Firearm Training in the Courtroom - Could it Be a Bad Thing?

If you ever find yourself in a courtroom because of an issue with a firearm, you might be a bit nervous wondering whether your firearm training will be beneficial or detrimental. 

Obviously, no one wants to end up in court for an accident or trying to prove their innocence in an incident with a gun. But, it does happen. If you carry a firearm with you or you’ve had to use it in a self-defense situation, you will likely have to prove yourself in the eyes of the law. 

That can be nervewracking for anyone. 

So, is it better to have gone through firearm training, or could it hurt your chances in court? 

Are There Any Cons to Firearm Training in the Eyes of the Law?

The main cause for concern about firearm training is that some attorneys or public defenders might try to use it against you. If someone gets hurt because of your firearm, their attorney might argue that because of your training, you should have known what you were doing. That no one should have gotten hurt. 

Or, they could argue that because of your training, you took things too far. You wanted to be some kind of vigilante or use your skills to your advantage. It can be very easy for an experienced attorney to try to flip the script and make it seem as though you did something wrong because of your training. 

But, it is always better to have firearm training in the courtroom, rather than having none. 

Benefits of Firearm Training in the Courtroom

Even if an attorney tries to work a story against you about your training, you could find yourself in much more trouble if you use a gun with no training and end up in court. Without training, your liability increases. That skilled attorney could argue that you had no right to be using a gun, and that your carelessness and wrecklessness caused serious harm or damage. 

Additionally, your own attorney (or you, defending yourself) can address the court about the different areas of firearm training. A big problem is that so many people think training is just about learning how to shoot. 

In reality, it’s so much more than that. Someone with enough training knows that you would never just shoot someone without warning. You would give them a fair chance to stop the action they’re doing, put their own weapon down, etc. Many times, shooting your gun is actually a last resort. And, with the right training you can make a fast, informed decision when it comes to how and where to shoot your gun. 

So, again, no one wants to end up in court or in front of a judge because they fired off their gun. But, going in front of a court without firearm training can put you at a much greater risk of being found at fault. With training and knowledge, you can explain that you knew what you were doing and the reasons why it was the just, legal thing to do.