What Happens After The Bang – A lot of talk is given to how to prepare before you need your firearm, everything from holsters, like the magnetic retention ones we sell here, or what caliber to use. However, what about what happens after? What does that look like and are you prepared?

So, first thing you will feel is likely recoil if you even notice it at all. For those who have never shot in defense, anger, or hunting, this is likely something you have not experienced. On the biggest deer I have shot I never felt the recoil or heard the round going off. It is a unique experience that when adrenaline is pumping your become tunnel focused on the task at hand and normal senses are either heightened (like sight) or decreased (like hearing). This is normal. What is also normal is that most people end up freezing up, almost as if they are struggling to process any other movement. This is something that must be trained for to do small next steps like re-acquire your target, control your breathing, is your target still a threat or alive.

This sounds crazy to an outside observer,

but I have two instances where a big deer I was hunting I hit clean, it went down and rolled, I didn’t load the next round, started to put my gun down and the damn thing got up and ran. People do this too, I have seen folks soak up several rounds, go down and still pose a threat. Some instructors tell you to start scanning left and right in these over-exaggerated movements, others say move left/right to make sure you are not in the same spot for other threats, I am not qualified to tell you what I would do, but I can say I have found I move to cover instinctively, likely from doing shoot-houses in basic training and Officer Candidate School.

Once there is no longer a threat, I would suggest if it is in a place that you can call 911 and report it immediately. Bad news/events like leftovers don’t get better with age. There are some people who recommend that you attempt to render aid. I usually carry an IFAK like the one sold here, or a robust first aid kit, however, after talking with two different lawyers it seems that if you are successful in rendering aid and they survive, it can open you up to lawsuits. I would also point out that the intent is to engage the threat until it is no longer a threat, and to many that means incapable of resistance, so likely beyond medical aid.

Other things to do. First is make sure the police know you are concealed carrying, have a good description of what you are wearing and that you can’t be mistaken for the threat. I would suggest once the threat has past, holstering your weapon or better separating yourself from your weapon and assume a non-threatening posture. Unfortunately, there have been incidents of people shot by “rescuing” police, so I recommend making sure they know you are not a threat. In a shooting incident near my house several years ago, I met law enforcement with a pistol on my hip, walking from the shadows slowly, hands away from my sides and called out my name, announced I was armed, and I was no threat, that seemed to put them at ease.

I would also make sure that you get your story straight, and it is your legal right NOT to talk to the police without a lawyer. Unfortunately, these days even if completely in the right, like Kyle Rittenhouse, a significant of damage could be caused by talking. I would answer basic facts and a generalized description of events. If it starts getting specific, shut up and get a lawyer. Probably nothing will happen, but a lot better if you do.

Also be sure to check out JM4 Tactical for your holster needs.

Author: Ian Bolser