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Just a friendly reminder

4K views 23 replies 18 participants last post by  gvw3 
#1 ·
If, God forbid, your ever involved in a self defense shooting. Do NOT answer any questions the law may be asking you until your lawyer is sitting next to you. You may think your helping in the investigation, just to get things over with but as the Miranda rights state, "ANYTHING, you say CAN and WILL be used against you in the Court of law".

Don't chance it folks. Most likely you'll go downtown anyways, so just wait awhile longer for your lawyer to get there. It could mean the difference between being a free man and 30 to life.

I was taught to say this in a polite and respectful manor, I'll be more than willing to answer your questions and help expedite this as soon as my council advises me. It's not being an ass by not talking until your lawyer is there, it's your right, use it!

With the current state of our Country I just thought I'd throw a reminder out there.
 
#3 ·
I have legal representation already should I have to use my weapon. I will call 911 first, give just a basic call to respond then pull out my Texas Law Shield card and call the 800 number
within 30 min, I will have an attorney on the phone giving me instructions on what to do.
I will be polite to the cops, but I will not talk about the incident to them without my lawyer
 
#6 · (Edited)
That's good advice DB. I carry my lawyers card in my wallet right behind my DL, and my concealed carry permit. I would call 911 to, but only after I have settled down, and any of us who may have to shoot someone else, had better learn how to 'settle down' real fast. You have no idea what your adrenalin levels will be like, but they will be high! You'll probably be so nervous that you couldn't pick your nose if you had to. Make the call as short as possible. Watch what you say, remember, this call is being recorded. Something like "I need the police out here, I've had to shoot a man who was trying to kill me". Give them your address, and tell them you have to hang up because you're going to be sick. They will tell you to stay on the line, and start asking questions. Don't answer them, hang up, you are being recorded. Either re-holster your pistol, or lay it down (if in your home), and don't have your hands near it when the cops arrive. Remember, they are responding to an active shooter call. Anyone with a gun is a potential target! Call your attorney as soon as you hang up form 911. If you don't have one, you've made your first mistake! Get an attorney before the fact, not after. Give him all the information that you can. For those of you who might not have had dealings with the police, remember the 'good cop, bad cop' routine? You are going to experience it first hand, and please don't think you can out smart the cops in this, they have years of experience playing this game. It helps if your attorney is on the phone with you when the cops arrive. He can instruct you on what not to do, and what not to say, right off the bat. Always be polite to the cops, use the word 'sir' a lot! Be respectful, but don't talk to them.
 
#4 ·
Hope I don't get in trouble for this. I drove truck's interstate for a lot of years. retired in 2006. Made a hell of a lot of trip's into NYC. Lot into Hunts Point Market there. Pretty dangerous place if you not familiar with it. Same with Little West 12th St and Harlem. Most of us that went in a lot carried. I was talking with a city cop one time and he gave me some advice. If you have to shoot someone, don't call us. Just leave him lay and we will find him! He mentioned there was lot less paper work that way. Now if your in the /city ,shoot someone and call it in, you are in trouble. you not only shot someone, but you have a weapon the city say's you can't have and the DOT say's you can't have a gun om the truck. thee DOT never went into these place's at 3am, that's when they start unloading! Don't mean to suggest anything, just a story, true but still just a story.
 
#8 ·
This is a good thread, thanks for starting it!
 
#11 ·
I was told to never give them more than the bare minimum. You were attacked, had to defend yourself and they need to send the coroner after the body. And make sure they are armed. Then you either holster or lay yours out.

Btw howln. wouldnt trade my cbs for much of anything. love talking and listening on there
 
#14 · (Edited)
Saw another Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network video with Mas Ayoob who states a common ploy by prosecutors is to get you to estimate how tall the attacker was or how far away. Mas stated to never fall for this since any errors will be called lies.

If asked, Mas responds, close enough to kill me, or big enough to kill me and then talk about adrenaline induced visual and spatial distortions. Interesting stuff from someone who has spent many hours in courtrooms.
 
#16 ·
Thanks to another thread on gun insurance by Big Mak, I have my USCCA card in my wallet. It states:
First, call 911. After the police arrive, only say the following:
Explain: "This man tried to kill me."
Complaint: "I'm willing to sign a complaint."
Evidence: There is his weapon."
Witnesses: "Those people saw the attack."
Silence: "Officer, I will cooperate 100%, but first I need to speak with my attorney."
They have the "Critical Response Team" phone number in large font at bottom of card.
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You could use the same conversation of sorts to the 911 operator stated in proper tense.
The complaint you are signing is the 6 words you stated with no details.
Masaad said to tell the officer you want him charged, even if he/she is dead. I think I would change the complaint from willing to want.
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I would have the card in front of me and read "ONLY" what is on the card to the 911 operator and nothing else other than my address. I would keep the card in my hand so I can read it to the officer if they would let me hold onto it. If not, then I say read the card please. Then stick to the "Silence" like like name, rank, and s/n.
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If you have medical issues, demand to go immediately to the ER. You may not be able to tell you are having issues due to adrenaline. Let the doc tell you that you are fine. Then you have had time to calm down and the dozen of officers at the scene has now dwindled down to may be 2 who are thinking about coffee since you are lying in bed.
 
#17 ·
I read these remarks and situations with great interest and watching TV news as much as I do
I so often hear the reporter/commentator seem to remark so snidely and 'catty', "the person
of interest refused to make any statements until he spoke with his attorney"!....it is just like
you have your own 'mouth-piece'...as if you will scorn the offer to have one appointed for you...and again, the snotty sounding voice "if you cannot afford......".
No, my fellow citizens and proud Americans, I have never had my rights read to me...here at this age of mine, never been arrested or had handcuffs...I have mentioned many times about having been stationed in the North African country or Morocco...shortly after my wife arrived to accompany me there we lived out in the civilian city of Kenitra as many military personnel did...An apartment type dwelling much like our own country...Air Force and Navy mostly, but there were some American civilians. One night way after midnight there was a hammering on our door...I scoped it out thru the doors
peep-hole and it was this Air Force dependent from down the hall....I opened the door as far
as the safety chain would allow and this haggard looking woman blurted out to me...
"I'M SORRY TO BOTHER YOU BUT I'VE JUST KILLED MY BABY"! By then my night-gown clad
wife was at my shoulder and she said to let her in which I did...I went down to her unit...the
door was open and the child was in the crib....Of course, I was upset...what to do....Morocco,
being the former French protectorate, still used the term for police as 'gerndarme' (sp)...I left
the infant and apartment exactly as I found it...hustled back to ours to get some duds and
shoes on and run about 5 city blocks to the city police station...there was a military rep serving there with the local law enforcement... I was treated kindly with no suspect whatsoever, ever.
However, as part and parcel to such situations, I was required to be transported several times
to the consulate in Casablanca and Rabat to verify and testify... As things developed it seemed
the Air Force person and his wife had a fight before he departed for duty at the Sidi Slimane
AFB that evening....she got even with him and smothered their little kid...She was not confined
inasmuch as you'd think...my wife and I would see them together at the base exchange or at
the outdoor movie theater...they just didn't occupy the apartment any longer... Our first child
was born in Morocco and I had to go again to Casablanca and take care of the recording of our
child's birth. Yeah, if I sound proud and boastful that I'd never built up a 'rep' with law
enforcement, I am...didn't live like a Holy Man from Lower Slobovia either! Chief
 
#19 ·
I work with LEO ALL the time.
I have talked to them about this and was told that if they shot someone on duty they are required to NOT say a thing intill there lawyer and there rep. from the union is present.
So if they will not talk you should not.
I was told to say with respect. I have nothing to say intill I am repasented by counsel.
In other words DO NOT SAY A THING.
Do not even admit the gun you are holding is yours.
You say nothing except what I have already said.
If they ask you more questions no matter what it is YOU REPEET WHAT I SAID AND THATS IT.
Legally they can not ask you ANYTHING after you tell them you want counsel.
But we all know they will.
So KEEP your mouth closed. All you say other then what I already said is "I need to make a phone call to my counsel."
Do not talk to anyone before the police show up because they will be asking witnesses if you did say anything and will come back to you saying "A witness said you said.........." Again you say I WANT MY COUNSEL PREASENT BEFORE I SPEAK.
Mike
 
#22 ·
Lots of good info here. Made me realize i have no counsel at the moment and i should. Something i need to fix asap.

I agree with Carver on how incredibly hard i think it will be not to spill your guts on the 911 call. As hyped up as you will be with adrenaline after nearly losing your life, it would seem to just be natural to say. (as an example) Holy moly, i just shot somebody! I was pumping gas and this guy pulled a knife on me and my wife. OMG! I shot him, send somebody yada yada. Be hard to keep it together!

I like what Drymag said about going to the ER. Id say even if you dont have medical issues, it may be fruitful to demand to go to the ER anyway. Its understandable for a high stress incident like that to cause panic attack like symptoms. Let cooler heads prevail. Calm down think through the event and remember every detail and speak to your atty or have a trusted family member speak if you cant. Then with your full wits about you and details of the event thats since came back to you that may be very helpful to you and for sure legal advise that will be crucial for your freedom, all on your mind, make your statement.
 
#23 ·
One other thing, if you happen to have called 911 first (ie: they break into your house and you have time to call 911) make sure you verbalize loud enough for 911 to hear telling the bad guy to stay back, you don't want to have to shoot them, don't come any closer, etc.
If there is more than one assailant, make sure you tell them others got away.
Our house is pretty small, so if by some miracle someone got past the guards, and was brave enough to enter the house, I wouldn't have time to call dispatch. And the ONLY way they could get that far is if they were armed and had already used that weapon to get to that point. Then I would call Hubby, and he would make all the other necessary phone calls.
 
#24 ·
Some guy tried to hijack my dads truck in Chicago back in the early 1950's. As my dad wrestled the gun from the guy it went off and shot the bad guy. The cops came and told my dad to get going they would take care of it.

Back then it was a bad idea to try and rob a WW2 war vet. They saw a lot of action and knew what to do.
 
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