Use of Force
Use of force under self-defense law splits into two categories: ordinary physical force (pushing, hitting, throwing objects) and deadly physical force (anything creating a real risk of death or serious injury, whether or not a weapon is used). The line between the two isn't always obvious since context matters a lot (a six-year-old's punch and a grown man's punch aren't treated the same), so if you ever have to use force to protect yourself, the article stresses calling 911 first, then your attorney.
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Traveling Across State Lines with Firearms - What You Need to Know
A cross-country road trip can turn into a felony arrest faster than most gun owners realize, and federal law only protects you if you follow its rules to the letter. Attorney Emma K. Wittmann breaks down FOPA, how state lines can quietly strip away that protection, and what to actually do before you hit the road with a firearm.
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Justice or Just Luck?
A ten second bar fight ends fast, but deciding whether it was self-defense or a crime can take months, and it often comes down to one prosecutor asking a single question: what would twelve jurors think? This piece breaks down exactly what prosecutors weigh when they're deciding whether to charge you, and why the same set of facts can go two very different ways depending on who's reviewing them.
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Can You Go to Jail Even if it was Self-Defense? Absolutely Yes.
You did everything right. You were in real danger, you defended yourself, and the threat is gone. But being right and being able to prove it are two very different fights, and Attorney Howard A. Snader breaks down why self-defense claims can still land you in handcuffs, in court, and in front of a jury months later.
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Are You Ready to Testify?
In self-defense cases, you're often already "testifying" before you ever meet your attorney, through the 911 call, your body language, even what you don't say. Attorney Joey Hamby breaks down the real fears people have about taking the stand and exactly how he preps clients to handle cross-examination without losing their composure or their case.
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Are You a Reasonable Person?
Feeling threatened is only half the equation. This article breaks down the "reasonable person" standard, the objective legal test that decides whether your split-second decision to use force holds up in court, and why your fear alone won't cut it.
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Protecting Your Pet
Think pulling a gun to stop someone from hurting your dog is self-defense? Legally, pets count as property, not people, which means that "protective" instinct could get you charged with a crime, not praised for it.
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How the Supreme Court Kept Hawaii's "Vampire Law" From Sucking the Life Out of Bruen
Hawaii tried to get around the Supreme Court's Bruen ruling with a sneaky workaround: instead of banning concealed carry outright, it flipped the rule so every business was off limits to gun owners unless the owner said otherwise. AFF attorney Howard Snader breaks down how the Supreme Court saw through the trick in Wolford v. Lopez, and what it means for gun owners going forward.
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How Many Shots Is Too Many?
There is a saying that we teach young lawyers when we are training them on how to cross-examine a witness in court. We tell them, “Don’t ask one question too many.” The young lawyers then ask: “How do I know which question will be one too many?” The answer is that you don’t know until the answer hurts your case.
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Just Shut Up!
After a self-defense incident, many people believe the best thing they can do is immediately tell law enforcement, “I was defending myself.” While that may seem logical, making any statement—no matter how short—can create significant legal problems down the road.
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