It's amazing how much you have to pay for a free Constitutional right. Like many of you I have a Georgia Weapons Carry License...had to pay for it, of course and it's only valid five years at a time. Also like many of you, I "carry" (meaning I have a handgun on me) most of the time too. A police chief friend of mine says he never goes anywhere without a gun anymore and from the looks of today's headlines that's probably a good idea. As you know even if an on-duty police officer has to shoot someone, there's immediate desk duty and a full investigation begins. The Chatham County Grand Jury just ruled some Savannah Police Officers were justified in shooting and killing the scumbag who fatally shot Sgt. Kelvin Ansari a few weeks back. But although I have a handgun does not mean I ever--EVER--wish to use it other than at the shooting range firing at something that does not shoot back. The thought of even thinking about having to draw it in fear/anger is abhorrent to me and the thought of having to actually pull the trigger even if it's to save my, or my wife's, life is horrifying. I have no desire to take a human life no matter how bad the attacker is. I'm still upset over accidentally running over one of my favorite cats in our driveway 22 years ago nor will I ever get over it.
You probably feel the same way. But here's the dirty little secret, if you ever, God forbid, ever have to pull that trigger to save your life, the next step: you now have to defend it. In other words, you can be completely justified and after a hearing and trial you're found "not guilty" the story ain't over. The first phase was the criminal trial, chances are a family member(s) of the person you shot is going to sue you in civil court. Case-in-point, the O. J. Simpson case where he was found not guilty in the criminal court but the two people he actually did murder (despite the stupid jury decision) families sued him in civil court and he was found guilty there and fined millions of dollars. You too could find yourself in a similar boat when the person you HAD to kill or be killed comes after you in a civil case. Juries fall for crying moms quite often. But let's say you're found "not guilty" in that case too, your legal expenses my be in the tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars. Imagine finding yourself in a position of having to empty your entire life savings and perhaps even having to sell your house to pay those expenses.
There's a way to avoid this nightmare and there's a seminar next Tuesday night at American Legion Post 184 on 3003 Rowland Avenue in Thunderbolt. It's sponsored by Thunderbolt Guns and it's put on by U. S. Law Shield. This is not insurance, it's a firearms legal defense program. For a nominal monthly fee you can sign up and if you ever have to shoot (and perhaps kill) someone, you simply call the toll-free number for U. S. Law Shield and they guarantee you'll have an attorney by your side within two hours. My wife Pam and I signed up for this amazing service about a year ago. There is no further expense on your part and that attorney(s) will be with you from start to finish. You don't have to take a dime out of your savings or have to worry about where you're going to live. The seminar starts Tuesday night at 6:00 and is over at 8:30. Go! Take a look and hear from police officers, lawyers and gun dealer Dick Berman. Another great feature is if you're traveling, you can call U. S. Law Shield and tell them where you're going and they can advise you about the gun laws in that state (or country) too. Check it out for yourself. You'll learn what to do as soon as the shooting is over, what to say to the police and, just as important, what NOT to say to the police. Remember you have a right to remain silent and that's a good time to exercise it. Hope you can make it and, like having smoke detectors in your home, hope you never have to use it.