AOR Covers You Even if Your Incident Involved a Negligent Discharge
You find yourself in a situation where you must draw your firearm in self-defense after an aggressive individual approaches you while you’re walking to your car. During the struggle, your gun unintentionally discharges, missing the assailant but hitting a nearby vehicle. Although the immediate threat has been neutralized, you are now under investigation. You feel confident that all the years you’ve paid into your self-defense insurance will finally provide support. However, they deny your claim, stating it was due to the “negligent discharge of your firearm.”
This scenario is not hypothetical; it is real and unfortunately common. It highlights a harsh truth: many self-defense legal programs backed by traditional insurance companies exclude coverage as soon as a shot is labeled “negligent.” However, The Attorneys On Retainer (AOR) Program is different.
At The Attorneys For Freedom Law Firm (AFF), we know that real self-defense incidents are seldom neat or predictable. That is why our AOR Program will cover your defense even in the event of a negligent discharge. Unlike traditional insurance programs, AOR is backed by a law firm dedicated to your protection.
What Is a Negligent Discharge?
The term “negligent discharge” generally describes the unintentional firing of a gun due to some sort of human error. It is distinct from an “accidental discharge,” which occurs because of a mechanical malfunction of the weapon.
Negligent discharges can occur even when a person is lawfully defending themselves, but this important context is often overlooked. Prosecutors may emphasize the term “negligence” to justify criminal charges. By labeling your actions as careless or reckless, they can argue that your use of force was unlawful, even if you intended to act in self-defense.
It is crucial to differentiate between actual recklessness and an unintentional discharge that occurs during a defensive action. Unfortunately, most self-defense insurance programs do not make this distinction.
The Problem with Most Legal Self-Defense Insurance Backed Programs
Many self-defense programs supported by traditional insurance may not cover your self-defense actions if they are deemed ambiguous. When an incident is characterized by terms such as “negligence,” “recklessness,” or even “error,” these programs often invoke exclusions that leave their members unrepresented. Their policies typically contain loopholes that allow them to deny coverage if the self-defense act does not align with their internal standards.
At AOR, we believe that legal defense should not be conditional. We understand that real-life self-defense situations are often complex. The stress, fear, and physical confrontation involved can lead to unpredictable outcomes. One unintentional shot should not strip you of your right to representation. Therefore, we do not deny coverage based on whether a negligent discharge occurred during a self-defense incident. We will represent you if you meet our three established criteria:
- You are charged (or are reasonably concerned about being charged) with a crime (felony or misdemeanor).
- You can reasonably and in good faith assert that you acted in self-defense or defense of others.
- The charges arise out of conduct that occurred entirely after you became a member of AOR.
Why This Matters
Negligent discharges are one of the most common reasons gun owners face criminal charges. They happen to both new and experienced firearm owners, and can occur in ordinary circumstances, such as cleaning your firearm, or extraordinary circumstances, like when you are forced to act in self-defense.
In 2024, there were over 1,400 unintentional shooting incidents reported in the United States (Gun Violence Archive, 2025). This statistic emphasizes that even responsible and experienced gun owners can be subjected to legal investigations after a single unintentional discharge. The consequences of such incidents can be significant, whether they occur during a stressful self-defense scenario or as a result of an honest mistake. Without robust legal protections, a momentary lapse in judgment can lead to criminal charges, civil liability, and potentially the loss of constitutional rights.
Real World Examples
Example 1: Unintentional Shot During a Physical Struggle
You draw your firearm as someone lunges at you. In the close-quarters struggle, your finger accidentally slips inside the trigger guard, causing a round to discharge unintentionally and strike a nearby parked car. Even though you were trying to defend yourself, prosecutors are now considering charging you.
Example 2: Firing While Moving Under Stress
While retreating from a perceived threat in a parking lot, you draw your firearm but stumble. As you regain your balance, a shot unintentionally fires into the pavement near passing pedestrians. Although no one is hit, you are detained and questioned about your handling of the weapon under pressure.
Example 3: Discharge While Drawing From Concealment
In a high-adrenaline situation, you reach for your concealed carry weapon. As you draw, your shirt accidentally catches the trigger, causing the firearm to discharge before it clears the holster. The round hits the floor of a crowded store. No injuries occur, but you are charged with discharging a firearm in a public place.
The AOR Difference
Many responsible gun owners rely on self-defense insurance programs that often come with extensive lists of exclusions, limitations, and vague definitions.
At AOR, we defend our members when it matters most. If you inadvertently fire your weapon while defending yourself or someone else, we will represent you. Because when your freedom is at stake, you deserve a defense, not a denial letter.
The legal landscape surrounding self-defense can be unpredictable, with outcomes often dependent on small details and subjective interpretations. That is why AOR is founded on a clear and unwavering principle: if you acted in self-defense and your case meets our three established criteria, we will represent you.
As a self-defense program backed by a law firm, we established our own Risk Retention Group (RRG) to operate independently of traditional insurance regulations. This allows us to set our own standards for representation. Our team consists of experienced criminal defense attorneys committed to defending freedom, not judging how it was protected.
Read our full “We Cover You Even If…” series to see how far that commitment goes.
Conclusion
If you carry a firearm for self-defense, it’s essential to have more than just a standard self-defense program supported by traditional insurance – you need a dedicated law firm. By joining The AOR Program, you can be confident that if you act in lawful self-defense, our experienced legal team will be there to support you and provide the representation you deserve.
Citation GVA – 10 year Review, Gun Violence Archive (2025), https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/ (last visited on October 30, 2025).
