There are many law abiding citizens who have a firearm in their home for the defense of their family and they train the people they care about in how to use the firearm safely, and how to store it safely, but have you gone over with your family on what to do if you have to use it to defend yourself? A recent story in Colorado (http://a.msn.com/01/en-us/BBLo7GQ?ocid=se) sparked a discussion about this matter and if you’re honest I’m betting that most people haven’t thought as much about what to do in the aftermath of a defensive shooting as they should. Dealing with the aftermath of such an unfortunate situation should be a critical part of your personal defense plan. To fail to consider it can place you in a good deal of legal and physical danger.
Once the shooting is over, you should put your
gun away and call 9-1-1 immediately. When you call 9-1-1, you should give your
name and description, location and a very brief overview of what has just
occurred ("A man tried to rob me with a gun and I had to shoot him").
You should ask that an ambulance and law enforcement be dispatched right away.
If it is safe to do so holster, or put your gun on the ground.
Police officers cannot tell the good guys from the bad guys by simply looking
at you. If they see a gun in your hand, they must assume that you represent a
threat to them. Also understand that in the aftermath of a shooting you may experience
auditory exclusion (you might not be able to hear the commands given to you by
police), so by not having a gun in your hand when the police arrive you won’t
accidentally point a gun at the police because you didn’t hear the noise of
their approach.
Keep in mind that the police
don't know what has happened and don't know the people involved, so don't be
surprised if you are ordered to lie face-down on the ground. If that happens,
you will more than likely be handcuffed as well. This doesn't mean that anyone
automatically thinks that you are guilty. What it means is that the police
officers are going to make sure that the trouble is over, and that no one else
is going to get hurt.
We understand this is a very
simple, short article about a very complicated situation, but we think it’s a
good starting point for a discussion with your family or loved ones so that if
you ever find yourself in this situation you’ll have an idea of what to do.
To review:
Call 911. Ask
that police and an ambulance be dispatched immediately. Give your name and
description, location and a very brief overview of what has just occurred.
Do not leave the scene. Unless you're in danger, stay put. You may feel an overwhelming
need to seek out friends or family or run away, but don't.
If it is safe to do so holster, or put your gun
on the ground.
Do not move or tamper with evidence. It's natural to want to clean up, especially if you're in your home. Don't do this. Don't touch or move anything. If
there are others nearby, make sure they do the same.
by Sheriff Jim Wilson)
