All of us have a survival instinct to strike back or escape when faced with danger. Those who prepare in advance have improved their chances for overcoming whatever danger threatens them. If you are concerned you will find yourself in a situation in which an attack may be perpetrated by against you, then a firearm is frequently selected. Firearms equalize differences in body size, athletic ability and combat prowess. A gun may indeed save your life in a desperate situation.
However, in today’s legal system, surviving an attack is only the first step you will have to take in your own defense. If you have injured or killed your attacker, police will investigate the incident and question you. They may detain you or even place you under arrest.
That’s why you must be prepared to articulate the behavior and words of the attacker that prompted you to act in the way you did. You may need to convince not only the police but also the county attorney and potentially a judge and jury of the prudence of your actions.
Even if you are found innocent of criminal action, you may be tried in the media and judged by your community. The family of the injured or deceased attacker may sue you in civil court, too. Their attorney will have the opportunity to carefully scrutinize the decisions you were forced to make in a split second.
You will have to face your own conscience, too. No one who seriously injures or takes the life of another human being will ever be the same. You may find yourself asking these questions: “Were my actions justified?” “Was I at fault in some way?” “Did I jump to conclusions?” “Could I have neutralized the crisis by some other means?”
Even if you are cleared of wrong doing by the courts and your conscience, you may still be found guilty in the court of public opinion. The use of a defensive weapon, especially a firearm, is always accompanied by the risk of incurring unfounded accusations.
Risks aside, we still cannot allow criminals to succeed in executing attacks against people. We owe it to ourselves, our family and civilized society to do everything we can to stop this public hazard. If an attacker is injured or killed in the commission of his crime, he ultimately bears responsibility for the outcome. Just make sure you have a good attorney.