“More often than not, people fall after being shot, not because of the bullet’s kinetic energy, but because Hollywood taught them that’s what you’re supposed to do.” — Spencer Coursen

What Happened

We’ve all seen it a thousand times.
The hero takes a single bullet, then flies backward in slow motion, collapsing dramatically as the orchestra swells.

It looks cinematic. It feels final.
But it’s not real.

🎬 The Myth We’ve Been Trained to Believe

Historically, the best way to depict being shot on screen was to have them visually fall out of frame. More often than not, people fall after being shot, not because of the bullet’s kinetic energy, but because Hollywood taught them that’s what you’re “supposed” to do.

In reality, a bullet doesn’t have enough momentum to throw someone to the ground.
If it did, the recoil would knock the shooter down too.

So why do people fall?
Because they’ve been conditioned to.

From movies, TV, and video games, we’ve absorbed a powerful subconscious script:

When someone experiences the shock of a gunshot — the sound, the pain, the fear — their body and brain often default to that learned reaction. The fall is psychological, not physical.

Here’s the reality:

• Physics: A bullet, even a high-caliber one, doesn’t have enough momentum to physically throw someone backward or knock them down. If it did, the shooter would also be knocked down from recoil.

• Conditioning: What actually happens is often a psychological and physiological response. People have seen countless portrayals where characters instantly collapse after being hit, so when they experience it themselves, the combination of pain, shock, or fear results in a conditioned response.

• Exceptions: While some people do drop immediately due to nervous system disruption or because their body shuts down from shock or blood pressure loss, it turns out that this is most often not the case.

Bottom Line

Movies make violence look clean, choreographed, and quick.
Real life isn’t like that.

Most real-world shootings don’t end with people flying through windows. They end with confusion, shock, and disorientation.

The danger is that victims panic, waste precious seconds, or worsen their injuries through poor decisions driven by fear or adrenaline. Knowing the difference between what’s real and what’s fiction can literally save your life.

When it counts, truth beats theatrics and knowledge beats fear.

Because safety isn’t about paranoia. It’s about preparedness.

Live Smart. Stay Safe.
— Spencer Coursen

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