Caller: What is the definition of the word threatened? What does it mean? When can you pull the gun?
If a person is carrying concealed, they will be more likely to use a gun to protect themselves.
There are two elements to self defense. The first is that you sincerely believe that you are in a situation in which you will be killed, nearly killed or very seriously injured. The second is that your belief that you were at great risk was reasonable under the circumstances.
The type of situation then that might give rise to that type of situation for pulling the gun is one in which there is eminent danger such that you believe you will be killed or gravely injured. It means that your life, or the life of someone else in your presence, is in immediate deadly danger.
Every person in possession of a concealed weapon should have a number handy of a criminal defense lawyer who is experienced in both defending people against criminal charges and with Wisconsin's various gun laws so that you can call them if ever you should use your gun to protect yourself.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Carrying Concealed Weapon Law & Protecting Family, Home & Property
Caller: Can I use a gun to protect my family in my home and my property with the new CCW law?
Let’s break that down into two questions. First, does the new concealed carry law allow you to protect your family in your home?
You have always had a right to protect your loved ones in your home. If you are in your home, and someone puts you into a situation in which you believe your life or the life or lives of your family are in peril, in very immediate danger of death or very serious bodily injury, and your beliefs are reasonable under the circumstances, you have a right to defend yourself or another.
Under Wisconsin law, your right to defend yourself by use of up to blunt force is extended to those people in your presence whom are in the same danger. Be careful in how you read this, and know that it is not legal advice. If you are in a situation in which your wife's life, for example, who is lying in bed next to you, or your daughter's life who is in bed in the room across the hall, and a person has placed their lives in immediate danger by pointing a weapon at them with an apparent intent to take their life, your right to defend yourself extends to your right to defend them.
If you are in your home and your home is surrounded by a dozen people even if they are carrying guns, you wouldn't open fire on them; you would call 911. Twelve to one odds are just not good odds to hope to protect yourself against them.
And second, does the new law allow you to protect your property?
Your property includes your home and the land surrounding it, as well as any real or personal items on it. So, your question is if the new law allows you protect personal and real property?
Clearly, the new law isn’t meant to encourage people to patrol their property and shoot anyone that crosses the line, and it isn’t meant to encourage folks to take up weapons to resolve conflicts. The best way to resolve conflicts is to talk through them. It also isn’t wise to brandish a handgun without cause.
The intent of the new law is to allow people to carry a weapon on their person or in their proximity to protect themselves if the situation arises, and we all hope it won’t arise for anyone.
Helpful information:
Self defense
Criminal property damage
Self defense is an affirmative defense, which means that it is an omission to having committed murder which you claim to be a justifiable homicide.
Let’s break that down into two questions. First, does the new concealed carry law allow you to protect your family in your home?
You have always had a right to protect your loved ones in your home. If you are in your home, and someone puts you into a situation in which you believe your life or the life or lives of your family are in peril, in very immediate danger of death or very serious bodily injury, and your beliefs are reasonable under the circumstances, you have a right to defend yourself or another.
Under Wisconsin law, your right to defend yourself by use of up to blunt force is extended to those people in your presence whom are in the same danger. Be careful in how you read this, and know that it is not legal advice. If you are in a situation in which your wife's life, for example, who is lying in bed next to you, or your daughter's life who is in bed in the room across the hall, and a person has placed their lives in immediate danger by pointing a weapon at them with an apparent intent to take their life, your right to defend yourself extends to your right to defend them.
If you are in your home and your home is surrounded by a dozen people even if they are carrying guns, you wouldn't open fire on them; you would call 911. Twelve to one odds are just not good odds to hope to protect yourself against them.
And second, does the new law allow you to protect your property?
Your property includes your home and the land surrounding it, as well as any real or personal items on it. So, your question is if the new law allows you protect personal and real property?
Clearly, the new law isn’t meant to encourage people to patrol their property and shoot anyone that crosses the line, and it isn’t meant to encourage folks to take up weapons to resolve conflicts. The best way to resolve conflicts is to talk through them. It also isn’t wise to brandish a handgun without cause.
The intent of the new law is to allow people to carry a weapon on their person or in their proximity to protect themselves if the situation arises, and we all hope it won’t arise for anyone.
Helpful information:
Self defense
Criminal property damage
Self defense is an affirmative defense, which means that it is an omission to having committed murder which you claim to be a justifiable homicide.
Permits For Prior Law Enforcement Officers
Caller: Will I have an advantage in getting a concealed weapons permit because I have prior law enforcement training?
According to the State of Wisconsin Department of Justice website, prior law enforcement training is one of the criteria for proving that a person has had prior gun safety training.
Notably, there may be instances in which a person with previous law enforcement training might not be able to obtain a concealed carry permit.
According to the State of Wisconsin Department of Justice website, prior law enforcement training is one of the criteria for proving that a person has had prior gun safety training.
Notably, there may be instances in which a person with previous law enforcement training might not be able to obtain a concealed carry permit.
Accidental Death with Concealed Weapon Usage
Caller: What happens if you miss and do property damage or kill or injure another person?
If you are going to use a deadly weapon, you must be prepared to defend your actions after the fact.
This BLOG does not provide legal advice, so think of this as fatherly or brotherly advice: if you are ever in any type of situation in which you may be charged for a criminal offense, the first and best act you can take is to contact a criminal defense lawyer and demand to have that lawyer present during all questioning.
Helpful information:
Criminal property damage
Prevention of a felony
Self defense
Intentional vs. unintentional homicide
Negligent homicide
If you are going to use a deadly weapon, you must be prepared to defend your actions after the fact.
This BLOG does not provide legal advice, so think of this as fatherly or brotherly advice: if you are ever in any type of situation in which you may be charged for a criminal offense, the first and best act you can take is to contact a criminal defense lawyer and demand to have that lawyer present during all questioning.
Helpful information:
Criminal property damage
Prevention of a felony
Self defense
Intentional vs. unintentional homicide
Negligent homicide
Is an empty gun in a case concealed?
Caller: I have a question about concealed carry. If you have an empty gun in a case, is it still considered to be a concealed weapon if I am in a car with it or walking around with it? Is a fully encased and unloaded weapon still a concealed weapon?
Regardless of whether your handgun is loaded or unloaded, it is still a weapon. If you carrying it concealed, it is a concealed weapon. A weapon in a car's glove box, trunk or under a seat is a concealed weapon. A weapon lying on the seat isn't concealed, but it is a weapon and you are 'carrying a weapon' if it is within your proximity. Even fully disassembled weapon has been considered to be a weapon by the Supreme Court.
Notably, you might not want to cruise around with a gun on your front seat.
Regardless of whether your handgun is loaded or unloaded, it is still a weapon. If you carrying it concealed, it is a concealed weapon. A weapon in a car's glove box, trunk or under a seat is a concealed weapon. A weapon lying on the seat isn't concealed, but it is a weapon and you are 'carrying a weapon' if it is within your proximity. Even fully disassembled weapon has been considered to be a weapon by the Supreme Court.
Notably, you might not want to cruise around with a gun on your front seat.
Carrying Concealed in a Vehicle
Caller: Can I carry concealed in a vehicle?
If you have a license to carry a concealed weapon, it applies to carrying a concealed weapon in your vehicle.
Under Wisconsin laws, you can be charged with carrying a concealed weapon if you do not have a license to carry a concealed weapon and the weapon is concealed in your vehicle, in the glove box, under the seat, in the truck or on your person.
Wisconsin's Carrying a Concealed Weapon law does not apply to long guns or sawed off guns; it only applies to handguns and the right to carry a handgun in a concealed manner.
If you have a license to carry a concealed weapon, it applies to carrying a concealed weapon in your vehicle.
Under Wisconsin laws, you can be charged with carrying a concealed weapon if you do not have a license to carry a concealed weapon and the weapon is concealed in your vehicle, in the glove box, under the seat, in the truck or on your person.
Wisconsin's Carrying a Concealed Weapon law does not apply to long guns or sawed off guns; it only applies to handguns and the right to carry a handgun in a concealed manner.
Using Your Carrying Concealed Weapon License
Caller: If you have a CCW license, do you have to use the license when carrying?
If you are walking down the street and someone sticks you up, and you realize that you need to pull out and use your gun or be killed, if you reasonably fear serious bodily injury or death, you are then entitled to use blunt force to protect yourself including mortal force. There is no duty to retreat in Wisconsin.
You don't have to talk to anyone, including police, without your lawyer present. Having your attorney present is your Constitutional Right; assert it in all instances in which any law enforcement agent wants to question you. You can say, "I will be happy to answer your questions, but I need to get my lawyer here for that." If you use your weapon - even justifiably, you should have your lawyer present in answering questions.
If police ask to search you, you need not consent to the search. You may not want to consent to the search for various reasons such as if there might be contraband in a pocket that you aren't aware was placed there.
If you have used your weapon even in self defense, you should immediately contact your lawyer before notifying police.
The simple act of pointing a gun has been charged as reckless endangerment in the state of Wisconsin and most notably in Madison. You should not speak with law enforcement without your attorney present.
If you plan to apply for a concealed weapons permit and carry a concealed weapon, you should also carry the name and number of your criminal defense lawyer for situations that might arise.
Van Wagner & Wood can be contacted 24 x 7 x 365 by calling the main telephone number (608-284-1200 or 1-866-262-4599). If you call after regular hours, please clearly state your name, number and message.
If you are walking down the street and someone sticks you up, and you realize that you need to pull out and use your gun or be killed, if you reasonably fear serious bodily injury or death, you are then entitled to use blunt force to protect yourself including mortal force. There is no duty to retreat in Wisconsin.
You don't have to talk to anyone, including police, without your lawyer present. Having your attorney present is your Constitutional Right; assert it in all instances in which any law enforcement agent wants to question you. You can say, "I will be happy to answer your questions, but I need to get my lawyer here for that." If you use your weapon - even justifiably, you should have your lawyer present in answering questions.
If police ask to search you, you need not consent to the search. You may not want to consent to the search for various reasons such as if there might be contraband in a pocket that you aren't aware was placed there.
If you have used your weapon even in self defense, you should immediately contact your lawyer before notifying police.
The simple act of pointing a gun has been charged as reckless endangerment in the state of Wisconsin and most notably in Madison. You should not speak with law enforcement without your attorney present.
If you plan to apply for a concealed weapons permit and carry a concealed weapon, you should also carry the name and number of your criminal defense lawyer for situations that might arise.
Van Wagner & Wood can be contacted 24 x 7 x 365 by calling the main telephone number (608-284-1200 or 1-866-262-4599). If you call after regular hours, please clearly state your name, number and message.
Carrying Concealed Weapon: Use & Judges
Who decides who will judge you? The caller states, "If I use my concealed weapon, who will judge whether it was reasonable?"
If you are charged with a crime - a homicide in the context of the caller's question - you have a right to face your accusers and to have a decision made about the reasonableness of your actions (which ultimately determines whether you are found guilty or not guilty of the criminal charge or charges), and you have a right to a trial by a jury.
The term 'a jury of your peers' often leads people to believe that the jurors will be people of like interests and concerns. But the reality is that the jury of your peers in Madison, Wisconsin, for example, aren't going to be 12 members of the NRA, like you; they'll be a mix of men and women, old and young, some tied to the University and the vast majority from within the confines of the belt line.
Helpful information:
National Rifle Association
Wisconsin Criminal Defense Lawyers
If you are charged with a crime - a homicide in the context of the caller's question - you have a right to face your accusers and to have a decision made about the reasonableness of your actions (which ultimately determines whether you are found guilty or not guilty of the criminal charge or charges), and you have a right to a trial by a jury.
The term 'a jury of your peers' often leads people to believe that the jurors will be people of like interests and concerns. But the reality is that the jury of your peers in Madison, Wisconsin, for example, aren't going to be 12 members of the NRA, like you; they'll be a mix of men and women, old and young, some tied to the University and the vast majority from within the confines of the belt line.
Helpful information:
National Rifle Association
Wisconsin Criminal Defense Lawyers
Carry Concealed with Florida permit?
Can I carry concealed in the state of Wisconsin if I have a concealed carry permit from Florida?
No. According to the State of Wisconsin Department of Justice website, Wisconsin does not recognize permits from any other state. Any person who wishes to carry concealed within the state of Wisconsin must apply for, be granted and carry a permit issued by the state of Wisconsin before they carry concealed.
No. According to the State of Wisconsin Department of Justice website, Wisconsin does not recognize permits from any other state. Any person who wishes to carry concealed within the state of Wisconsin must apply for, be granted and carry a permit issued by the state of Wisconsin before they carry concealed.
Castle Doctrine & Concealed Carry
Caller: What is my castle? I live in low income housing and manage the complex. Is it the apartment complex I manage my castle? Can I carry concealed on the complex?
Let’s break down the questions.
First, what is your castle?
Your castle is your home.
Next, is the apartment complex that you manage your castle?
No, it is not your home.
If you live in an apartment at that complex, your apartment is your castle. People who rent an apartment live in the apartment as their home, hence it is their castle and they are entitled to all the rights and privileges of using it as their home including protecting themselves or their family while in it.
Can I carry concealed on the apartment complex?
While you may have a right to protect yourself – even defend yourself with lethal force – at the apartment complex such as if a person were in your rental office pointing a gun at you, I’d be very careful not to go around the apartment complex with a gun on my side.
Let’s break down the questions.
First, what is your castle?
Your castle is your home.
Next, is the apartment complex that you manage your castle?
No, it is not your home.
If you live in an apartment at that complex, your apartment is your castle. People who rent an apartment live in the apartment as their home, hence it is their castle and they are entitled to all the rights and privileges of using it as their home including protecting themselves or their family while in it.
Can I carry concealed on the apartment complex?
While you may have a right to protect yourself – even defend yourself with lethal force – at the apartment complex such as if a person were in your rental office pointing a gun at you, I’d be very careful not to go around the apartment complex with a gun on my side.
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