{"id":57187,"date":"2016-05-11T12:06:26","date_gmt":"2016-05-11T16:06:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=57187"},"modified":"2016-05-11T12:06:26","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T17:34:02","slug":"should-i-shoot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/should-i-shoot\/","title":{"rendered":"Ep. 2 Should I Shoot? Why You Need a Lawyer Now"},"content":{"rendered":"<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Ep. 2 Should I Shoot? Why You Need a Lawyer Now\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-57190\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Img8610-KW-200x300.png\" alt=\"Img8610-KW\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Img8610-KW-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Img8610-KW-100x150.png 100w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Img8610-KW-768x1150.png 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Img8610-KW-684x1024.png 684w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Img8610-KW.png 1179w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\n<p><em><strong>Editor\u2019s Note:<\/strong> The following is a post from Sammy Reese,\u00a0 a former Marine Corps Artillery Officer and retired police officer from California. He is a part-time range master for the police department he retired from as well as a life-long martial artist and combatives coach.<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/time-kill-lethal-force-can-used\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"should-i-shoot\" title=\"Ep. 2 Should I Shoot? Why You Need a Lawyer Now\">Ep. 1 Should I Shoot? When Lethal Force Can Be Used<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/should-i-shoot\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"should-i-shoot\" title=\"Ep. 2 Should I Shoot? Why You Need a Lawyer Now\">Ep. 2 Should I Shoot? Why You Need a Lawyer Now<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/should-i-shoot-no-3-what-gun-should-i-get\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"should-i-shoot\" title=\"Ep. 2 Should I Shoot? Why You Need a Lawyer Now\">Ep. 3 Should I Shoot? \u2018What Gun Should I Get?\u2019<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/shoot-no-4-probable-cause\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"should-i-shoot\" title=\"Ep. 2 Should I Shoot? Why You Need a Lawyer Now\">Ep. 4 Should I Shoot? Probable Cause<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/ep-5-shoot\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"should-i-shoot\" title=\"Ep. 2 Should I Shoot? Why You Need a Lawyer Now\">Ep. 5 Should I Shoot? What If the Crook has a Gun Pointed at the Clerk?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/ep-6-shoot-gun-get-part-ii\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"should-i-shoot\" title=\"Ep. 2 Should I Shoot? Why You Need a Lawyer Now\">Ep. 6 Should I Shoot? What Gun Should I Get Part II<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>During a defensive gun use, you may have to defend yourself or your loved ones alone. After the shooting stops, you will still have to defend your actions&#8211;but you shouldn&#8217;t ever do that alone. As distasteful as this will seem to some, you need a lawyer.<\/p>\n<p>During my time as a police officer, I can\u2019t recall the number of times a committee (usually a Use of Force Review Committee) took hours to tear apart an event that lasted only seconds. Even with detailed written reports and the events sometimes being caught on camera, every action was scrutinized with the benefit of no pressure to make a split-second decision and a whole bunch of \u201cwoulda, coulda, shoulda\u201d based on the group members\u2019 biases (and sometimes even lack of knowledge of the subject matter). This type of hindsight review of actions happens with all kinds of decisions we make. I can guarantee no event will be scrutinized more than a use-of-force incident \u2014 particularly one that involves the use of deadly force.<\/p>\n<h2>SEE ALSO:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/time-kill-lethal-force-can-used\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"should-i-shoot\" title=\"Ep. 2 Should I Shoot? Why You Need a Lawyer Now\">Should I Shoot? When Lethal Force Can Be Used<\/a><\/h2>\n<p>For armed private citizens who are forced to use deadly force to defend themselves or their families, the scrutiny will be in the form of homicide investigations from the jurisdictions in which the events took place. If you make the decision to be armed, you have to be prepared for more than just knowing how to shoot; you have to know when you can legally employ deadly force and you have to research local attorneys who specialize in representing clients who have used deadly force.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Learn<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The saying, \u201cYou won\u2019t acquire any new skills in the middle of a gunfight,\u201d also applies to how you need to conduct yourself post-incident. Take the time to do your learning in the comfort of your own home. If you have read this far in this article, you&#8217;re well on your way.<\/p>\n<p>Sitting at your desk, searching the web and having a nice warm cup of coffee while the dog naps at your feet is a significantly better learning environment than trying to figure out what do while in handcuffs in the back of a patrol car on the way to the station for questioning.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Find An Experienced Attorney\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>I\u2019m not a lawyer, but I have spent more hours with them than most. Some I liked and some not so much, but I do respect them for the knowledge they possess. Take the time to find a local attorney who specializes in defending good guys.<\/p>\n<p>Knowing who you can turn to when and if you actually have to will make your life much easier and you won&#8217;t be forced to make rush decisions that can shape the outcome of the rest of your life.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Make A List of Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Make a list of questions you need to know the answers to. For example:<\/li>\n<li>Does the attorney require you already have him or her on retainer in order to represent you?<\/li>\n<li>What does he charge? (Don\u2019t faint. It\u2019s going to be really expensive.)<\/li>\n<li>Will he arrange for you to be bailed out if you\u2019re booked into jail or do you have to make your own arrangements?<\/li>\n<li>What does he want you to tell the police before he can\u00a0get to wherever you\u2019re being held (this one is really important)?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Put A Plan in Place<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Good guys always want to set the record straight and tell their side. Some of the best advice I\u2019ve ever been given is pretty simple: \u201cIf you find yourself in the bottom of a deep hole, quit digging and figure out why you are in such a deep hole before you start digging again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rest assured that your attorney will have particular feelings on what you should or should not do before she or he is beside you offering counsel. So, together with him or her, make sure you have a plan in place that outlines what you should do in the immediate aftermath of a use of force situation.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>You Will Have Other Things to Worry About<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Stressful events affect each of us differently, and events in which you have to employ deadly force will be as stressful as any you\u2019ve ever experienced. Your body will be flooded with adrenaline and you might even get sick to your stomach at some point. Having already planned for this eventuality will put you one step ahead of the game. Listen to the advice the attorney gives you \u2014 there is a reason why it costs so much to retain one.<\/p>\n<p><strong>So&#8211;a virtual show of hands&#8211;how many of you already know the name of the lawyer you would call in circumstances like these?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>For more critical information on the use of deadly force and other firearms and self-defense topics, visit <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscca.com\/GunsAmerica\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"should-i-shoot\" title=\"Ep. 2 Should I Shoot? Why You Need a Lawyer Now\"><em>www.uscca.com\/GunsAmerica<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>So I bet you have a gun for self defense. But do you have a lawyer? If not, who do you expect will defend you after you pull the trigger in a defensive gun use? There are things you need to now about what happens after, and a lawyer can help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":141,"featured_media":57189,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,234,262],"tags":[132,586,291,642],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-57187","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gunsamerica-authors","8":"category-columns","9":"category-defensive-use-of-firearms","10":"tag-buzz","11":"tag-column","12":"tag-dgu","13":"tag-should-i-shoot"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ep. 2 Should I Shoot? 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There are things you need to now about what happens after, and a lawyer can help.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/should-i-shoot\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-05-11T16:06:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-10-06T17:34:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Img10797-KW.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"6872\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"4912\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kimber Pearce\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kimber Pearce\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/should-i-shoot\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/should-i-shoot\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Kimber Pearce\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7e410de0e153e160ed2815eb4e972a72\"},\"headline\":\"Ep. 2 Should I Shoot? 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As a writer and copy editor for GunsAmerica, she enjoys covering topics that matter to gun owners and supporters of the Second Amendment. Outside of class and work, Kimber serves as president of her local Turning Point USA chapter, where she helps lead campus outreach and engage with voices in the world of political activism. She also spends her free time reading history, studying the Constitution, and practicing at the range\u2014especially with a pistol. When not writing or organizing, Kimber enjoys learning about homesteading, DIY projects, and hands-on skills that promote self-reliance. Experience: \u2013 Journalism Student \u2013 Currently studying News &amp; Journalism in college with real-world writing and editing experience. \u2013 Writer &amp; Copy Editor \u2013 Works with GunsAmerica to create clean, accurate, and engaging content. \u2013 TPUSA Chapter President \u2013 Leads a campus chapter and collaborates with key figures in conservative activism. \u2013 History, Constitution, and America Fan \u2013 Loves learning how the past shapes today\u2019s freedoms. \u2013 Shooter\u00a0 \u2013 Practical experience and solid skills at the range.","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/author\/kimber-pearce\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Img10797-KW-150x107.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/141"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57187"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":181539,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57187\/revisions\/181539"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57187"},{"taxonomy":"featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured?post=57187"},{"taxonomy":"hunt365","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hunt365?post=57187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}