19 Apr 23

 

Prosecutors and Agendas:

 

There are two lessons I’ve lately found it necessary to particularly emphasize in my instruction with regard to expectations from our “legal system”

 

The following is based on my personal experience in recent lethal-force cases, and that of others among my close colleagues.

 

1) There is a definite anti-gun/anti-self-defense agenda among prosecutors, particularly those supported by Soros and other leftists, and the agenda seems exclusive to legal gun-owners. That is, violent career criminals who use guns in the commission of violent crimes often escape the wrath of leftist prosecutors, especially when they attack innocent legal gun-owners who use guns to defend themselves.

 

Actual criminals are often literally ignored by prosecutors, who concentrate all their anger on the poor home-owner who was just doing his best not to be murdered.

 

With such a skewed agenda firmly in-place, facts quickly become irrelevant!

 

I’ve seen it in play many times!

 

Prosecutors, instead of making a legitimate criminal case (because facts don’t support their contention) , instead concentrate on vilifying the person who used deadly force in legitimate self-defense.

 

They’ll bring-up all manner of irrelevant background:

 

>Organizations of which you are, or were, a member

>Web sites you visit

>Your regular use of racially/sexually derogatory language

>The fact that you own more than one gun, maybe a supply of ammunition

>Magazines to which you subscribe

>Books in your personal library

>The fact that your have a valid CCW Permit

>Threatening statements you make on social media, in private emails, even in purely private conversation!

 

All the above the judge should never allow the jury to hear, because it is not relevant, but I’m now seeing judges letting this stuff in on a regular basis!

 

Accordingly:

 

Watch what you say on social media, email, even private conversation. To be particularly avoided are:

 

>Threats/threatening comments directed at people or groups

>Expressing apparent approval of acts of violence

>Membership in, or allegiance with, fringe organizations- especially those who openly advocate illegal acts, violence.

>”Cheer-leading” violent actors who direct their violence at people or groups you don’t like

>Repeated use of bad language

 

Remember, this less-than-commendable information, while not “illegal,” is all “discoverable,” and I promise you the prosecutor will literally scour the internet in an attempt to find anything that makes you look less than respectable!

 

The time to be concerned about all this is now, “left of bang!”

 

2) When you are wrongfully accused, and your case goes to criminal trial, you will have to testify!

 

In every case in which I’ve been involved where the accused declines to testify in his own defense, the

outcome is bad!

 

Of course, under our Fifth Amendment, from the time of your arrest to when they lead you up the gallows, you don’t have to so much as give them your hat-size, and that may represent a good strategy in some cases, but probably not in yours!

 

I promise you the jury expects to hear your story, from your mouth, directly.

 

Defense attorneys are always afraid of putting clients on the stand for fear of them being cut-up under cross-examination, and that is always a risk, but in my experience you’re doing yourself no favor by remaining silent at trial

 

The jury needs to see and hear that you are a regular, even-tempered, reasonable, and decent person, maybe not perfect, but someone who tries to be a good person and has no desire to harm anyone.

 

Your attorney may have a clever, flowery closing-argument, but the jury will remember what they hear from you!

 

In any event, that is my current advise.

 

Most lethal-force events in which you might become involved are probably avoidable. Our legal system quickly and utterly bankrupts people who are accused of felonies, even those who are ultimately acquitted.

 

I’ll repeat my advice in the regard once more:

 

 

Our goal is never to see the inside of a courtroom, and ultimately die of old age!

 

/John

 

19 Apr 23

 

Prosecutors and Agendas:

 

There are two lessons I’ve lately found it necessary to particularly emphasize in my instruction with regard to expectations from our “legal system”

 

The following is based on my personal experience in recent lethal-force cases, and that of others among my close colleagues.

 

1) There is a definite anti-gun/anti-self-defense agenda among prosecutors, particularly those supported by Soros and other leftists, and the agenda seems exclusive to legal gun-owners. That is, violent career criminals who use guns in the commission of violent crimes often escape the wrath of leftist prosecutors, especially when they attack innocent legal gun-owners who use guns to defend themselves.

 

Actual criminals are often literally ignored by prosecutors, who concentrate all their anger on the poor home-owner who was just doing his best not to be murdered.

 

With such a skewed agenda firmly in-place, facts quickly become irrelevant!

 

I’ve seen it in play many times!

 

Prosecutors, instead of making a legitimate criminal case (because facts don’t support their contention) , instead concentrate on vilifying the person who used deadly force in legitimate self-defense.

 

They’ll bring-up all manner of irrelevant background:

 

>Organizations of which you are, or were, a member

>Web sites you visit

>Your regular use of racially/sexually derogatory language

>The fact that you own more than one gun, maybe a supply of ammunition

>Magazines to which you subscribe

>Books in your personal library

>The fact that your have a valid CCW Permit

>Threatening statements you make on social media, in private emails, even in purely private conversation!

 

All the above the judge should never allow the jury to hear, because it is not relevant, but I’m now seeing judges letting this stuff in on a regular basis!

 

Accordingly:

 

Watch what you say on social media, email, even private conversation. To be particularly avoided are:

 

>Threats/threatening comments directed at people or groups

>Expressing apparent approval of acts of violence

>Membership in, or allegiance with, fringe organizations- especially those who openly advocate illegal acts, violence.

>”Cheer-leading” violent actors who direct their violence at people or groups you don’t like

>Repeated use of bad language

 

Remember, this less-than-commendable information, while not “illegal,” is all “discoverable,” and I promise you the prosecutor will literally scour the internet in an attempt to find anything that makes you look less than respectable!

 

The time to be concerned about all this is now, “left of bang!”

 

2) When you are wrongfully accused, and your case goes to criminal trial, you will have to testify!

 

In every case in which I’ve been involved where the accused declines to testify in his own defense, the

outcome is bad!

 

Of course, under our Fifth Amendment, from the time of your arrest to when they lead you up the gallows, you don’t have to so much as give them your hat-size, and that may represent a good strategy in some cases, but probably not in yours!

 

I promise you the jury expects to hear your story, from your mouth, directly.

 

Defense attorneys are always afraid of putting clients on the stand for fear of them being cut-up under cross-examination, and that is always a risk, but in my experience you’re doing yourself no favor by remaining silent at trial

 

The jury needs to see and hear that you are a regular, even-tempered, reasonable, and decent person, maybe not perfect, but someone who tries to be a good person and has no desire to harm anyone.

 

Your attorney may have a clever, flowery closing-argument, but the jury will remember what they hear from you!

 

In any event, that is my current advise.

 

Most lethal-force events in which you might become involved are probably avoidable. Our legal system quickly and utterly bankrupts people who are accused of felonies, even those who are ultimately acquitted.

 

I’ll repeat my advice in the regard once more:

 

 

Our goal is never to see the inside of a courtroom, and ultimately die of old age!

 

/John