Arizona criminal defense attorney Marc J. Victor recently put on an excellent Trieste on the primary legal implications of using a handgun in a defensive situation. The article, published at LewRockwell.com is a long, but detailed and logical look at major criteria any firearms owner should know when it comes to the real use of a firearm.

The 5 things a gun owner ought to know include:

1. Do not make statements after a shooting.
2. Understanding (the criteria of) Self-Defense
3. Lawyers Argue About the Facts
4. Mandatory Minimum Sentences
5. What to Think About When You Are Thinking of Pulling it Out.

As a criminal defense attorney, Mr. Victor is immersed in the system and he shows, in detail, how things that may seem like common sense to a layman, may actually get the gun owner into real trouble.

For example, the most poignant piece of advise is to “not talk to the police,” which to many may seem counter-intuitive, as after a shooting one wants to get their story out to avoid arrest (which Marc points out may happen anyways).

Some of the advise is limited to Arizona, but substance and procedures will be similar across most jurisdictions. Fair warning, the full read is about 20 minutes for the average reader, so make sure to read it during a break at work.