Practicing criminal law from both sides over 19 years led me to hate certain truisms often thrown around on social media. These truisms aren’t only false, but dangerous. There are several that make me cringe when folks use them in regard to self-defense. Many regard them as “words to live by”, but in fact, they can get you thrown in prison.
The first is, “I’d rather be tried by twelve than carried out by six.” It’s stated by folks who can’t be bothered to take legal training in self-defense law or even consult a lawyer on their state’s self-defense statute. They tend to have a self-righteous and somewhat devil-may-care attitude of those who have taken too many cowboy movies too seriously. I assure you that they have never been the complainant or defendant in an actual criminal trial, or they would not be so anxious to take their worse-than-Vegas-chances on a jury trial.
Consider the cost of a homicide defense: it starts at $50,000 and that’s getting off cheap. Planning on a second mortgage is more realistic. The prosecutor will strike all gun dealers, hunters and NRA members off the jury. Your lawyer is ill-prepared 99% of the time because: 1.) They don’t teach self-defense law in law school criminal law classes; 2.) Your lawyer and the judge have never studied it. They mostly read the law and a few relevant cases before trial. (After all, they’ve got divorces, lawsuits, and a big criminal docket to clear). 3.) Your lawyer may not know that experts like me are available to enlighten the jury, or, if so, he doesn’t know how to use the expert effectively.
by Greg Hopkins
