Carrying a Custom Firearm

[MiniDevil]

Forgive me if this has been brought up before in another thread, but I searched for it and was unable to find anything.

I am in the process of modifying my firearm. It was recommended to me that I do not carry a firearm that is modified, for fear that if I ever had to use it that I would be charged and found guilty for manslaughter in criminal court for having a weapon 'modified to be a tuned killing machine'.

I feel that if I perform better with a custom firearm, it's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

Is this a real issue that should be addressed, or just a fear of liberal DAs?

[LorDiego01]

In all the gun literature I go through, it is often mentioned that you should not carry a modified weapon for reasons you have stated above.

I guess it also depends on what mods you do to it. I'd say Night Sights and grips are a-ok, but lighter triggers and extra high cap mags are a no-no.

[ChamberedRound]

ALL guns can be killing machines when used in that manner.

But, for the sake of argument, what type of modifications are we talking about? For example, I doubt a match barrel and a trigger job would classify a gun as a "tuned killing machine", even from a staunch anti-gunner's perspective.

[MiniDevil]

Trigger job, new beavertail, extended thumb safety and slide stop, extended magazine release, polish barrel + feed ramp

[ChamberedRound]

In all the gun literature I go through, it is often mentioned that you should not carry a modified weapon for reasons you have stated above.

I guess it also depends on what mods you do to it. I'd say Night Sights and grips are a-ok, but lighter triggers and extra high cap mags are a no-no.

Wow, has it really come to a point where we have to worry about HOW we modify a gun? Sad...

Diego, can you provide some information, links, references, etc. on this literature? Sounds like I have some reading to do...

Trigger job, new beavertail, extended thumb safety and slide stop, extended magazine release, polish barrel + feed ramp

IMHO, none of this seems excessive. However, given Diego's post, I could be wrong (it wouldn't be the first time).

[LorDiego01]

Diego, can you provide some information, links, references, etc. on this literature? Sounds like I have some reading to do...

Literature is a very broad term but sounds fancy non-the-less.

Try Guns-N-Ammo and the like, NRA Magazines, the great gun authors, Massad Ayoob, Jeff Cooper, other gun forums on the net, ect.

[KeithPA]

As for a handgun. I would carry whatever I wanted.

I recall that case in AZ where someone used a Kimber 10mm I thought it was. A guy was hiking, came across a man that had just got out of a mental institution and was walking with two dogs. He let the dogs go, came at the hiker. Guy pulled out his Kimber 10mm fired a shot in the air, then the crazy guy rushed him yelling "i'm going to kill you." DA made the arguments that a 10mm is a bigger gun than the cops carry, and the HP were "designed to kill"

His gun wasn't modified, wasn't anything too special.

Still the two of the jurors said on Dateline or one of those shows about how they convicted because the gun and the bullets.

[MiniDevil]

As for a handgun. I would carry whatever I wanted.

I recall that case in AZ where someone used a Kimber 10mm I thought it was. A guy was hiking, came across a man that had just got out of a mental institution and was walking with two dogs. He let the dogs go, came at the hiker. Guy pulled out his Kimber 10mm fired a shot in the air, then the crazy guy rushed him yelling "i'm going to kill you." DA made the arguments that a 10mm is a bigger gun than the cops carry, and the HP were "designed to kill"

His gun wasn't modified, wasn't anything too special.

Still the two of the jurors said on Dateline or one of those shows about how they convicted because the gun and the bullets.

I do recall that case, and it was said he was convicted in part because "HP Rounds are made to expand and are vicious and painful". I'm not sure his lawyer did an adequate job defending him as LEOs carry HP rounds not to kill, but to expend all the power into the target.

[KeithPA]

In all the gun literature I go through, it is often mentioned that you should not carry a modified weapon for reasons you have stated above.

I guess it also depends on what mods you do to it. I'd say Night Sights and grips are a-ok, but lighter triggers and extra high cap mags are a no-no.

I would never go around with a 32rd magazine if I had a glock. But as far as the lighter trigger, who's going to know? I'm sure they would make a point out of it, but do you really think police/DA would even know if you had a lighter trigger pull. My guess would be no, unless there is something there is some obvious way of of looking at it and knowing.

Alot of of LEO know they have a gun, and thats about it. They know the caliber, but ask them the trigger pull weight and they'll just look at you.

[DrakinClaw]

I'm sure they would make a point out of it, but do you really think police/DA would even know if you had a lighter trigger pull. My guess would be no, unless there is something there is some obvious way of of looking at it and knowing.

First off, of course they would know, when they get a weapon to inspect, they inspect it down to the last detail, and don’t you think even a trained professional could notice a lighter trigger?
As to carrying a modified weapon, I would have to step in here on Diego’s defense. All literature that I have read on personal defense has stated that carrying a moded gun is a bad move, it gives those guys (the ones who prosecute you) all the more reason to say you wanted to make you carry weapon even deadlier than the makers have designed, and that you were "looking" for a chance to use it. IMO I believe it.
Drakin