Good Advice

March 22, 2007
5:39 AM CST

This is all good advice (and thanks to Reader EricM for sending me the link).

All the post-shooting reactions are real, and well described. The only place I would part company is the part about talking to the cops, because it really depends where you are, and the circumstances.

If you live in a GFW state like Illinois or California, shut the hell up and lawyer up immediately. Those pricks are going to arrest you anyway (they’ll call it “standard department policy” or some such jive—yeah, sure). Ditto if you’re in a state other than your own—even if you’re in the clear in terms of your CCW/CHL and the reciprocity. Check to see how the cops are looking at you. If the senior cop looks down at the dead goblin and says, “Nice grouping” or similar, you can start to relax. If they’re kinda distant and official, start thinking about getting a lawyer.

If you are inside your home when you’ve just whacked a goblin, you’re in slightly better shape (other than if you’re in a GFW state like New York). No question about it, the cops are going to go a lot easier on you most of the time if your wife is standing behind you, shuddering with terror. They’ll be even more sympathetic if they know you—one of the reasons I always try to get to know the local cops.

No matter how much I joke about Righteous Shootings, shooting someone is a serious business, and there’s going to be some post-traumatic stress to deal with (hopefully, more so for the goblin than for you). Dirty Harry always sails through his shootings without a backward glance, but he’s a movie character. Real life is a lot more complicated.

The link above is worth remembering. Study it, commit it to memory, and do a lot of role-playing in your mind.

It may make a huge difference in your life.