Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Lightened trigger on CCW a legal liability?

Walt · 08-30-2010, 10:38 AM

Anyone who has spent a little time hanging out at their local range, gun shop or online forums has probably run into some all-knowing “expert” warning of the legal dangers of customizing their concealed-carry weapon. For those of you who have not been blessed by such sage, unsolicited advice, the story goes like this:

"You have to be an idiot to lighten or smooth up your handgun’s trigger pull. Should you ever have to (justifiably) shoot a bad guy, you will get your ass handed to you in civil court. The bad guy’s lawyer will inevitably argue that your customized weapon was inherently unsafe, customizing your weapon shows that you are hell bent on shooting someone, etc.”

I’m a Glock guy and so I spend a bit of time browsing the Glock-centric forums. The general consensus seems to be that replacing the factory 5-8 lbs trigger connector with a 3.5 (really around 4 lbs and change) connector will somehow turn your handgun in to a legal liability. I’m calling bullshit on this one. I’ve heard stories from a guy that knows a guy whose sister used to date a guy who worked with another guy who got his ass sued…..but I, myself, have never seen a specific instance of a CCW holder – involved in a justifiable shooting – get bent over in court because of a reasonably lightened trigger.

Can anyone cite specific cases where a gun owner got sued?

Can anyone make a reasonable case as to why I should not lighten my carry gun’s trigger pull to 4lbs?

08-30-2010, 10:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
Walt I'm calmer than you are, dude Location: North Carolina	Lightened trigger on CCW a legal liability? Anyone who has spent a little time hanging out at their local range, gun shop or online forums has probably run into some all-knowing “expert” warning of the legal dangers of customizing their concealed-carry weapon. For those of you who have not been blessed by such sage, unsolicited advice, the story goes like this: "You have to be an idiot to lighten or smooth up your handgun’s trigger pull. Should you ever have to (justifiably) shoot a bad guy, you will get your ass handed to you in civil court. The bad guy’s lawyer will inevitably argue that your customized weapon was inherently unsafe, customizing your weapon shows that you are hell bent on shooting someone, etc.” I’m a Glock guy and so I spend a bit of time browsing the Glock-centric forums. The general consensus seems to be that replacing the factory 5-8 lbs trigger connector with a 3.5 (really around 4 lbs and change) connector will somehow turn your handgun in to a legal liability. I’m calling bullshit on this one. I’ve heard stories from a guy that knows a guy whose sister used to date a guy who worked with another guy who got his ass sued…..but I, myself, have never seen a specific instance of a CCW holder – involved in a justifiable shooting – get bent over in court because of a reasonably lightened trigger. Can anyone cite specific cases where a gun owner got sued? Can anyone make a reasonable case as to why I should not lighten my carry gun’s trigger pull to 4lbs? __________________ Calmer than you are...