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[This post was in no way inspired by any recent public posts from any party or litigation matter publicized here, and was instead based on some prior private communications, so please do not infer anything about other CG posts from this message.]
Unfortunately some folks seem to call "a" or "their" lawyer first when they have a pressing firearms legal matter in CA, and then retain him/her - and only later call CGF.
At that point, CGF can only try to cooperate and assist with the retained lawyer and perhaps subsequently offer assistance on the case (which may indeed be quite helpful to shortening the process).
CGF usually does not help with the fees of a lawyer outside the "CA gunrights coalition" ones we refer you to, unless for some special reason it were to become necessary. And for a variety of reasons, we cannot "take the case" away from a defendant's lawyer nor prompt a defendant to drop the lawyer.
This can be a costly mistake: what CA gun lawyers can do with their eyes half-closed [on top of their reputations for winning gun cases which plays into faster resolution] may take much longer for a non-gun lawyer, especially one that doesn't have knowledge of the history of rulemaking, prior case law, etc. Even the best non-gun lawyer takes time to get up to speed on matters like these - and on your nickel.
If you have a CA firearms legal matter that's gonna require some lawyering, and have general confidence you've not violated the law (charges are bogus, DA or LEO doesn't know the laws, etc.) PLEASE CALL CGF FIRST. Even if you're suddenly uncertain about some issue, CGF team would still like to hear about it and run it thru the screening process.
CGF is here to defend your gun rights when you've generally walked the straight & narrow; throguh this work we're likely to encounter numerous situations that may not just benefit the client but gunrights here in general.
There may also be 'interesting' matters arising from cases that "aren't quite so perfect". CGF has informally helped in matters where the case was not quite so clean due to inadvertent situations, but we didn't wanna see a poor guy screwed over big time (i.e., popped for felony AW charges but helping get them reduced to nuisance/seizure via AB2728).
Also, if & when you contact CGF, please ONLY state to the CGF contact the overall nature of the case and the information that's already known to the opposition. (At most: "I was busted for a rifle with a BulletButton and I followed the flowcart", "I was busted for a loaded gun - they said separate loaded magazine was still a loaded gun", etc.) Rock-bottom minute details that could affect your case should only be imparted to the actual CGF lawyer with whom you've been put in contact, to avoid any possible self-incrimination exposure.
For those not familiar with the operation, the CGF lawyer will question you and screen the matter. In the past, we've had folks that tell a good story about their situation - and later it's found there's a bunch of troubling color (say, legit OLL but another loaded gun in the car, felon with the group, etc.) If things are misrepresented and this is discovered after worflow begins, the client may well have to pay the legal fees himself per agreement. (And some of these folks we've *still* managed to help in spite of all this - and in spite of some catty backtalk when confronted with the issue.)
Nevertheless, we can't fix problems if we don't know they exist - and knowing about new cases is the first step.
We'd prefer to err on the safe side and even if you think your matter isn't 'pure enough' there's some chance CGF may be able assist or defend certain aspects of the matter so all is not lost.
Calguns Foundation helpline: (800) 556-2109 - although using email hotline@calgunsfoundation.org is usually best.
Knowing is the first part. And if you KNOW of someone with an gun legal issue that's in the general realm of CGF support (i.e, not a bank robber etc.) please let that party know about CGF and/or PM a CGFer here as much info about the matter as you know.
Unfortunately some folks seem to call "a" or "their" lawyer first when they have a pressing firearms legal matter in CA, and then retain him/her - and only later call CGF.
At that point, CGF can only try to cooperate and assist with the retained lawyer and perhaps subsequently offer assistance on the case (which may indeed be quite helpful to shortening the process).
CGF usually does not help with the fees of a lawyer outside the "CA gunrights coalition" ones we refer you to, unless for some special reason it were to become necessary. And for a variety of reasons, we cannot "take the case" away from a defendant's lawyer nor prompt a defendant to drop the lawyer.
This can be a costly mistake: what CA gun lawyers can do with their eyes half-closed [on top of their reputations for winning gun cases which plays into faster resolution] may take much longer for a non-gun lawyer, especially one that doesn't have knowledge of the history of rulemaking, prior case law, etc. Even the best non-gun lawyer takes time to get up to speed on matters like these - and on your nickel.
If you have a CA firearms legal matter that's gonna require some lawyering, and have general confidence you've not violated the law (charges are bogus, DA or LEO doesn't know the laws, etc.) PLEASE CALL CGF FIRST. Even if you're suddenly uncertain about some issue, CGF team would still like to hear about it and run it thru the screening process.
CGF is here to defend your gun rights when you've generally walked the straight & narrow; throguh this work we're likely to encounter numerous situations that may not just benefit the client but gunrights here in general.
There may also be 'interesting' matters arising from cases that "aren't quite so perfect". CGF has informally helped in matters where the case was not quite so clean due to inadvertent situations, but we didn't wanna see a poor guy screwed over big time (i.e., popped for felony AW charges but helping get them reduced to nuisance/seizure via AB2728).
Also, if & when you contact CGF, please ONLY state to the CGF contact the overall nature of the case and the information that's already known to the opposition. (At most: "I was busted for a rifle with a BulletButton and I followed the flowcart", "I was busted for a loaded gun - they said separate loaded magazine was still a loaded gun", etc.) Rock-bottom minute details that could affect your case should only be imparted to the actual CGF lawyer with whom you've been put in contact, to avoid any possible self-incrimination exposure.
For those not familiar with the operation, the CGF lawyer will question you and screen the matter. In the past, we've had folks that tell a good story about their situation - and later it's found there's a bunch of troubling color (say, legit OLL but another loaded gun in the car, felon with the group, etc.) If things are misrepresented and this is discovered after worflow begins, the client may well have to pay the legal fees himself per agreement. (And some of these folks we've *still* managed to help in spite of all this - and in spite of some catty backtalk when confronted with the issue.)
Nevertheless, we can't fix problems if we don't know they exist - and knowing about new cases is the first step.
We'd prefer to err on the safe side and even if you think your matter isn't 'pure enough' there's some chance CGF may be able assist or defend certain aspects of the matter so all is not lost.
Calguns Foundation helpline: (800) 556-2109 - although using email hotline@calgunsfoundation.org is usually best.
Knowing is the first part. And if you KNOW of someone with an gun legal issue that's in the general realm of CGF support (i.e, not a bank robber etc.) please let that party know about CGF and/or PM a CGFer here as much info about the matter as you know.
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