully study the statutes. I enjoy it.

I also recommend visiting state specific forums for news and discussions.
Some states also have useful books available, for example Florida Firearms by Jon Gutmacher with a new edition almost every year.

 

[PEC-Memphis]

Case law is important. There was a case in Colorado where a man was arrested and charged with felony menacing because he slapped his hand on his hip or his gun was under his jacket well he was arguing with the man about a debt that the man owed. He wasn't convicted but the amount of hassle that he went through was enough to make me very careful how I interact with people when I'm carrying a gun

Yes - and some lawyers will argue that (in the US) case law is functionally the only law. As case law is how statutory/codified law is interpreted - which may, may not, be the intent of the authors of the (statutory/codified) law. YMMV.

 

[Bren]

Never mind - misread

 

[flyover]

I have even went so far as to ask the state AG for clarification on certain parts of Kansas CC law.

 

[Lunch Meat]

The problem with this thread is that the Bubbas who go by what they heard on Facebook aren't going to post that they have NO IDEA what their state statutes sy.