Should Lawyers Have Guns?

It's been over a month since a Long Island district attorney banned his prosecutors from owning guns -- then almost immediate rescinded the rule. But the question remains: should lawyers have dogs guns?

Sure, gun ownership is correlated to a slight increased risk of gun violence. Sure, your six-year-old might accidentally shoot his brother. Or your child may intentionally shoot up his high school. But those aren't uniquely lawyerly concerns.

Is It Good for Business?

Let's set aside the whole "we should be Denmark" versus "armed babies keep our kindergartens safe" arguments for a moment. When it comes to lawyers and guns, there seems to be no reason that they, as a particular group, should be more or less restricted from gun ownership, whether you're pro-life or pro-gun.

Of course, your particular practice and location will most likely influence whether a firearm is an appropriate attorney accessory. Have a small gun-trust practice? You should probably be able to at least hold a gun, then. The same goes for attorneys in states like Alaska, Montana, and Louisiana, where gun ownership is highest. There you're almost as likely to schmooze with clients and colleagues at a firing range as on a golf course.

Conversely, if half your practice is in a liberal coastal city and your clients listen to NPR on their way to your office, you're best keeping your holster out of sight.

Learning From the Best

All in all, the scales seem to tip against armed attorneys. Of course, you don't need to take our advice for it. If you're considering whether a glock goes well with your Esq., take some of these FindLaw headlines into account beforehand:

• Prosecutor Threatens to Shoot Halloween Decorations, Gets Suspended
• Lawyers Packing Heat: TX Lawyer, 65, Arrested with Gun on Plane
• Attorney Arrested for Bringing Gun to 'Dark Knight' Movie Theater
• Ex-Prosecutor Fired 'Barbie Gun' to Scare Neighborhood Prankster
• Pot-Smoking, Gun-Toting GA Judge Removed from the Bench
• 2 'Bronx Defenders' Resign Following Anti-Police Music Video
• Disbarred Houston Attorney's Stash of $838K Cash, Guns Found

We could go on, but you get the idea.

Have a gun? Hate a gun? Let us know via Twitter (@FindLawLP) or Facebook (FindLaw for Legal Professionals).

Related Resources:

• San Francisco's Last Gun Shop Gives Up the Fight (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Trial Interrupted as Defense Attorney is Arrested for Meth, Fraud (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
• 5 Ridiculous Lawyer Stock Photo Stereotypes (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
• Massachusetts Lawyer Accused of Double Life as a Prostitute (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)