Including ... Network’s Year of 2014 in Review • President’s Message • Vice-President’s Message • Attorney Question of the Month • Book Review • Networking Column • Editorial • About this Journal
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Network’s Year of 2014 in Review
As we move into 2015, it is a good time to review the Network’s growth from its beginnings as little more than a great idea in 2008 to the vital armed citizens’ support organization that it is today.
The Legal Defense Fund
The Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network’s accomplishments during 2014, its seventh year, embody the fulfillment of the reason it was created: funding the legal representation of Network members who have used force in self defense. Although Network membership grew to 8,300 this year, numbers of members involved in self-defense incidents were identical to the previous year. Four members used varying degrees of force to prevent injury to themselves, and the cost of these members’ initial legal representation ranged from $400 to $3,000. None faced further legal repercussions. However, the Network paid an attorney to help a member prepare to face trial this coming year on felony assault charges stemming from a 2013 incident. That matter remains unsettled as of this publication date, and we must first and foremost protect that member’s interests, so we can only report the expenditure from the Legal Defense Fund.
President's Message
by Marty Hayes, J.D.
As we begin our eighth year of operations here at the Network, I thought I would share a letter I just received from a member. The writer, Rod S. from Arizona, was involved in our eighth use of force incident by a member, and because the incident is now resolved, we can talk about it a little. But instead of me telling you the story, let me share our member’s words:
Dear Marty,
I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate you, Gila and the whole staff at Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network. The support I needed after defending myself from an aggressor and his friend was invaluable.
Even though I was carrying (concealed) at the time, I never showed my weapon but instead pulled a golf club as I was on the golf course at the time. I was hoping this would keep him from stealing from my golf bag. Because he got a scratch on his wrist and he and his friend lied to the Sheriff’s deputy, I was given a misdemeanor ticket.
Vice President's Message
A Successful 2014
by Vincent Shuck
Year-end summary information about the Network is available in other columns, but allow me to offer some information about the Armed Citizens’ Educational Foundation (“the Foundation”).
As a reminder, the Foundation is the separate entity recently implemented to assume responsibility for the Network’s educational component. It has achieved 501 (c) 3 IRS approval; therefore, contributions and donations are fully deductible. Its mission is to promote awareness and education in the lawful use of firearms and specifically the use of deadly force in self-defense situations. The primary audiences that were in various stages of contact for contributions in 2014 included: corporations, affiliate instructors and affiliate gun shops, Network members, and other private and governmental grant-awarding charities.
Attorney Question of the Month
In August, Ferguson MO police officer Darren Wilson used deadly force in self defense against a larger, aggressive male he thought was going to kill him. The case was submitted to a St. Louis County, MO grand jury for a review of the evidence and after hearing testimony from Wilson along with the other evidence, last month that grand jury refused to indict Wilson for any crimes. This spurred questions about grand jury procedures, so we asked our Affiliated Attorneys the following question:
It is the Network’s position that except for giving the facts of the crime committed against them, members should not give a formal statement to police until legal representation is present. Following this line of thought, if called before a grand jury, should a client refuse to testify and likely be indicted or testify and hope for a no true bill? Why?
Book Review
Florida Firearms Law, Use & Ownership
By Jon Gutmacher
ISBN 978-0-9641958-7-5
Retail Price: $34.95 paperback, 6x9, 342 pages with full index in addition to table of contents
Reviewed by Gila Hayes
In rewriting his textbook on Florida gun law, attorney and author Jon Gutmacher poured 40 years experience as a criminal trial attorney, firearms instructor, prosecutor and police advisor into the latest edition of his authoritative Florida gun law book, expanding it into a large reference tool that also addresses Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina and federal gun law.
News from Our Affiliates
Compiled by Gila Hayes
While asking for another case of What Every Gun Owner Needs to Know About Self-Defense Law to give his students, Network Affiliated Instructor Ed Santos, owner of Center Target Sports in Post Falls, ID, commented that he and his staff are teaching six concealed carry classes a month and filling them all. Since Idaho launched its new, enhanced CCW permit (see Ed’s comments about it on his blog), this license is attractive not only for locals, but as a reciprocal license, as well, so its not surprising that it is a prominent course offering on his class calendar. In addition to CCW classes, Center Target’s calendar for this month includes leagues and competitive events, non-gun defense courses, orientation courses for purchasers of different types of firearms, and a lot more.
Guest Editorial
by Jennie Van Tuyl
I get several phone calls a month from Network members asking how they can speak with the attorney they have chosen from our affiliated attorney list. They call and ask to speak to the attorney and never get a call back, or send email that goes unanswered. Since we recommend that Network members know whom they would call for representation after self defense and even provide a space on the back of Network membership cards for members to write in their lawyer’s name and phone number, I would like to help you reduce your frustration level when you are shopping for an attorney.
About the Network's Online Journal
The eJournal of the Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network, Inc. is published monthly on the Network’s website at http://www.armedcitizensnetwork.org. Content is copyrighted by the Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network, Inc.