Just got asked "The Question" yesterday

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Attorney: So why do you need to have a CPL, anyway?
Me: Uh, what?
Attorney: Why do you even need one of those things?
Me: You mean why do I need a concealed pistol permit? Well, I believe very strongly in the concepts of self-defense, and I...
Attorney: *snorts in laughter* So how old are you anyway?
Me: {Jumps to feet and flips desk over, spits on floor of lawyer's office, and slowly walks out.}

There. I fixed it for you.

I wouldn't take being laughed at very kindly.
 
other person: Why do you have a gun?

Me: Because its my constitutional right.

other person: So are you going to go all postal and shoot everyone up?

Me: That is ridiculous, and it is very offensive that you just equated me to a sociopathic murder. Gee, you are a real nice person...

other person: I was just kidding, I know you would never do that...

Me: I don't believe kidding about shooting people is something that should be taken lightly or in jest. Really, its not indicitive of a higher level of reasoning, what you just said is a very emotional based reaction.

other person: Well, guns are scary and stuff, and you always hear about people getting shot.

Me: I don't think the gun itself is going to do you any harm, its the person operating the gun that is what you should be more attuned to. So when you see a cop and you can see their gun, do you get scared?

other person: No, they are cops, they are supposed to have guns.

Me: Wow. Seriously? I bet you think that every cop is a "crack shot" and practices a whole lot with their gun.

other person: yeah, they do right?

Me: unfortunately for you, most cops don't practice with their service arms on police time because of the issue of time and money. So no, most cops are not crack shots. But hey, good luck with trusting them to save your bacon.

other person: Do you think you could take me shooting sometime and teach me...

me: ;) Sure thing, first off...

(converted/saved another one :evil:)
 
Sounds like you need a new attorney! And tell him so why you are dropping him.
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And tell the senior partner at that law firm why you're dropping him, too.

In fact, feel free to share the name of that attorney for folks in Seattle. No sense giving business to someone who's just going to be a tool anyway.
 
Attorney: So why do you need to have a CPL, anyway?
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*blink* :scrutiny: "You mean, you don't??"

(Seriously, Sage, don't worry too much about this. We're all really good at thinking up things we could have said after a conversation is already over. Chalk it up to experience and move on!)

pax
 
Thanks everyone for your replies. I sincerely appreciate having this forum to come to read about experiences and learn valuable information.

For me, this just highlights the idea that even attorneys who are supposedly there to fight for a person's rights, don't always get it.

Zundfolge, I don't think he refused because of my CPL; I think he had made up his mind before he asked the question. My guess is he just tried to sneak the question in at the last second. As Hankdatank had said, I don't take kindly to being laughed at and essentially belittled by the age question as well. It was probably also because I initially took his question seriously and tried to give a reasoned, thoughtful response. My bad.

I'm actually living in Boise right now, but was looking for someone who can practice law in both Idaho and Washington. Once years ago, I used the Washington State Bar Association lawyer referral service, paid my $35 and it never went anywhere. I guess I can keep slogging through the phone book and eventually I'll find an attorney who takes all of my civil rights seriously.

The attorney I contacted even had an advertisement proclaiming his firm's affiliation with none other than Gerry Spence. I've read some of Mr. Spence's books and I always thought he was a pretty firm 2nd Amendment supporter, though I could be mistaken on that. It just now occurred to me that Mr. Spence might wish to know how his associates view civil rights in general -- if he doesn't know already -- and to realize that I certainly won't do business with anyone affiliated with this particular attorney.

Time to take more notes and keep studying! I do like the "because I can" response as quick and very much to the point. "And you don't" would have been excellent as well.

Edited to add:

I was just thinking on Hankdatank's response to overturning the attorney's desk in indignation and anger. The interaction took place on the phone for one thing, but the second thing is that I'm still in a wheelchair, so I suppose I could imagine saying something like: "Sage mad LIKE HULK! SAGE SMASH! GGGRARRAararawaasrrrr aaaOOOOWWWW! OHH! AAHHH! GAAWD! I THINK I PULLED A GROIN MUSCLE! AAHH! OWW!"
 
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Other than the "why do you wear a seatbelt" I'd have challenged that lawyer to explane why they think I -don't- need one (it's amazing how fast you can reveal the flaws in their logic).

Typically they'll say
-You can just call the cops. (When seconds count the police are just minutes away)

-The bad guy will just take it away. (if it's that easy I'll just take it right back).

-It'll make the situation worse, you should just give them what they want.
(what if they want my life?)

-Violence never solved anything (except for the criminal who solved the question of who owns your wallet)

-Guns are dangerous. (Damn I hope so otherwise there's no point in lugging the thing around all the time <thanks Col Cooper>)

-Nobody needs a gun (so why do the police carry them)

edit: for some reason this whole thing reminded me of something I overheard after a debate once...
Person #1) Good debate but with that attitude I doubt you'd ever win me over to your side.
Person #2) Glad to hear it because I think you are an idiot and I'd rather you stayed on their team.
 
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"Well, sorry, I can't help you out... blah blah"

I am confused. Could not help you out with what? Did he turn you down because he didn't like that you had a CCW or is that unrelated? The way you end the story, they seem related. Anyaway, my response to that over the years has been "for the same reason I have a Fire extinguisher. Something I hope to never have a use for but will be damn happy I have it if there is a fire."

90% of the time, that works well. 10% of the time, they dont like the simple answer to their simple question, and "larger issues" of rights, crime, etc come up, and then I really hand them their ass on a platter as they always know FAR less about the topic than they think they do.
 
"why do you need to carry a gun?"

Because a gun is like an ambulance, I hope I never ever need one but if I do I will need it very badly and I will need it RIGHT NOW!.
 
You're right! Since I'm not expecting to be sued either, there's no reason for me to keep you on retainer. You just saved me a ton of money. Thanks!

jm
 
I am confused. Could not help you out with what? Did he turn you down because he didn't like that you had a CCW or is that unrelated? The way you end the story, they seem related.
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It's hard to describe, but I had some firearm related questions and I was calling around to see if there's an attorney willing to take my case. I believe he had already decided that I had no case he was willing to deal with before he asked me the CPL question.

Wheew.............
I thought from the title,your woman asked you to MARRY her.
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Heh. Yeah, unfortunately I'm still single and unattached. My last (ten year) relationship was... not good, shall we say. At any rate, I have given the following advice to some friends of mine, so I need to always keep it in mind: you can either be one of two things -- you can be sad and alone, or you can be happy and alone. I figure once I reduce it down to those terms, the choice is easy and I'm happy even when I'm alone. Though OCCASIONALLY I do feel the bite of loneliness now and again.
 
Attorney: So why do you need to have a CPL, anyway?
Me: Uh, what?
Attorney: Why do you even need one of those things?
Me: You mean why do I need a concealed pistol permit? Well, I believe very strongly in the concepts of self-defense, and I...
Attorney: *snorts in laughter* So how old are you anyway?
Me: I'm 35. I've had a CPL for fourteen years and...
Attorney: Ah. Well, sorry, I can't help you out... blah blah
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Sounds like he's never encountered life-threatening violence in his life. I'm glad for him.

I hope he never does. For his sake. I, however, live in the real world, and I choose to take reasonable precautions.

I'm really resisting a "first thing we do is kill all the lawyers" quip here :rolleyes:
 
Yesterday, I was talking with an attorney on a somewhat unrelated topic when the subject of having a CPL came up.
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Ummm... I think you should probably tell your lawyer this, but I could be wrong..
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Note. He was talking to AN attorney. Not HIS attorney. They were talking about a "somewhat unrelated topic," which leads me to believe that it had nothing to do with rather he had a CHP or not.

Under those conditions, my question stands. "Why do you need to know?"
 
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