Let me be clear here. I know all of the reasons why you SHOULD report a self-defense shooting. Please don't take my inquiry as though I am advocating not reporting such an incident.
My question is really more of a legal one. It seems contradictory to me that you can be required by law to report a shooting, which may or may not be later determined to have been done in self defense. This seems contrary to the protections of the 5th Amendment.
To my knowledge, there are no laws that would make it a criminal act to not report a crime that you witnessed. Certianly, if you were involved in a crime, you are not committing additional crimes by not reporting yourself to the authorities - this I know is contrary to the 5th Amendment.
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