General Categories > Carry Issues
First Aid after an encounter
CitizenClark:
--- Quote from: unfy on December 16, 2011, 05:37:31 PM ---Hmmmm
Less aggresive discussion towards each other would be nice :). Points can be made (and have been nicely by all involved) without getting too argumentive hehehe.
--- End quote ---
Point taken. My bad.
--- Quote ---
You both are making good points btw.
By shooting the other guy, am i no longer there gratuitous ?
If I watch someone shoot a bad guy and then render first aid --- i can see good samaritan law coming into effect. If I pulled the trigger... I dunno ?
--- End quote ---
I haven't done any research on this area of the law, so this is just me shooting from the hip, but I wouldn't think it would make a huge difference, assuming that the shoot was a lawful exercise of defensive deadly force.
Generally speaking, as a member of the public I don't owe anyone a duty to render aid to them unless I have voluntarily assumed that duty. However, if I were to unlawfully come along and shove you off of a bridge, I might then have a duty to fish you out, to mitigate the effects of the injury that I've caused you. Likewise, if I shoot a person unlawfully, it is sure might help me if I can show later that I immediately acted to mitigate the harm from my bad act. I think this is why people here are instinctively saying, "Whoa, I'm not going to render aid because then it looks like I think I did something wrong and have to make up for it." I get that, and it is a valid concern.
What I am saying is that rendering first aid is probably going to help you if you are defending against criminal charges, because it would support the inference that you weren't "out to kill this guy," but shot him in defense and switched modes once defense was no longer necessary. If it was a legitimate shoot, I don't think there is any duty--as a matter of justice--to provide aid. I just think it could help you avoid criminal charges, which to me is the more important issue. Rendering first aid to a person you just shot might support the inference that you thought you made a mistake, but it could also support the inference that you are a good person who bore no malice in your heart towards your attacker.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[*] Previous page
Go to full version