First note: Excellent post. I certainly wish more people who choose to be armed and support their decision in public were as well-written and reasonable as you are.
In regards to your point about brandishing, I've been in a few situations in my life where I was armed, and I could have legally drawn my weapon. I've been in one where I could have legally done so and then pulled the trigger. In each situation, my weapon stayed holstered. The simplest reason being that I decided that I had better tools at my disposal, and speech was the most common. It is far, far easier to disarm a bad situation without the weapon in view than with.
I've since made certain that I don't get into such situations any more. The best tool in the self-defense toolbox is avoidance.
Quote:
Originally Posted by longbough
I've had many times in the ER when I have had to be functional through more than one patient tragedy - otherwise I'd be useless to the other patients who needed me. But while driving home I'd pull over just so I could cry/scream alone.
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And this sums up both why I would not be able to work in the medical field, and why I have the utmost respect for people that do. I can, and have, functioned perfectly well through tragedy and loss, but I really, deeply had trouble living with it afterwards.
This is another reason why the situations above resulted in me talking someone out of a bad choice of actions. I don't ever want to find myself staring at the ceiling realizing that I've shot someone. Whether it would be a prudent legal move at the time, or not, I don't want it on my conscience. It's just another reason why I am that much more unlikely to draw. Then again, I'm one of those people that becomes more nervous and worried when I am armed than when I am not.
As to the original topic, I have to agree with the majority of posters. Kydex is the way to go. It's awesome stuff. I wish it'd been around long ago. I would not have spent so much bloody money on leather products that my own perspiration destroyed so quickly.