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.
