Originally Posted by Greg700

Hey Suave...

What???

First, having a knife doesn't mean you need to use it. Second, how much of a chance do you really think the average person has to "disable simply via knockout" an armed assailant?

Nobody has any business producing a knife unless they are involved in a life or death struggle. If they are involved in a life or death struggle (which they did not start/provoke) there is absolutely no moral ambiguity involved, you are killing someone who would kill you.

If the situation is a simple fistfight or is not life-threatening, then there is no reason to pull out your knife. However, I would much rather have a knife than nothing at all if I am goinng to have to defend my life. To suggest that hitting an attacker or trying to choke him out is just as effective as spilling his guts on the ground is uninformed at best, and somewhat irresponsible.

It is OK to disagree with using lethal force, but don't argue that it isn't effective.