To start, I'm not asking what is better for home defense, just wondering about the legal issues.
With so many anti gun and sue happy people and lawyers these days I've been thinking; which would be easier to defend in court and not go to jail:
1. Someone breaks into your house and you fear for your family's lives. You kill the person with a shotgun.
2. Someone breaks into your house and you fear for your family's lives. You kill the person with an "assault rifle" like an ar-15, ak47 type, etc.
3. Someone breaks into your house and you fear for your family's lives. You kill the person with a handgun.
Keep in mind, each situation is exactly the same..just different firearm.
In my mind if you use number 2, the opposing lawyer could show a picture of the weapon to the jury and argue that the weapon you used is and "assault weapon" way too overboard for home defense, etc. And since there are so many people who are ignorant to firearms, the jury may see his/her point.
Any opinions and criticisms are welcome!
EDIT: By saying "assault rifle" I mean what the general public who know nothing about firearms sees as an "assault rifle", not the actual definition of one.
With so many anti gun and sue happy people and lawyers these days I've been thinking; which would be easier to defend in court and not go to jail:
1. Someone breaks into your house and you fear for your family's lives. You kill the person with a shotgun.
2. Someone breaks into your house and you fear for your family's lives. You kill the person with an "assault rifle" like an ar-15, ak47 type, etc.
3. Someone breaks into your house and you fear for your family's lives. You kill the person with a handgun.
Keep in mind, each situation is exactly the same..just different firearm.
In my mind if you use number 2, the opposing lawyer could show a picture of the weapon to the jury and argue that the weapon you used is and "assault weapon" way too overboard for home defense, etc. And since there are so many people who are ignorant to firearms, the jury may see his/her point.
Any opinions and criticisms are welcome!
EDIT: By saying "assault rifle" I mean what the general public who know nothing about firearms sees as an "assault rifle", not the actual definition of one.
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