"... but it was funny, though, huh?"

As some of you may know, in addition to making custom gun leather, my main gig is in law enforcement. As such, I often view things and make decisions from a worst-case-scenario point of view. “What’s the worst that could happen” is often a good starting point when setting ourselves up for success or disaster.

I often see 2A enthusiasts, avid shooters and private citizens who prepare to protect themselves and their families say and do some things that are silly at best, and devastating at their worst. I like humor as much as the next guy, and sometimes my search for a chuckle even gets me in trouble. Take it from a guy who has dipped his toe in the pool of tasteless, poorly timed humor on occasion … consider your choice of decoration, signage and meme posts from the viewpoint AFTER you’ve defended yourself or your loved ones by shooting and killing someone else.

Some years ago at our local gun show, I came by the Glock accessory vendor who had slide plates engraved with various images. The choices included a Masonic emblem, FOP Star, “2A” and a generic police badge. All fine choices. He also offered a punisher skull and a smiley face. While there is nothing inherently offensive by these last two choices, I immediately imagined explaining that addition to a plaintiff attorney from the stand. Case studies are rife with examples of perfectly innocent people being made to look like a trigger-happy, gun-slinging, shoot-'em-all-and-let-God-sort-’em-out yahoo when the time comes to sort out your motives for twelve people that don’t understand use of force.

In law enforcement, we are conditioned to view our actions from the future witness stand. WHY you do something is important. Being able to EXPLAIN why you did it is just as important. Don’t set yourself up to fail at that moment.

Imagine the questions that have no good answers.

“So, Mr Smith, the sign by your door says ‘Intruders will be shot, survivors will be shot again.’ Did you shoot my client’s son a second time because he was a threat, or because he survived?”

“Your selector switch says ‘Safe - Hippie - Zombie’. Where was it set when you shot the deceased?”

“You have a Smiley Face engraved on the slide of your pistol. Did you enjoy shooting my client?”

Understand, if you are involved in a shooting, of any kind, the police WILL take your gun. (The police have THEIR guns taken when they get in shootings, too). There will be virtually NO secrets about what happened, how it happened or what happened before or after. Your social media will become readily available. Your phone records will be subpoenaed. If it happens at your home, your home will be photographed top to bottom. Snark and hyperbole don’t serve you well at times like this. Please don’t establish a history of snark and hyperbole beforehand.

Also, understand the police are not your adversaries, in most cases. I live and work in a rural/suburban area and our courts support people who defend themselves in a legal and reasonable way. If you’re in the right, we want to defend your rights to the end. We still understand your rights to be OUR rights. Most officers I work with lean more to the less-government end of the spectrum, and I’m glad for that. I say this to tell you we’re on your side, just do your best to also be on your own side before you need to explain yourself.

You WILL need to explain yourself.

Be smart.

Be safe.