i live in north fl so im not to worried about the gun laws out here and thankfully they havent gotten rid of stand your ground or castle doctrine but has any one here had to deal with an armed conflict? im curious what would be the best way of reporting that you've had to use your weapon purely in self defense or in case of a home invasion.

IMO if someone has used a firearm in self defense, they probably won't want to talk about it all over a public forum. I have not been in any sort of confrontation involving a firearm, and I hope I am never in that situation. In any home/self defense situation make sure you think ahead, meaning call the police and only use justified actions. In WI we have "Stand Your Ground" and not the Castle doctrine, so everything must be justified in case it is brought to court.

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Does 911 work in your area? No, I'm not being funny. The first person to report an incident is generally referred to as the complaintant. If they have to come looking for you, you're the suspect. Or, in more politically correct areas, 'person of interest'.

This question needs to be directed to a professional, not unknown people on a public forum. A lawyer well versed in firearms law and self defense would be a good place to start.

Until then, Massad Ayoob has written a couple of books that make for good reading. "In The Gravest Extreme" was written in 1980, but still has very good information about using and not using a gun is self defense.

Another of his books, "The Ayoob Files" is a compilation of actual shootings looking at what led up to them and examining the aftermath, both what was done right and what was done wrong. This book shows how, in some cases, legitimate shootings can be turned into criminal actions by doing something stupid in the aftermath or not doing something that you should have done.

<Please note that I have never shot anyone in either a professional or private incident.>


Steps to consider after a self defense shooting during an armed home invasion:

Quickly thank your Maker for for allowing you to survive your battle.

If it is safe to do so... holster or put your firearm away

Check to make sure your family members are safe and unharmed.

Call the police as soon as possible and tell them that you've been involved in a shooting and someone was shot.

Request that the Police send and ambulance.

Be sure to provide the Police call taker with your description so you don't become an accidental victim when the police arrive.

If the perpetrator is fully under your control and poses no threat to you or your family... DO NOT be holding a firearm in your hand when the Police arrive.

As an additional thought... If safe to do so... render first aid to the perpetrator. <You may not like it, but it is the responsible thing to do.>

Before speaking with the police ask for time to collect your thoughts and contact your attorney.



(Please note... the above is just "my opinion" of what I would consider doing <as a private citizen> if I was involved in a personal self defense shooting.)

Learn from the Zimmerman case and thousands of others.

1. Ensure that the threat is neutralized.
2. Be aware of other potential threats and be ready to address them. If absolutely necessary, relocate to a safer area.
3. Secure your firearm.
4. If you didn't have the opportunity to call 911 before the incident do so as soon as possible.
5. Locate, but do NOT tamper with any potential evidence, apart from separating the assailant(s) from his (their) weapons.
6. Note potential witnesses, cameras, etc.
7. Obey any non-prejudicial orders of responding police, ie. disarm, etc. See below.
8. Give a BRIEF statement of what happened, indicating that you felt that your life was in danger and that you acted to defend yourself (or a similarly situated other). Do NOT embellish, make "colorful" statements, brag, or anything of the sort. FACTS only, no "apologies", character assessments, etc.
9. After giving your BRIEF statement, invoke your right to silence without benefit counsel. STICK TO IT.
10. If you feel the need, ask for medical examination/treatment.

By far, more people talk themselves into trouble than out of it. When in ANY doubt, SHUT UP.

Look at the video

Massad Ayoob (Aftermath Shooting) - YouTube

In addition to Ayoob's books, I highly recommend Self-Defense Laws of All 50 States. It's written by a lawyer who specializes in defending self-defense shooters. I got mine from the NRA online. BTW, you're doing the right thing researching what should be done. This book opened my eyes in that you could have a legal self defense shooting, not be charged, and still lose all or most of your assets defending a civil lawsuit by the perp or his family.

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S&W SD40VE; So mote it be.

well i ask because about this time last year i was rudely awoken by some one pushing out a window ac unit at my house to break in. by the time i had my shotgun loaded he had made it out my front door. thankfully the police caught him after he tried to break into another house on my block.

Why wasn't your shotgun already loaded?

An unloaded gun...any gun...is merely a striking tool.

Oh, heed the advice of those above who advise calling 9-1-1 and telling the operator what has occurred if, per chance, you do use deadly force.

Be safe.

After the scene is secure (if possible) call 911, giving a COMPLETE description of yourself, ask for A) the police and B) an ambulance ... YOU may be hit and not know it yet. Plus the bad guy (although he may not deserve it) might need medical attention, and trying to help him/her only makes you look better.

When the police arrive: Give them a BRIEF synopsis of what happened, factual, to the point and include your fear of serious bodily harm/death. THEN EXERSIZE YOUR A) RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT AND B) A LAWYER (be polite about it though, let them know you WILL talk AFTER speaking with your lawyer).

You WILL be detained and depending on how FUBARed the situation is, you MAY be arrested (long enough to be questioned by Homicide, the Shoot Team, Special Investigations, or whoever investigates shooting in your city/county) ... KEEP YOUR COOL ... We (the Cops) don't have a magical crystal ball to tell us who is telling the truth, so just be patient with us.

I know of one shooting where the bad guy came to the door of the ex-girlfriend and pulled a Tech-9. The NEW boyfriend answered the door and when he saw the weapon, grabbed a 9mm of his own and opened fire. Bad guy, who forgot to take the safety off the Tech-9 goes down with multiple torso hits without firing a shot. The new boyfriend was "arrested" while homicide (the BG didn't die, homicide just happens to investigate the shootings here) gathered up all the witnesses, took statements and examined evidence. The new boyfriend was at homicide until about morning, then released without charges, The case was sent to the Grand Jury who gave it a No Bill (no charges to be filed) and the case, now ruled self defense, was dropped.

The only other advice I can give is what a veteran cop with about 7 shootings while on the job told us to do if we ever got into a shooting, "When you're up there with your union rep (lawyer) TELL THE TRUTH, PERIOD." Don't add lib, don't guess, speak of only what you knew or believed to be true AT THAT POINT IN TIME. If you were so scared that you almost (or did) wet, or drop a load in your pants say so.

You may want to babble ... don't, if your lawyer says shut up, then shut up.

You will be asked the same questions over and over. You will be asked to "run through it one more time" several times. That is why it is important to tell the truth, if you tell the truth, it will be easier for you because you won't have difficulty remembering what you said the last time they asked you the question and your story will remain the same ... always a good thing.

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Don

Hello. all My 02 from an instructor was after making the 911 call to, IF possible to take pics from your cell phone of the vehicle plate #s in your surroundings and of witnesses, NOT of the BAD guy on the ground.
Then if said witnesses leave, hopefully they can be tracked down.
Good info here.
thanks
Michael