My name is Kevin McBride. I represent Law Enforcement Officers and Armed Citizens in use-of-force litigation.
The purpose of this website is to help LEOs and Armed Citizens better understand—and apply, if necessary—laws that regulate the use of deadly force.
The need for experienced attorneys dedicated to use-of-force cases became apparent after years of tactical training with police officers and other citizens. I realized that if I, an experienced litigation lawyer, had difficulty absorbing the nuances of deadly force law, then LEOs and Armed Citizens might feel similarly challenged.
Sadly, LEOs—and even citizens—are now being put in harms’ way far more than at any time in recent history. So deadly force laws are much more than a hypothetical discussion for many people.
Law Enforcement Officers walk into this breach every single day on the job. A typical street officer in a major city may pull his or her duty weapon several times a week—each time facing a real possibility of using deadly force. Yet at the same time, use of force decisions by police are coming under increasing pressure from community groups—especially in large urban areas like Los Angeles—and from many media outlets. Incredibly, LEOs are being squeezed on both ends—more violence on the streets that may require deadly force; but more pressure from community groups to use less deadly force. The eye of the needle is getting smaller and harder to pass through with each deadly encounter.
In addition, more and more Armed Citizens have decided to be responsible for their own safety, and that of their families, by keeping or carrying firearms. But if they make a wrong decision regarding use of deadly force, the consequences will be devastating and irretrievable. Tragedy has recently played out in courtrooms across the country–from California to Texas to Florida–involving Armed Citizens with the best of intentions attempting to rely on “stand-your-ground” laws.
So for Armed Citizens (who choose to carry a gun) and LEOs (who must carry a gun) it is absolutely necessary to understand the laws governing deadly force and to train, as realistically as possible, to exercise sound judgment in the use of deadly force, should that day ever arise.
This website—and my law practice—is largely dedicated to those goals: to help LEOs and Armed Citizens better understand and navigate the ever-changing laws and case decisions related to deadly force, and to successfully manage any legal challenge that arises in the application of deadly force.
