A few months ago I signed up for a US Law Shield membership. I’d been trying to decide on legal protection for awhile. My biggest fear has always been the lawsuits and legal defense costs. The phase every bullet has a lawyer behind it has always scared me. I know that if I ever have to protect myself with a firearm I’ll have two fights on my hand. The fight that caused me to use a gun, and the legal battle that comes with defending life with a firearm.
Even though this scared me. It wasn’t until I heard about what happened to Paul Lathrop, that I did something about it. It really hit home with me since I drive past the place it all happened a few times a month. Paul spent tens of thousands of dollars defending himself just for suggesting he may use a firearm in self-defense. It’s actually a pretty scary story, one you can listen to on the Handgun World Podcast.
What is US Law Shield?
US Law Shield is a legal defense for self-defense program. In short, it’s having a lawyer already paid for before you need one. When you become a member you get 24-hour access to a lawyer if you ever use a legal weapon in self-defense.
However, they are more than just an “in case you need it” company. US Law Shield does more than sitting around hoping you never need the use of their services. They have lawyers you can call for non-emergency questions. Plus they put on various seminars. Mostly on gun laws but also on first aid for gun shoots and other trauma.
US Law Shield Seminars
US Law Shield puts on various training for members and non-members. Being a member you get half price on the cost of these seminars. Although when the full price is $10 it’s worth it for everyone to attend them. For the price, you won’t find a better deal on gun-related education.
Gun Law Seminar
The Gun Law seminar I went to was well worth the time and money I spent to go. Dick Clark was the lawyer who gave the seminar. He did an amazing job of covering what self-defense is and isn’t. Along with when deadly force is justified, in the state of Nebraska.
I really enjoyed all the information given in the seminar. I knew some of the things beforehand about when force was justified and when it wasn’t, having read some of Massad Ayoob’s book In the Gravest Extreme. Alone with listening to various podcasts and other firearms experts.
What I didn’t know was the three reasons deadly force is justified in Nebraska. Death or serious bodily harm, kidnapping, and sexual intercourse compelled by force or threat are the three reasons. I knew about the serious bodily harm, but the kidnapping and rap sort of surprised me.
Another thing that surprised me was that in Nebraska the law states you must retreat before using deadly force if you can do so safely. This, of course, does not include your dwelling or place of work. Those are covered under the “castle doctrine”. This basically states you don’t have a duty to retreat in your own home or place of work as long as you aren’t the aggressor and the aggressor is not one of your co-workers.
Overall it’s very surprising how many laws on self-defense there are. US Law Shield gives everyone a booklet on their individual state laws when they attend the seminar. Which, while I disagree it’s worth 19.95 like they claim, it’s definitely worth reading through a few times. I have to say anyone who owns a gun should at bare minimum attend one of these Gun Law seminars. You won’t regret it.
First Aid for Gunshot Wounds
First Aid for Gunshot Wounds was an extremely good course and in fact, give you a certificate when you finish the course. I learned a lot in this class. It seems first aid recommendations have changed a bit since I was in Scouts.
The first thing they made very clear is was that when in doubt on if you can stop bleeding using a tourniquet. None of these standard fears of losing a limb or anything else. Just use one. Also, they made it very clear that the chances of an improvised tourniquet working and stopping the bleeding are about as likely as winning the lottery. So that whole grab a belt and use it as a tourniquet is out. Even if that’s what I learned in Scouts.
This is why they told everyone to make sure they get and keep a trauma kit with them. Making sure that it includes a CAT tourniquet. Actually they said you should have two. One for use, and one to practice with.
The fact is anyone who shots firearms should have this kind of training. Because just like having a firearm for protection is something you hope to never need. Having the skills to treat a gunshot wound is something you hope to never need. Both are something you’ll wish you had if you ever never them.
Conclusion
A US Law Shield membership ensures that you have a lawyer ready to help you if you are ever in a self-defense situation. US Law Shield as a company is more than just a network of on-call lawyers ready to take your case. It’s a company whose mission is to make sure you know your legal rights and responsibilities when it comes to self-defense. For the price and benefits, you can’t bet it. Let’s all hope you never have to use them.