It's a question of degree here. If it's a choice between virtually a guarantee of having a gun pointed at you eventually (i.e. working for a pizza company or a convenience store) and getting fired, that's one thing. If it's a choice between really a fairly distant likelihood of a VT event and getting the whole machinery of the law coming down on you, that's quite another.
But the answer to rogue prosecutors and oppressive laws is not to curl up in a little ball and weep, "Oh! I can't do anything because they have all the power and it might cost me attorney fees!"
A pre-emptive challenge to the law brought by a sportsman's group is one answer. I know that works because I was one of the attorneys who challenged the Atlanta assault weapons ban on behalf of several local shooting clubs and gun shops. We won the case and the law was thrown out. Nobody had to get arrested.
Another way is to put up a good challenger and throw the bum prosecutor out at the next election.
You said — “A pre-emptive challenge to the law brought by a sportsman’s group is one answer. I know that works because I was one of the attorneys who challenged the Atlanta assault weapons ban on behalf of several local shooting clubs and gun shops. We won the case and the law was thrown out. Nobody had to get arrested.”
A pre-emptive challenge would certainly be a good way to go, presuming that you don’t end up making case law go the other way, and against you. But, I guess that’s what you do in determining which case would be a good pre-emptive challenge in the first place.
Those sorts of things are only going to be for certain people, in certain personal situations, who can afford to do that (along with some help from a lot of other people). It’s simply *not* for everyone. And thus, everyone else is going to stay away from “it” (whatever the “it” issue is) — until it is more fully settled in law.
You’re talking about a “select few” here and not the general public.
But, sure..., go for that pre-emptive challenge.
Regards,
Star Traveler