At GunDigest, we independently review products. However, we may earn a commission when you purchase through links on our site. Learn More
After a Self-Defense Incident: Do What the Police Say!
If you are involved in a deadly force self-defense incident and can get to a phone CALL THE POLICE! Don't call your neighbors, your parents, your husband or your wife. Call the police.
Recently a 92-year-old Kentucky man used a .22 rifle to successfully defended his home from three intruders. His story of self-defense is not really about concealed carry, it is more about home defense. But there is an important element down near the bottom of which everyone needs to be aware.
First off, if you are involved in a deadly force self-defense incident and can get to a phone CALL THE POLICE! Don't call your neighbors, your parents, your husband or your wife. Call the police and say clearly, “I have been attacked and I shot at the person who attacked me.” Then stay on the line and wait for instructions. Keep talking to that dispatcher until you see the officers arrive. Give your location, a description of what you are wearing and just to be clear, repeat, “I am the victim. Tell responding officers the victim is wearing…. and is waiting for them at…”
You don't have to say anything that will incriminate yourself, but you do want to clearly identify yourself so responding officers don't mistake you for a bad guy and shoot you.
Here's the deal, police officers responding to a “shots fired” call are on high alert and any reader who thinks cops should just “calm down” have never rolled up on such a call and begun walking toward the danger. At the same time, if you don't give ample information, police will arrive looking for “someone with a gun.” Remember, you have a gun. So when police arrive at the scene of a shooting, the first thing they are going to do is secure the scene. That means you will be ordered (perhaps loudly) to put your gun down. Do it. If the police tell you to raise your hands, raise them. You will likely get handcuffed. Deal with it. Realize that responding officers don't know who you are. They do know someone has been shot. They are looking for a person with a gun and they don't want to get shot. So they will take control of the gun and scene. Once that happens calmly explain your side of the story.
You have to remember a person holding a gun is an imminent threat, before any questioning or explanations can begin, police officers will and must remove that threat. If you are holding a gun and refuse to put it down, you may get shot. And the officer would be justified in doing so based on the totality of circumstances and the information that officer had at the time. So, in the unlikely event that you are involved in a shooting, please do what the officers tell you as they secure the scene.
Next Step: Get your FREE Printable Target Pack
Enhance your shooting precision with our 62 MOA Targets, perfect for rifles and handguns. Crafted in collaboration with Storm Tactical for accuracy and versatility.
Subscribe to the Gun Digest email newsletter and get your downloadable target pack sent straight to your inbox. Stay updated with the latest firearms info in the industry.
