What do you do if you are the victim of an attempted crime in which you were forced to shoot the perpetrator in self defense? Here are some no-nonsense guidelines from security experts, policmen and Lawyers. Wounding a Perp is a bad idea. If you must shoot, dont shoot to wound. More and more in our broken legal system perps are sueing the innocent victims that were forced to shoot them, for violating their civil rights! Also, a dead Perp will not be able to tell his side of the story, often making your side the ONLY side told. More important, don't hesitate, which is something you might do because of your uncertainty about the laws. Trying to be right in the eyes of the law has caused many innocent deaths. It is much better if you strive to be righteous. You want to be right. MUCH MORE IMPORTANT, YOU NEED TO THINK YOU ARE RIGHT. If you are not sure, then you'll come into conflict with an enemy germ who will act as if they are sure (because they have already chosen not to care) and they'll shoot faster and attack more ferociously because they're more committed to battle. That's often why victims lose. IF YOU WON THE BATTLE Your basic problem, if authorities examine the evidence, is to show that your life was in danger. If you were faced with a knife or other deadly weapon, your fear was certainly justified. Therefore your actions will be likewise justified. It doesn't matter where the knife came from. Even if it was part of a matched set from your very own kitchen, the fact that the perp had it in his hand (his fingerprints on the handle) will help. Your testimony (after being counseled by an attorney) that he was threatening you will also help. DON'T Tamper with evidence! Forensic science is one area of the law which has improved tremendously. Some of the best police work in the country is now done in the lab. I've heard statements by people who want to defend their homes and are half paranoid due to the high crime rate. They say "Heck, if he comes up to my window, I'll blow him away, then drag him inside." Sorry. That WON'T work! Any hunter knows that you can't move a bleeding animal without leaving a blood trail a blind man could follow. Even without a blood trail, footprints outside your house will reveal just how the incident took place. On the other hand, if the person lying on the ground outside your house also had a gun lying there with his prints on it, it is more logical to believe you were afraid he would shoot at you through the window if you didn't shoot first. Best to plan ahead for this possibility. No matter what the circumstance were that lead you to shoot, first call your attorney. After you have explained to your attorney what happened and been counseled, then your attorney can surrender you to the proper authorities and stay there with you for questioning. This is important! All of your conversations with your attorney are private and privileged. Nothing you say to your attorney can ever be used against you. It is his job to see that you get the best possible defense. As a matter of professional pride, your attorney does not want to see you go to jail. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT If you havent called the police prior to the battle, and you won, dont call now. Call your criminal attorney. Follow their advice. DO NOT answer ANY questions from anyone else. Direct all inquiries to your attorney. Never take a chance on your police, prosecutor, or the courts. They may often be the nicest people in your community. But if you share information, thoughts, or even your grocery bill with one of them after you're charged with a crime, they will use that information against you if it will help convict you. It's not personal... it's their job. IF YOU'RE ARRESTED BUT NOT MIRANDIZED (had your rights read to you) SPEAK NO FURTHER TO THE POLICE AND TELL YOUR ATTORNEY IMMEDIATELY. Many crooks and thieves have foiled police; others have been released on technicalities. Police and prosecutors will use ANYTHING you say against you. When they warn you, THEY ARE NOT KIDDING! If you get a miranda warning ("you have the right to remain silent...") do just that! Talk to nobody. You'll have this uncontrollable urge to explain. You'll feel a need to make others think you were right. DONT! One nice way to stop them from asking further questions is to say,"Thank you, gentlemen. This interview is terminated as of now." Never grant interviews to the press... it does you very little good. Other criminals may decide to see what you own that was worth dying for, or, fellow gang members might consider vengence to honor their jacket colors. You ARE REQUIRED to stay at the scene of an accident (unless you believe harm may befall you) but you are NOT REQUIRED to stay at the scene of a crime. In most situations, I would leave immediately. For example, if I were riding my bike or horse on a lonely stretch of road and I was suddenly accosted and I shot (AND KILLED) the perp I would leave. Real reason: I dont trust the system. Stated reason: Fear. Most perps in remote areas operate in pairs or gangs, and they wouldnt rely on the system either. The best response you can give to the idle curious is to say nothing at all. If you must speak, say, "I wish it hadn't happened, I had no other choice, my life was at stake." THAT'S ALL! No philosophy, no condemnation of the system and NO verbal attack on the deceased. Never express guilty feelings or remorse about the act of taking another's life, not even to your closest friends. Your feelings of guilt or remorse might be construed to indicate you had a choice. Your position should ALWAYS be: 1. You were face with a set of circumstances which left you no alternative. 2. You were in mortal fear for your life and in fear for the lives of your loved ones at the time of the incident. The best way to lengthen an innocent life---is to shorten a criminal's.