Network Services to Members Sets It Apart
by 
Marty Hayes, J.D.
President, Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network, Inc.
In 2008, we established the Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network, Inc. as a membership organization to fulfill two core missions: first, to help members in the legal fight after they justifiably use force in self defense by paying for the services of attorneys, expert witnesses, private investigators and other professionals essential to mounting a vigorous legal defense of self defense on behalf of our members. Our second mission is educating our members (and to some extent, the gun-owning public) in the law governing use of force in self defense and how armed citizens can protect against unmeritorious prosecution. Let me explain how we do this.
Helping Members
When a member joins the Network, they become eligible to receive member benefits after a self-defense incident. If a member is involved in self defense, as soon as practical, he or she (either through their attorney, spouse or on their own behalf) calls the Network and speaks with me, conveying the details of the case so we are assured the incident was a legitimate act of self defense. Upon understanding that the occurrence was, indeed, an act of self defense, the Network immediately pays your attorney a fee retainer to be sure you can hire good, competent legal counsel and that the attorney is paid up front.
Why Should I be a Member of Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network?
The membership benefits alone can pay for your yearly membership dues!
First, We Believe Education is a Priority!
Network members receive a 332-page book plus more than a dozen educational videos featuring leading instructors and legal experts teaching:
- The legal parameters of use of force for self defense.
- Handling the aftermath of using force in self defense.
- Post self defense legal concerns.
- Articulating pre-assault indicators and how they influence the self defense decision-making process and more.
Members have access to educational articles, interviews and updates through a monthly journal published online.
Get to Know the Network Leaders
The Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network, Inc. is a privately-owned, for-profit corporation led by President Marty Hayes, Vice-President Vincent Shuck and Operations Manager Gila Hayes. Brief biographical sketches of each follow.
MARTY HAYES
The concept of the Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network, Inc. is the idea of the Network’s President Marty Hayes, who, after founding and running a successful firearms training business (The Firearms Academy of Seattle, Inc.) for many years, chose to address the issues of post shooting legal issues. In 2003, Marty decided to pursue a law degree with the expectation of working in the legal arena, and during this time, the idea of the Network was born. Upon graduation in 2007, he set out to form the structure of the Network, along with working with other top firearms training professionals to ensure the success of the Network.
What Every Gun Owner Needs to Know About Self-Defense Law
We'd like to send you your own copy of this concise, little booklet packed with critical information for American gun owners.
Topics covered include--
- When using a gun in self defense is allowed by law and why those circumstances may not be as clear cut as one might initially think
- Defending self defense and arguing an affirmative defense in court
- The initial aggressor rule
- Using your gun to defend others
- Shifts in self defense law
The Firearms Press is Talking About the Network
Word is getting out about the Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network, Inc. We appreciate the publicity the firearms media and authors give the Network as they spread word of the Network and its mission.
by Marty Hayes, J.D., President, Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network, Inc.
A question commonly asked is whether the Network will pay legal expenses on behalf of our members if they are “red flagged.” Despite considerable pressure from the buying public, we remain solid in our decision to not promise assistance for members who are served “Red Flag” Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO or Red Flag order).
There are two major reasons that the Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network, Inc. does not extend any benefits to our members to assist if they are served with an Extreme Risk Protection Order.
Please understand that the Network is not selling insurance. You see, being served an Extreme Risk Protection Order is an act which is out of your control. Any plan that provides assistance for “an out of your control” action (a contingency) would likely be deemed to be providing “insurance” for that contingency. If we are to remain in business and continue to pay our members’ legal fees after self defense, we must not expand into services that constitute insurance coverage. We have developed our business model around the fact that the Network voluntarily provides assistance to members after the member has voluntarily and intentionally acted in legitimate self defense.
