What to do (and not to do) after a self-defense shooting

[longtooth]

Owner Charles Cotton gives a seminar on this pretty regular. He just did one at the TSRA annual meeting.
Watch for it & go.

[KD5NRH]

IANAL, but...

DO: Call your attorney
DO NOT: Call your taxidermist

DO: Put your gun away before police arrive (if the threat is effectively stopped)
DO NOT: Carve a notch in the grip before police arrive

DO: Carefully note the locations of all relevant items and witnesses
DO NOT: Collect souvenirs or arrange the deceased in funny poses

DO: Try to calm down and gather your thoughts before speaking to police
DO NOT: Have a few beers and wait until morning to call 911 (it happens)

On a more serious note, if in doubt and nobody needs medical attention, (especially if it's a no-shots-fired defensive success) call your lawyer first and let him dictate your actions. If someone is hurt, call 911 first and just try to keep the details to a minimum outside of location, injuries, and current situation. If the dispatcher gets off the line before police arrive, use that time to make the lawyer call.

[Gunsmom]

There is a video out there on the net that I've seen, by a lawyer, which advises not talking to the police without a lawyer. I don't have a link though; if you go to some of the gun boards and search you could probably find it.

I expect that, in the immediate aftermath of a shooting, most anyone is going to be pretty upset and may have a hard time getting the details straight. Taking some time to get calmed down, medical attention if necessary, and someone more objective there to look after your interests, is not a bad thing to do.

[TexasVet]

http://www.regent.edu/admin/media/schlaw/LawPreview/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; This is the video about not talking to the police in general, not just post shooting.. but it all would apply !

[Liberty]

http://www.regent.edu/admin/media/schlaw/LawPreview/ This is the video about not talking to the police in general, not just post shooting.. but it all would apply !

While one might be better off not saying anything at all, a small amount of cooperation might make a bad situation better. This is why Charles Cottons Seminar is so important. He puts a certain relevance and perspective. That simple answers like "don't takl to the police after a shooting" do not take into concideration.

Some General rules.
If you aren't sure its not going to hurt you. Don't say it.
Go ahead and let them know who you are.
Be Polite.
Its OK to be sick, and agree to talk later when you feel better ( and probably have a lawyer at your side)
Better to say nothing than to say the wrong thing.
Remember that you are the victim.
Don't let 911 keep you on the phone longer than it takes to give them the important info ( My Rule )