The Devil is in the details.
Comments: None
Hopefully, you got your CWP training with us, but if you didn’t, I hope your instructor did more than just ‘teach the test’. First, all instructors have been explicitly instructed by SLED not to do that, and second, it’s a disservice to students to let them get certified thinking their knowledge of the law is adequate. If all you know about state law regarding the use of deadly force can be covered by the test, you might be in for a rude — and costly — surprise one day. Much of the law is common sense, but there are often traps found in the language.
This example just in from Andrew Branca:
[begin] Most of us are familiar with the phrase “Stand-Your-Ground,” but sadly it’s an often misunderstood and misapplied phrase. Correctly understood, all SYG does is relieve a defender of the element of “avoidance”in a self-defense claim, relieving that defender of an otherwise existing duty to retreat (and that’s ALL it does). Even then, however, SYG can be trickier than it looks, because it comes in several different flavors.
For example, about half the SYG states simply have no legal duty to retreat, period. Most of the other half allow for SYG, but only if certain conditions are met (e.g., not engaged in unlawful activity).
And then there’s North Carolina, where the statutory language explicitly provides that an otherwise lawful defender can stand their ground “anywhere they have a right to be”–but then defines “anywhere” as meaning ONLY particular special locations: your home, workplace, or motor vehicle. Attacked while crossing the street? No SYG for you, as Mr. Gyrell Lee was shocked to discover when he was denied a SYG jury instruction at trial, was convicted of second-degree murder, and had that conviction affirmed on appeal. See: State v. Lee, 789 S.E.2d 679 (NC Ct. App. 2016). (NOTE: This case has been accepted for review by the NC Supreme Court, so we’ll see what happens there.) [end]
There’s a link at the bottom of our homepage for Branca’s website. I recommend you get his e-mails.
And, as he says at the bottom of his e-mail: You carry a gun so you’re hard to kill. Know the law so you’re hard to convict.
I hope I’m not interfering with Darwin’s Law here, but I’m going to make this offer: If you know anyone that took their SC CWP class with someone else and they’re not satisfied, or just want to experience ours, let them know that they’re welcome to sit in on our legal / safety class for just the cost of materials: $5.00.
Neither the block of instruction on marksmanship fundamentals nor the range portion of the class are covered by this offer; just the classroom part on safety and legals and they’ll get nothing with my signature on it for attending. Just knowledge.
Please pass this on to anyone that might be interested. Our training calendar is here: Calendar
That is all.
Steve