| Although the following
information is taken from a Martial Arts forum the information can
be directly related to defending your family with lethal force.
What would you do after you have been forced to defend yourself
or your loved ones against an attacker? Let's take, for example,
that after you have been attacked or assaulted in the street, you
seriously injure your assailant. Legally speaking what you choose
to do after an attack can affect your future. On the other hand,
morally speaking, to help or assist your attacker who a moment ago
was trying to kill you is debatable.
The following is a list of some thoughts on what you, as a
responsible martial artist, may or may not choose to do in the
aftermath of an attack.
CALL THE POLICE. If an attack happens to take place
outside your home, one thing you should do is call the police. You
may even have to leave the scene to reach a phone. However, before
you leave the scene, you should make note of street names and
other landmarks to enable you to provide accurate directions for
the police. If, on the other hand, the attack takes place inside
your home, it is important for you to tell the police that you
have an injured stranger/attacker in your house.
CALL THE AMBULANCE. If you call an ambulance after you
injure your attacker, it will be a point in your favor and will
look good in a court of law. Just because you "finished" the fight
does not necessarily mean that the incident is over. There is the
LAW to contend with after. Morally speaking, to call for an
ambulance is the humane thing to do for your attacker. Again, not
all would agree with this line of thought. Many people including
martial artists would find it hard to seek help or provide
assistance for someone who just a moment ago was trying to inflict
harm and injury upon one's person.
Whether the attack happens outside or in your own home, it is
very important that you take steps to help protect your situation
should your attacker decide to 'battle it out' a second time in
court. Also, being an expert or a practitioner of martial arts can
turn out to be a disadvantage for you. This fact could be easily
twisted and manipulated making you the 'bad' guy! It is the
possibility of such cases that it is indeed to your advantage to
call for an ambulance to provide medical care and assistance your
attacker.
DESCRIPTIONS. Take careful note of all details regarding
your attacker. You will probably be asked by the police for a
description of your assailant. How tall? What was the color of his
eyes? His hair? What ethnic origin? What does he look like? What
was he wearing? Do you recall any distinguishing marks, such as
tattoos, scars, birthmarks or any easily discernible physical
characteristics or defects? The way you answer these questions
will provide the interviewing officers with a favorable or an
unfavorable impression that may influence the police report on the
incident.
CLEANING UP. If an attack happens, especially for women,
as distasteful as it seems, you should not attempt to clean up.
For example, if a woman has been a victim of rape, her physical
condition after the attack is an important evidence in court.
Instead, she should proceed immediately to a nearby hospital for
examination and treatment.
If an attack takes place in your home, you should not attempt
to clean up your house after defending yourself there. For
example, if you clean up the broken glass around a broken window
through which your attacker gained his access, it may be
challenged in court whether your window was broken that evening.
Your attacker's lawyer may argue that your 'evidence' (i.e. broken
window), may have been broken a few days ago. Your lawyer, on the
other hand, must then prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that the
evidence holds true. The point here is that do not attempt to
destroy or alter any type of evidence that may be useful and
necessary if you go to court.
STAY AWAY FROM YOUR ATTACKER. Remember just because you
injured your attacker, it does not necessarily follow that he is
no longer capable of hurting you. He may be playing injured in
hopes that you will come close enough for him to grab you while
your defenses are down. The simple rule to follow is keep your
distance and to stay alert .
EXAMINE YOURSELF FOR INJURIES. In the heat of battle,
you may not be aware of your own injuries. This is true especially
if your injury is not life-threatening. However, once you are safe
from your attacker, you should examine yourself for cuts, stabs,
especially if a weapon (i.e. a knife) is involved.
LEAVE THE SCENE. If you are attacked and have
successfully defended yourself, one simple option is to leave your
attacker where he lies and never look back.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ramon D. Villardo is a
Toronto-based martial artist who holds a Black Belt in Okinawan
Goju Ryu and Sifu rank in Kung Fu. He is also a practitioner of
Filipino Martial Arts and a full-fledged member of BAKBAKAN
INTERNATIONAL.
The preceding information does not purport
to be legal advice nor official police procedures. Its only
purpose is to help you become aware of some choices you could be
facing in the aftermath of an attack. Visit your local library and
see what local and state laws have to say regarding an
individual's right to defend one's self. After all is said and
done, when you are face to face with someone who is intent on
doing you bodily harm, the final choice and action is all up to
YOU!
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