Quote:
Originally posted by kel
Carrying a weapon decreases the odds of you becoming a victim, but it also decreases the odds of walking away from an encounter unscathed. Escalating the situation to involve lethal weapons, does it truly make you safer?
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Yes, it does.
Given the option to defend yourself, if neccessary, with lethal force makes you considerably less likely to suffer greivous injury or death at the hands of an attacker.
If the carrier is not careful, it can also lead to the escalation of a minor situation. This was stressed in the CC course I took. When I carry, you will not find a more respectful, courteous person than me. The point is to avoid situations, like flipping off another driver, that could lead to an altercation.
Where you got the statistics that carrying a weapon makes you less likely to walk away from a situation unscathed, I do not know, but I can see no truth in it.
Also, don't forget the general deterent that armed citizens have on violent criminals.
Again, it is better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
Edit - Oh yeah, mace doesn't work at all against a determined attacker. I got sprayed as part of my training, and kicked the hell out of the guy who sprayed me.