Glenn E. Meyer
New member
We've discussed whether appearance of firearms, etc. will hurt you in court. My readings of the research and my own (as I published and presented at the Polite Society) indicates to me that it can. Fiddletown has provided an excellent legal analysis that correlates with Mas Ayoob's. However, folks sometimes say, that the issue is not important - if it is a good shoot, blah, blah - which ignores the issue that if you go to trial - it isn't a good shot definitionally.
But here is a different take - it's a CCW violation. Independent of how the gentleman got there - my attention was caught by his anecdotes of the prosecutor trying to use weapons priming of aggression to his detriment. The continued exposure to the guns is classic and right out the literature that started in the 90's. Now in this case, some jurors saw through it. Do all?
But here's a case, where weapons' appearance was a ploy. Now if the defense attorney knew the research could have done something - that isn't my domain. Perhaps, our legal eagles could comment.
http://ohioliberty.blogspot.com/2009/07/ccw-violation-my-experience-and-trial.html
The prosecution insisted on placing my firearms on their table in the court room directly in front of the jury for the duration of the trial. There was my Glock 17 and its 3 mags, the Bersa .380cc, an assortment of holsters as well as the boxed and loose ammo that was stored in my glove compartment. I thought this attempt at political theater was pathetic, as it turns I wasn't the only one who felt this way. Mature rational adults are not scared by inanimate pieces of metal and plastic. It's an insult to their intelligence.
....
The prosecutor was constantly making references to my guns and accessories laid out on his table throughout the trial. He even had my girlfriend take the stand. During her testimony she told the court how that I'm not a scary person and that she has been to the range with me and is familiar with and comfortable being around my firearms.
...
I was stopped by one of the jurors in the parking lot after the trial, a grandmotherly woman who wanted to offer me some sage advice. She said that I need to clean up my car and find a new hobby, something other than firearms. She also said the jury was not impressed with the prosecution having my guns laid out on the table for the entire trial. She said they knew the prosecution was trying to scare them with the display, unfortunately it backfired. Per her advice, I have since cleaned up my car.
But here is a different take - it's a CCW violation. Independent of how the gentleman got there - my attention was caught by his anecdotes of the prosecutor trying to use weapons priming of aggression to his detriment. The continued exposure to the guns is classic and right out the literature that started in the 90's. Now in this case, some jurors saw through it. Do all?
But here's a case, where weapons' appearance was a ploy. Now if the defense attorney knew the research could have done something - that isn't my domain. Perhaps, our legal eagles could comment.
http://ohioliberty.blogspot.com/2009/07/ccw-violation-my-experience-and-trial.html
The prosecution insisted on placing my firearms on their table in the court room directly in front of the jury for the duration of the trial. There was my Glock 17 and its 3 mags, the Bersa .380cc, an assortment of holsters as well as the boxed and loose ammo that was stored in my glove compartment. I thought this attempt at political theater was pathetic, as it turns I wasn't the only one who felt this way. Mature rational adults are not scared by inanimate pieces of metal and plastic. It's an insult to their intelligence.
....
The prosecutor was constantly making references to my guns and accessories laid out on his table throughout the trial. He even had my girlfriend take the stand. During her testimony she told the court how that I'm not a scary person and that she has been to the range with me and is familiar with and comfortable being around my firearms.
...
I was stopped by one of the jurors in the parking lot after the trial, a grandmotherly woman who wanted to offer me some sage advice. She said that I need to clean up my car and find a new hobby, something other than firearms. She also said the jury was not impressed with the prosecution having my guns laid out on the table for the entire trial. She said they knew the prosecution was trying to scare them with the display, unfortunately it backfired. Per her advice, I have since cleaned up my car.