"Council" is (counsel) is another word for lawyer.i hear many folks saying that when the officer arrives you first need to not have the firearm drawn as you will look like the BG to the officer and witnesses that didnt see it actually happem, then they say you should point out the evidence, then let the officer know you will cooperate on 24 hours after you speak to council????? WHO THE HECK IS COUNCIL?????:fie: i seen this on a video on another forum. What are the correct things to do if ever you are involved in a self defense shooting?
The way it has been presented to me is a similar refrain to the above.
*YOU* be the first one to call 911. "I have been attacked, there has been a shooting. The assailant is down, the victim is armed. I will stay on the line until an officer arrives. Please make sure the officer knows that the victim is armed."
Do not call the person who attacked you a "victim". If you say there are two "victims", then the assailant isn't presented as the guilty one. If you have pencil/pen and paper, write down your side immediately. While it's still fresh. Stow it deeply in your wallet or somewhere else that they'll open quickly but not look at absolutely everything in it.
If the assailant is down but not dead, provide first aid if they are cooperative. It will look a lot better for you if you aren't just standing there watching your assailant bleed out pointing a gun at him. If the assailant is in good enough health to not be in immediate danger of death, offer first aid. If the assailant is obviously still a 'danger', keep your weapon pointed at him - and make sure the 911 operator is kept fully apprised of what you are doing. "The assailant is injured and disarmed, but I am continuing to keep the assailant covered with my weapon. I will drop my weapon when officers have the assailant covered."
When the officer(s) arrive, comply fully. When they ask questions about your assailant's actions, answer in detail, so their 'badness' is well documented early. When they ask questions about your actions, reply with a simple "I defended myself" or similar, and refuse to go in to detail without a lawyer.
Depending on where you are, complying with some questions early may be enough to prevent you from even being charged with anything. (Texas, for example.) Of course, in some jurisdictions, you will be guaranteed to go on trial to 'prove your innocence'.
After you are safe:
Call 911. "There has been an attack. The bad guy has been shot and is on the ground." Give your name and location. Say nothing else.
When police arrive: "That (point to him) is the bad guy. I will cooperate fully after I've spoken to counsel." DO NOT say you defended yourself. DO NOT in any way state that you shot the aggressor. DO NOT indicate that you own the firearm used to shoot the aggressor.
Call your attorney at first opportunity.
This may get you arrested. You may have to go downtown. You may be questioned. The police in the course of their investigation will treat you like the criminal. They may search your home. They may confiscate all your firearms (and good chance they will be in crap condition when you get them back.) They may question your spouse, children, friends, and other family members. Be ready for this. And KEEP SILENT until after you've spoken to your attorney. Instruct your family members to do the same, well ahead of time.
You may be tried by the district attorney. You may be sued by the family of the aggressor. It will cost you money for defense in either or both cases.
You may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Other physical and psychological disorders may manifest themselves. You will go through a number of emotions such as elation, fear, anger, guilt, alienation, on and on. Your head and heart will be a mess for a while. People (even those close to you who you feel would understand) will act differently towards you after you shot or killed someone.
In other words - once you've squeezed the trigger, things get REALLY EFFED UP FOR YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND MAYBE SOME CLOSE FRIENDS from that moment on, and will remain so for months or years into your future.
But at least you'll have a future. And your family will have you.
Take note, "mall ninjas" and "keyboard killaz" - this is serious business, for serious-minded people.
Why would they search your home and confiscate your weapons at home that have nothing to do with the weapon you have on the scene?
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