Author Topic: Legality Of Modifying Triggers  (Read 4391 times)

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Offline haroldg48

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Re: Legality Of Modifying Triggers
« Reply #15 on: December 22, 2021, 11:35:07 AM »
This is really personal, but I think before anyone gets too wrapped around the axle on the issue of modifications, it is worth stepping back and thinking some.  If you are like me, you are going to shoot thousands of round in your lifetime--hell,  thousands in a year.  You are trained in firearm safety, the responsibilities of firearm ownership, the law regarding being armed in public and the political environment where you live. If that's all true, a legally modified trigger is going to make your day-to-day shooting more pleasant and fun, and make you a better marksman, with control of your weapon.

Add to that the likelihood of actually shooting someone, which for most of us is very slim.  If you need to do that, much more will come into play than your trigger weight. Unfortunately, you may be charged and/or sued civilly regardless of your trigger or the circumstances.  All of that should be in your head before you draw and fire.

If it is a "good shoot" you will have saved a life (yours or someone else's).  Again, depending on where you are, you will be fine and life will go on (thankfully).  If it's not clearly a good shoot you're going to be in for a lot of hassle.  It is going to be expensive, and you may go to jail.

Given all those factors I don't have decals on my car/truck, "Don't tread on me" or other 2A stuff lasered on my pistols, and I don't wear a hat, T-shirt or sweatshirt that has any gun stuff on it.  All of those things are as likely to be used to portray me as someone looking for trouble if I'm involved in a shooting incident and survive. 

I've decided that for me having a reasonable weight, smooth trigger pull, excellent, reliable firearms, good ammo and lots of training are worth the risk in the very unlikely case that I should ever need to defend my life or someone else's. 

Offline Grendel

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Re: Legality Of Modifying Triggers
« Reply #16 on: December 22, 2021, 11:50:46 AM »
Here are more details of trigger modification problems.    I've taken training from Massad and occasionally correspond with him.    I've copied this from another post I did on this forum.

Here are some cases where trigger mods had impact.    I got these from Mas Ayoob.   

Santibanes v. Tomball and Galmon v. Phebus.

He also cites a case where using hand loads caused a problem.

New Jersey v. Daniel Bias



While these guys are not on our forum, most people aren't.    They are both master level shooters.

None of these involve a legitimate self defense shooting. Nice try, but no cigar (or hat).
Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges - Tacitus

Inter arma enim silent leges - Cicero

I wasn't born in America, but I got here as fast as I could.

Offline alp3367

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Re: Legality Of Modifying Triggers
« Reply #17 on: December 22, 2021, 12:56:30 PM »
 Triggers have never been a concern for me. I'll use whatever I think best fits my needs. While that has been stock triggers for me on carry guns (over the past many years I've gone from carrying SIG to Glock and now CZ mostly) I would have no problem using something like an Apex or CGW or any other type of trigger work done to a self defense pistol, I wouldn't even give any safe trigger a second thought.

PS - Try to avoid using things like "Born to Kill!" dustcovers :)

Offline simplemann

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Re: Legality Of Modifying Triggers
« Reply #18 on: December 22, 2021, 03:33:52 PM »
I really appreciate all the input from everyone who posted comments. Its interesting to see different points of views on a subject like this among individuals who have an interest in  firearms. I will be installing the M*CARBO springs to see exactly how "smooth" the trigger can be..

Offline Chuck James

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Re: Legality Of Modifying Triggers
« Reply #19 on: December 22, 2021, 06:15:51 PM »
Hello all, Ive recently heard that if you modify the trigger on a CC pistol (anyway at all including polishing), that it could come back to haunt you if you go to court. Any thoughts on this?
Not a concern of mine.  ::)

Offline Chuck James

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Re: Legality Of Modifying Triggers
« Reply #20 on: December 22, 2021, 06:16:32 PM »
This is an OLD story perpetrated years ago by some hand wringers looking to make themselves relevant in the legal arena. The simple fact is if you are involved in a defensive shooting and you end up with charges then it's the shooting in question and you are on trial not your gun. If the shooting is completely justified your gun has nothing to do with it modified action or not.
If you have a negligent discharge and hurt someone that's your unsafe gun handling not the gun.
There are multitudes of highly modified defensive pistols available from various manufacturers and there's nothing at all illegal about them. This nonsense comes up periodically but no one has ever cited a case where someone was convicted of an otherwise justifiable shooting because they had a smoother, lighter, crisper trigger.

Yep!!!

Offline Chuck James

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Re: Legality Of Modifying Triggers
« Reply #21 on: December 22, 2021, 06:17:13 PM »
Ayoob is one of the pantywaist handwringers who started this garbage decades ago. He was a cop in a left wing state and he created himself a nice cottage industry with his fear mongering. Today he is a paid professional witness.
I spoke to my own attorney about this and the response I got is just what I posted above. I'll take the advice of the guy I pay over the internet bomb thrower every time.

My thoughts exactly.

Offline Chuck James

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Re: Legality Of Modifying Triggers
« Reply #22 on: December 22, 2021, 06:32:36 PM »
It's nonsense. A righteous shoot is a righteous shoot, regardless of the weapon you use or how you modify it.


If you hit the bad guy in the act with a modified (extra light) trigger, I would say no harm, no foul.

But, if you had a negligent discharge and hit somebody, or otherwise hit an innocent bystander while you were capping the bad guy, that could be a problem, civilly, if not criminally. It’s no holds barred for Plaintiffs lawyers and commie prosecutors, and you can bet that they wouldn’t hesitate to try to use your “hair trigger” against you.

Spare me the 'what ifs'.

If anyone here can cite a case where a self defense shoot which was otherwise completely lawful, culminated with the shooter being convicted criminally or sued successfully because, and only because, they had a modified trigger or 'hot' ammunition, I will send them a CZ-USA hat, free and gratis.

If the shooter is negligent as to collateral damage when they take the shot, it matters not what his gun is - he's in the cart and no mistake.

But..But...But........What if I have only 3 post...Why can't I PM another member.....It just ain't Fair!!!! LOL!!!!

Merry CHRISTMAS to you and youurs...Sir!!!

Offline Earl Keese

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Re: Legality Of Modifying Triggers
« Reply #23 on: December 22, 2021, 08:25:35 PM »
I really appreciate all the input from everyone who posted comments. Its interesting to see different points of views on a subject like this among individuals who have an interest in  firearms. I will be installing the M*CARBO springs to see exactly how "smooth" the trigger can be..
I'd like to know how springs can "smooth" a trigger pull...

Offline Chuck James

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Re: Legality Of Modifying Triggers
« Reply #24 on: December 22, 2021, 09:23:21 PM »
I really appreciate all the input from everyone who posted comments. Its interesting to see different points of views on a subject like this among individuals who have an interest in  firearms. I will be installing the M*CARBO springs to see exactly how "smooth" the trigger can be..
I'd like to know how springs can "smooth" a trigger pull...
;D