The gun goes off. 

The noise punches right through the air louder than the loudest thunderclap in a church.  And now someone is on the ground and they’re bleeding profusely.

You’re standing there, your heart is pounding out of rhythm and feels like it wants to burst out of your chest, and your brain is buzzing worse than a bad radio signal.

Its over, you think - but it's not. 

Because the aftermath of a self-defense shooting isn’t calm. It’s chaos wearing a nice suit. And if you don’t know what to do next, you could walk yourself straight into a different kind of danger. So take a breath.

Let’s talk about what happens now, as in what you need to do after that shot has been fired, when the dust hasn’t even settled, and the real fight that’s really just beginning.

1. First Things First: Is It Safe?

Assess the Scene (not your emotions)

Forget the movies. Because this isn’t the part where the hero says something clever or walks off into the night. This is the part where you make sure no one else is coming to hurt you.

Scan your surroundings and ask yourself things like: Is the threat really over, or is it just down? Are there others? Is anyone else hurt? 

You see, you can always feel things later. Right now, you need to be sure that the scene is secure and that there are no more threats.

Holster or Set Down the Weapon

Once you’re sure the danger is gone, re-holster your weapon or place it somewhere clearly visible but safe. 

DO NOT keep it in your hand when police arrive and do not just tuck it away into your waistband either.

Why? Simple: this is how misunderstandings happen and misunderstandings in these moments can get deadly fast, especially when the police arrive on the scene.

Your goal here is to not appear as a threat to the police. For that to happen, your firearm needs to be out of the way and either on the ground or in your holster, and you need to hold your hands up.

2. Call 911. Now. 

The words You Say Matter

You might want to scream, cry, or explain. In fact, you most certainly will want to, but don’t. This is not the time for emotion. It's time for clarity.

If the police have not already arrived, call 911 and say something along these lines:

“There’s been a shooting. I was attacked and I had to defend myself. The threat is neutralized. I need police and medical assistance.”

Give your name and your location, and then stop talking unless the dispatcher asks for something specific. Otherwise, don’t say anything, because every word you say is recorded. So choose them like they matter…because they do!

3. Stay Put, Stay Calm, Stay Smart

Do Not Flee

Unless the the situation is unsafe, do not leave! This is because you don't want to look like someone who is running from guilt. Even if you are in the right, the optics matter now. The police will assume nothing and question everything.

Keep your hands Visible

When the officers arrive, they do not know who the good guy is. They are responding to “shots fired.” That’s all they know. So they’re gonna be coming in hot and on edge, so keep your hands empty and visible. Don’t make any sudden moves. Comply with their commands, even if they seem aggressive or confusing.

You will get a chance to talk later, but this is not that moment.

4. Say These Words: “I Want My Attorney”

Not a Suggestion, this is your Lifeline

You’ll be shaken. That’s normal. You’ll want to explain, to tell your side, and to clear it all up so you can just get on with your life; but that’s a trap. It’s not because you did anything wrong, but rather because trauma scrambles your memory, and a scrambled story can be perceived as deception. 

So say it, loud and clear:

“I want to cooperate, but I will not make a statement until I speak with my attorney.”

Then stop. Don’t try to justify. Don’t give details. Just wait. Your freedom will depend on it.

5. Understand What’s Coming Next

You Might Be Detained

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It's just the system doing its thing. It might feel like betrayal, like you’re being treated like the criminal instead of the survivor. But take a breath and most importantly stay silent during the investigation. Let your attorney do the talking.

Your Gun Will Be Taken

Your firearm is evidence. That’s what investigators call it.  It will be taken from you and you won't be getting it back anytime soon, sometimes never. Don’t resist, argue, or beg. Just don’t. 

Not all Lawyers are Created Equal

You don’t want someone who does divorces on Tuesdays and DUIs on Fridays. You want someone who lives and breathes self-defense law. Someone who knows what prosecutors look for, and what juries misunderstand.

If you have legal protection through a membership group, use it. If you don’t, then find a criminal defense attorney right away who understands the stakes. Make no mistake, the stakes are sky high and your freedom in on the line.

6. The Aftermath Is Its Own Battlefield

No one plans for this kind of day, but those who come out the other side intact - they stayed calm and got an attorney. They stayed smart. And they didn’t go it alone.

So carry the right tools. And that means more than just that .38 snubbie you keep tucked away in your pocket and the self-defense rounds that you keep loaded in it. Carry knowledge, carry legal backup, and carry the understanding that the moment firearm goes off, a different kind of fight begins.

Be ready. Because your life didn't just depend on the shot that neutralized the threat, it now depends on what you do next. 

- contributed by Sam Jacobs, writer at Ammo.com