How Hollow Point Ammo Can Send You to Prison

I get asked all of the time "will it hurt me in court if I use hollow points to defend myself?" Surprisingly, the answer is: "it depends."

Today, we delve into the nuanced world of self-defense laws and how they intersect with the type of ammunition used during a self-defense situation.

In this video, I explore the legal implications of using hollow point ammunition in self-defense scenarios. You'll get an analysis of several court cases where the type of ammunition played a role in the trial's outcome. Learn about the factors that can elevate the risk of conviction and the legal justifications that can mitigate these risks.

This video will provide you with a clearer understanding of how hollow point ammunition can affect your legal standing in the unfortunate event of a self-defense incident.

[zenoking]

Anything and everything you do to defend yourself will be used against you by a predatory prosecutor.

[michaelpfister]

Two cases. One man used hollow-point ammo to defend himself against a home invasion. Another man used jacketed rounds to defend himself against a home invasion. Both invaders were killed. Both were prosecuted for using "excessive force". In one case, because the hollow-point was excessively deadly. In the other case, because the jacketed round was "armor piercing". Same prosecutor in both cases. Its not about the ammo, its about the political views of the prosecutor in the case.

[fjbforever]

I ended up going to trial over a self defense shooting. The gun I used was a Glock 27. I had 40 cal hollow point rounds. The prosecutor did bring up the hollow point issue claiming I was carrying the most deadly type of ammunition. This happened in Anchorage AK and the police that responded all testified. My lawyer asks each of them what gon they carried. All of them carried either a Glock 22 or 23. My lawyer then asked what type of ammunition they carried and of course they all carry hollow point ammunition. Both their guns and ammunition were issued by the police department. That pretty much destroyed the hollow point argument. I was found not guilty.

[thenricks]

The irony of them calling hollow points "Cop-Killer" bullets when every cop in America carries hollow points. My 5 years as LEO we carried Speer Gold Dot 124g everyday to stop crackheads and euthanize opossums on the road. Yes, I worked in Florida.

[kaosblatte]

If you don't use a hollow point they will just say you are using "military grade" ball ammo

[lefeal]

In the Rittenhouse trial the prosecutor tried to characterize his FMJ bullets as especially dangerous due to their higher chance of overpenetration and potentially hitting a bystander. It doesn't matter what you use, they'll spin it against you.

[professionalamateur]

It sucks that you can be judged based on either using "too lethal" ammo, or crappy ammo which means you have to shoot the bad guy a couple dozen times and they will say you shot them too many times.

[woohoo]

"Hollow points are made for killing"

And guns are made for tickling

[cenccenc]

My father, retired prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, WWII and Korean Marine Vet, went to get a concealed permit for his handgun, due to some gang trouble in the neighborhood. The Police officer that issued the permit told him, "please use hollow points to reduce the chance of hitting unintended targets or pass-through problems". Yea, he used hollow points.

[ceb]

In Peru (South America), it is literally illegal to carry with anything other than hollow point. The reasoning is that other rounds may pass through the targeted person and hit someone else. If you are caught carrying with anything other than hollow point you lose your gun license.

[IDSGT]

“The box said ‘Critical Defense’ your honor.”

[greenyoshi]

Prosecutors and judges who allow this sh*t are what we call a liability.

[tballstaedt]

I use the same ammunition I used when I was a cop. I can assure you that law enforcement, both local and federal use hollow points.

[danieljackson]

The advice I got from the guy who trains my police department is for citizens and even cops to use whatever ammo their local law enforcement use. That way your defense is you use exactly what the cops who protect your community use

[JonathanDeaux]

If ever asked WHY you use hollow points, answer is "It prevents over penetration of the intended target."

[DingleFlop]

I think the funniest thing about hollow points being referred to in that way, is the decreased effectiveness against armor, which police often wear...

[corey]

As a retired cop, who as part of my job wrote department policies, was a use of foce and firearms instructor. Our department used hollow-points because they are less likely to over penetrate and or ricochet.

[Indigo.]

Here in TEXAS in a CC class we were told NOT to use FULL METAL JACKETS for the main reason it can go through the person and walls and strike another person. 🤷🏻‍♂️ So YES to hollow points.

[DavidJones-hrbn]

Speaking as a former LEO, the ONLY rounds we referred to as "cop killer bullets" were of the armor piercing variety which are anything but "hollow point"! How can a defense attorney worth his pay allow a prosecuting attorney mischaracterize a bullet virtually identical to what police carry as nefarious?

[oldmangreywolf]

Very simple answer.
The prison system cannot extract money from the government if they do not have criminals behind bars.