Since red dots have become the new hotness in sighting systems, I am curious how the use of a firearm equipped with one might be viewed in the eyes of the court when such a weapon is implemented in self defense.
Opinions?
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I personally would see it as an advantage in self defense.
It’s very accurate and if you are proficient with it you will always hit exactly what you want.
But, in the heat of the moment are you really going to superimpose the dot on the BG?
Train for NPOA with the MRDS, then if the dot dies from a malfunction or dead battery you will always be on target regardless.
Just my $1.95, .02 cent adjustment for Bidenomics.
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No changes at all. Red Dot doesn’t make your firearm more deadly.
Optics are less problematic than aftermarket triggers.
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I think that depends (not those Depends) on the person’s view who is viewing the red dot 
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THIS^^^^
But the courts will only see that you, with your red dot sight, killed innocent little Johnny and six of his innocent friends when they knocked on your door asking for contributions to their church. The courts may not find us guilty, but little Johnny’s family will try to (and probably win) sue us for shooting their innocent little baby boy.
“How come he had that thing on his gun to make it more accurate? He was looking to kill my baby.”
OK, I’ll stop my grumpy old guy rambling.
The sights we affix to our favorite weapons Dejour do not make them more deadly. They make US a more accurate weapon system, whether it be a red dot, holographic, laser or just plain hi-viz markers on you iron sights. The built in accuracy of the weapon, combined with our knowledge and skills, multiplied by our chosen sight = Gang Leader Johnny and his six hoodlum gang buddies back in church.
That’s what the get for breaking into the wrong house.
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If your lawyer is worth 5¢ he will destroy any prosecutor that would even attempt to bring up such a silly point.
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Is that pre-Covid 5 cents? 
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I guess you’d just be asked “ why do you need that thing on your carry gun?”
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Also I’d be afraid the prosecutor would ask me ( we know how they are) “ So tell me doesn’t ninety per-cent of citizen gun instances take place at say 10 to 25 or so feet?” If so why would you need an enhanced sight on the weapon you carry? If you need that to hit a man sized target at that distance I’m wondering if you should even carry a deadly weapon, and any distances that you would need to use that thing you could more than likely have gotten out of the situation that deadly force had to be used because the best way to win a situation like this is to remove yourself from it and at enhanced sight distances I think you should have avoided the whole situation. It’s not the Wild West anymore and there are other people everywhere anymore and no matter how right you felt you were you must be responsible for every round fired, and bla bla bla…And in closing please remember that this isn’t me saying this per-say but what I think one could expect to hear from some hot shot prosecutor who needs a new feather in his cap.
That’s not a question, that’s a whole lot of statements and assumptions that my lawyer would have objected to with it the first few words or so. You only see diatribes like that on TV. And your sighting system has NOTHING to do with criminal intent or use of deadly force for SD.
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Seems like a good expert witness would be your best friend here.
Also, if LEO use them (SWAT or SRT) then your intentions can be defended as no more nefarious than the LEO. Seems like a legit defense to me. 
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Why don’t you need a red dot on your gun
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I’m not going there again, If anyone needs that extra thing hanging on their close qtr carry gun that’s their thing, myself I think it’s silly and if it’s worth making something harder to conceal and there’s no way anyone can tell me it’s not on a gun that will be used at very close quarters and if it’s not close quarters you will be answering for it but if someone needs one at 25 yds or less IMHO they should learn to shoot better. I’m not gonna revisit this again ok? I’ve spoke my peace
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This I do not understand. How does a 2x2 in square on top of the pistol make it more difficult to conceal?
The grip is the difficult part.
I have two MRDS and conceal one of them 1/2 the year with absolutely no issues.
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EDC is not close qtr gun.
You should consider using your carry gun in any situation when life is in danger, regardless of the distance.
If somebody is shooting at me from 40 yards, I’m using any technology available to accurately shoot back.
Because statistics show most of self defense shootings occur in short distance it doesn’t mean I cannot be prepared for long distance. I’m not risking my life by fitting the statistics.
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I agree. If your defense is relying on trying educate the average jury on handgun technology, then you’re in a bad place. Any modification would be viewed poorly by a jury IMHO. You’d either be a “gun nut” or planning to shoot someone if you make mods. The jury questionnaire better include the question “do you own a handgun.”
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I think we start overthinking the “red dot” technology.
It is not a modification. It’s a legal add on used my Law Enforcement Officers and fully approved by Government Agencies.
There’s no needs to educate anyone at the Court.
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As I said talk to a wall or something I’m no longer in this conversation and if anyone wants to have something hanging on their gun that’s their choice , like Brisco Darling says on the Andy Griffith show “ more power to ya “ I don’t care.
there is always something hanging on the handgun… sights, trigger guard, safety levers, mag release, slide stop… one more “something” on the slide really doesn’t change anything…
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I know I said I was outta this buuut I just don’t see why it’s nessasary myself , and people can say “ well if someone is shooting at me from a distance I’m gonna use the latest technology to shoot back and save my life” Well what about reality and screw all the “ what ifs”? Well if anyone feels that way just carry a AR so called pistol with a Trijicon type glass on it? I mean come on gotta protect yourself huh?I mean someone could be shooting at you from a hundred yards right? And how many civilians do you know that have gotten into a 40 or 50 yard gunfight? I know one, Wild Bill Hickok. I just like to keep things real that’s all and I can assure you there will be some questions asked why you couldn’t remove yourself from the situation before using deadly force and just because you or we are in this organization that you’re going to just skate through any situation either. Remember the guy that was in jail for two years before justice found him and it was all caught on video. I guess I’m just a minimalist type guy and I feel less is more and I can’t push things like I used to because I’m older and in poor health and about one month in jail would literally kill me. Just one man’s opinion and I don’t want to make anyone here mad or nor do I wanna be disliked I’m just a realistic minimalist anymore.