You Survived the Street; Can You Survive the Court?

11-01-2013

You Survived the Street; Can You Survive the Court?

Exhibit A

Gunfighting sites and magazines seriously consider the legal ramifications of gun use for self-defense. Mas Ayoob has written often about the problems encountered by decent people after a justifiable shooting, when unscrupulous lawyers try to make issues out of hollowpoint bullets, single action triggers, gun modifications, and so on.

For instance, some shooters reload their own bullets, in part because it’s cheaper. But if you use your own reloads to shoot a potential rapist, a soulless lawyer will try to paint you as a sick, twisted soul working in your darkened lab to make “killer bullets,” because normal bullets weren’t lethal enough for you.

“Why, yes, your honor, this group is like family to me.”

In contrast, I believe that few martial artists have thought through the possible legal implications of their art. One notable exception is Rory Miller.

You may wind up legitimately defending yourself, only to find that you are on

Exhibit B

trial, not the ex-con you injured. There are lawyers out there who will try to make you out as a wannabe Rambo, a racist out to hurt or kill minorities, a Walter Mitty with fantasies of violence and glory, and so on.

Look at George Zimmerman, a biracial man portrayed as a white racist eager to gun down Trayvon Martin, an innocent black child. Originally, no charges were filed against Zimmerman because it appeared to be a legitimate case of self-defense, but once the “racist, overzealous vigilante” narrative took hold, Zimmerman was charged and is waiting in jail as I write this.

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2 Similar Canes. Which Looks Better in Court?

The point here is that regardless of who you are, how pure your motives were, and the actual circumstances of the case, you may very well find yourself having to defend everything you’ve ever said or done. Notice how quickly the orange jumpsuit jailhouse photo of George Zimmerman was broadcast nationwide, despite the fact that it’s really not relevant to the truth of that night’s shooting incident.

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Should you buy this knife?

Suppose you fear for your life and crush a thug’s throat. Does your martial arts school have a skull in its logo? Is your school Yaw-Yan, which is derived from the Tagalog term for “Dance of Death”? Can you see how a lawyer could take the fact that you studied at the “Dance of Death” school and twist that into you being a sicko who fantasizes about killing people? Can you see how carrying a Rambo knife could be skewed to make you look like a desperate guy trying to prove himself or feel powerful by intimidating others with a scary knife?

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…or this knife?

How does that look in court when the lawyer shows your YouTube video “5 Sure Shot Kill Strikes,” or your DVD or seminar where you teach how to break someone’s neck? When I was in kenpo we had moves such as “Leap of Death” and “Dance of Death.” Does your school motto say something like, “The World’s Deadliest Art”? How about your style “Arnis Diablo” (Devil Arnis) or Eskrima Calavera (Skull Eskrima)?

Keep in mind that your guilt or innocence, whether you remain free or go to jail, whether you keep your house or lose it in a lawsuit, all boils down to the decision of a jury who most likely is ignorant of the realities of combat and what it means to be a martial artist. Instead, an ethically-challenged lawyer will be doing his best to work up their emotions to believe the worst about you.