question for/about pro-gun attornies

M

Matt Bower

Inactive
This is a rather wordy post, but I hope someone on the board can provide me with a few leads. I'm especially interested in hearing from attornies who have specific applicable info, but anyone who thinks they have anything at all to contribute, PLEASE reply.

Since I'm new to this forum (used to be a regular on GunTalk at Shooters.com), let me briefly introduce myself. I'm 29, currently a Marine officer stationed in Georgia. I am leaving the Corps this summer, for a variety of reasons. Probaby first among them is that I have decided the greatest threat to America (as our forefathers knew it) isn't armed conflict with a foreign power--it's Americans! That being the case, I figure I can do more to ensure Americans' continued freedom as a civilian than I can as a Marine.

I hope to start law school this fall. I've already accepted an offer of admission at a law school in Virginia, and am now just trying to figure out how to finance the whole deal without starving my wife and two daughters. My primary motivation in wanting to become an attorney is that I'm tired of seeing money-grubbing hired guns and frothing-at-the-mouth liberal scumbags trying to litigate away our RKBA freedoms. (I have similiar concerns about other civil liberties, but the Second Amendment is by far closest to my heart. As long as it's preserved, any other problems are fixable.) SOMEONE needs to step up and fight back against those guys, and I very much want to be one of those "someones!"

My question, finally, is this: after I get my J.D., how do I get into this fight, on the right side? I know there are attornies out there doing this sort of work (Second Amendment Foundation's lawsuit against the American Council of Mayors proves it), but I've had very little luck finding out who they are, where they practice, or how I become one of them. I have uncovered some public interest firms with libertarian/conservative leanings and interest in civil liberties issues, but none that appear to be heavily into RKBA issues. I've tried contacting the Second Amendment Foundation for information, but have struck out at every turn. (I don't even know if SAF uses in-house attornies, or has developed a working relationship with one or more private firms.) I have also sent e-mails to the NRA and GOA asking the same sorts of questions, but haven't received a reply from either. So I've resorted to throwing the issue out to large groups of potentially interested observers, and seeing who bites. Can anyone out there provide me with any intel on this topic?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.
 
Matt,

Those are pretty hard questions. RKBA cases make up a very tiny percentage of the law business. Because of that, it's hard to find a steady source of these types of cases.

I was a public defender for six years and handled many cases involving firearms. Very few of these were RKBA-related. In any event you probably don't want to specialize in criminal law.

That leaves constitutional law as the specialty next most likely to involve you in RKBA cases. You should accept that other types of constitutional cases will probably comprise most of your business in the beginning at least. The best way, when you are starting out, may be to get on a referral list kept by a state RKBA organization as an attorney who will represent persons accused of violating firearms laws.

After you obtain a law degree and some courtroom experience, you can always teach to pay the bills and only take the cases that you want.

Good luck.

Ledbetter
 
I'm not a lawyer, but I have suggestions.

I would think that you could start by letting it be known that you will defend legally armed citizens in "wongful death" suits resulting from the citizen perforating a malefactor with justification. There are lawyers out there who will not take this on. I don't suggest you do this as pro bono work, but you might be accommodating about payment schedules and so on. I imagine your local gunshop and range owners would consider posting a "Shooter-Freindly Lawyer" ad on their bulletin boards. You might even find yourself doing work for the shops and ranges, which is all to the good. Word of mouth is important.

Look up all the RKBA-related lawsuits you can and find out which law firms are on the RKBA side of the equation. It's all public records, if anyone gives you static quote the Freedom of Information Act. This will give you the names of firms you can apply to for jobs, if you're not planning an individual practice.
 
Matt, since you posted the same topic in Legal/Political (which is really where it belongs anyway), let's do this: I'll move this thread to L/P and close the other thread there.
 
Ledbetter,

Thanks for the info. I had a feeling that focusing strictly on RKBA-related cases as a source of full-time employment might not be realistic, but it never hurts to ask. Who knows--maybe someone out there has some more useful suggestions.

I've been thinking that my best bet may be to work for a medium-to-large firm for a while after graduation (getting out of debt and taking care of my family), and try to do my pro bono work on RKBA-related cases while I'm there. After some years of that I might be able to make a move a public interest firm that handles at least SOME RKBA cases. (As I said, I'm interested in civil liberties in general, so that wouldn't necessarily be unfulfilling for me, even if many of my cases weren't specifically RKBA-related.)

Hopefully by that point I'll have had enough opportunity to network that I'm more familiar with my options in regards to how to get into the field.

Chris,

I appreciate the suggestions. May be something to those--I'll keep them in mind. I expect to end up practicing in or near Sodom on the Potomac, which is probably a great place to find the sorts of clients you're referring to.
 
Hi Matt,

Here in South Carolina we are blessed with a very active attorney who is a Liberterian and a very, very active 2nd Amendment guy. Email me and I'll put you in touch.

Giz
 
Matt,

Contact Howard J. Fezell at The 2nd Amendment Home Page.

When I get home this evening I will try to locate the LSAS site (Lawyers for the Second Amendment Society). The URL I have is a dead link.

Regards and best of luck in school.

PS: Try this, Matt. Second Amendment Attorneys and Foundations. The page is maintained by Rick V., aka, the Jurist.

PPS: One last try and I found it. Go to Lawyers for the Second Amendment Society. Good Luck!

[This message has been edited by sensop (edited May 09, 2000).]
 
Sensop-

Thanks for the info. I'll be checking in with all of the above. I have heard of the Lawyer's for the Second Amendment Society, but also kept coming up with dead links. I was beginning to think they were defunct!
 
Matt:

One angle to consider is to starting out as a deputy prosecutor. You get tons of courtroom experience in a variety of matters - both civil and criminal, and, through prosecutorial discretion, may prevent improper prosecution of alleged firearms violations. I refused to prosecute some CCW cases on both constitutional grounds and on grounds that the alleged acts committed did not violate our state's CCW statutes. It also afforded the opportunity to teach some LEO's the finer points of both to prevent future wrongful charges and/or arrests. Thankfully, there were few cases of that nature because I am in a strong RKBA state.

You would also be part of a statewide prosecuting attorney's association which provides forums and contacts throughout the state and nation to meet others who share your legal views. These prosecuting attorneys associations usually have a strong influence on many state legislatures regarding criminal laws, another means by which our local firearms laws can be (re)shaped.

Just my .02

- - - Don
 
Thanks for the input, Don. I have considered becoming a (deputy) prosecutor, because (Marine showing through, here--once a Marine, always a Marine, they say) I think I'd get a lot of satisfaction from getting worthless scumbags off the street. Frankly, I've been hesitating because I've been concerned about being put the position of having to prosecute cases that conflict with my deepest personal values--esp. on RKBA/civil liberties-related topics. Sounds from reading your experiences as if that concern may have been overblown.
 
Nope, Matt, your concern is not overblown. I'm a prosecutor and have been trying to make a difference from the inside for the past 5+ years. If I dismissed or no pros'd every CCW case that came across my desk, I'd be fired. I suppose I could make a big bad point about it, but the County wouldn't support me. Instead I'm trying to desensitize my fellow ADA's on the issue of RKBA by taking them shooting, having LEO's organize "informational" shoots for the prosecutors, etc.

That being said, I'll never recommend anything other than a small fine for a typical non-violent CCW violation. I'll also jump all over my fellow prosecutors when they pass up the opportunity to jam a guy or theft of firearm or other criminal firearms use. And I openly support CCW "shall issue" (I know *real* "shall issue" is Vermont style CCW) reform here in Wisconsin.

I hate to do it, but if I were to leave the office there'd be 30 people up there who absolutely hate guns. At the very least I'm talking about firearms a lot and taking them out shooting. Change comes slowly and I'd like to think I'm doing my part.

Good luck.

PS And there have been the fair share of borderline BS cases that I have been able to dump.
 
JacRyan: <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>I hate to do it, but if I were to leave the office there'd be 30 people up there who absolutely hate guns. At the very least I'm talking about firearms a lot and taking them out shooting. Change comes slowly and I'd like to think I'm doing my part.

Good luck.

PS: And there have been the fair share of borderline BS cases that I have been able to dump.[/quote] Now, that's a warm and fuzzy coming down the line right there! I mean it. Thanks, JacRyan.
 
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