Too many people think they're Rambo.

After the Newtown tragedy, I was talking about it with some close friends at work - for whom I normally have great respect. I mentioned that after the Batman shootings in Aurora, I went to the same movie with several friends. One of my friends mentioned that he had a concealed carry on him, because of the shooting. I mentioned that the shooter in Aurora was wearing body armor, to which my friend simply replied "easy, head shot". I just shook my head.

I pointed out that although you see successful "head shots" in the movies, those are the movies. In reality, a clean head shot is almost impossible on a live, moving target. the better odds are that you'll hit someone else in the panic. One of my friends questioned this, and I replied that if no one was close to him, there is such a thing as a ricochet. Plus, after missing the first shot the shooter is going to start shooting in your direction. My friend stated that if he was drawing the fire from someone else, that was ok. I guess he didn't care about anyone close to him who would undoubtedly get shot.

I said that "everyone" thinks they can get in the clean Rambo shot. My friend then said "yeah, but I'm not 'everyone'!" and started laughing. I replied "that's what EVERYONE says."

Seriously, although a concealed carry may make you feel better or safer, in reality even hitting the shooter at all is a crap shoot. Hitting a non-moving target in a controlled environment is one thing, hitting a live, moving target surrounded by panic-driven people is entirely different. The odds are that you will simply make the situation worse.

These people scare me more than the deranged shooter.