Originally Posted by
Kestrel
I know you (and probably John as well) and I won't agree on this, but having a gun doesn't make you a sheepdog. There are plenty of stories of people with guns panicking and making bad decisions, whether in wartime or in shootouts. Conversely, not having a gun doesn't make someone a sheep either. A gun is just a tool, but the ability to make decisions, prioritize, and adapt under duress goes beyond whether someone conceal carries or not.
What are your decisions, priorities and adaptations going to do when your only choice is to duck for cover and hope you don't get shot or run and hope you don't get shot? I can list plenty of stories of people who foiled violent occurrences by returning violence. I wouldn't bring a knife to a gun fight so I surely wouldn't bring nothing to anywhere I could possibly face violence.
Don't think I'm saying you don't need decisions, priorities, adaptations, training, tactics, etc. I'm saying that, even with those, without a tool you have no means.
You could be a master carpenter but without a hammer, you won't be building shit.