Revisiting "Just My Opinion" [View All]

In this OP http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x391984#39 I was accused of using false information and spinning the presentation. First, the OP is my opinion based on my personal experience so there really isn’t anything to debate. Opinions are like noses; everybody has one and lots of people aren’t interested in anyone else’s, particularly mine.

I didn’t respond to the criticisms there because I specifically said that wasn’t the purpose of the post. I will respond here.
“where is there any evidence of concealed carriers getting killed or seriously injured?” Nowhere in the post did I assert this.

“ 'a small number actually live or work in places that make self defense a real possibility,' In Texas alone over 400K citizens have gotten their Concealed Handgun License. Nationally the best estimates are about eight million citizens with CCWs.” Okay, how many of those people actually live or work in places that present a significant risk of attack? Of the dozen or more people that I know who carry (licensed or not) two have genuine concerns for their safety: a bar manager who closes at 2:00 AM and makes a night deposit and a night clerk at a convenience store. Ironically the clerk doesn’t carry at work because company policy is “no guns on property” and “surrender all cash and valuables to any thief” and the manager has made arrangements with the local police to cover him so his need for carry is considerably diminished. YMMV

“ 'The assailant will always have the advantage because they are prepared and no amount of situational awareness can offset that.' Anybody who would say something like that is completely unaware of proper tactics. The element of surprise can be taken away from the criminal before he strikes so that he attacks into a prepared defense.” I can’t believe that anyone would question the cumulative knowledge of military strategists dating back to Sun Su. The element of surprise is always an advantage and can’t be offset by awareness of surroundings. The best defense against surprise is overwhelming strength of defensive preparation. I didn’t say situational awareness was pointless, only that the prepared assailant who has predetermined a target and planned the time and place of an attack will have an advantage over the target. To think otherwise is other than wise.

“Let's contemplate why having guns should be elevated to a constitutional right, shall we?” This is beyond debate because it is settled law. Even if it weren’t it would not be germane to the purpose of the OP.

One other post questioned my thoughts on self defense. The OP did not assert that self defense wasn’t possible, only more difficult than most who have not been exposed to such situations might expect.

For the most part it seems to me that my critics are straining to find something to disagree with, or as my Mother said, “Scarin’ up snakes just to kill ‘em.” Perhaps I’m wrong and there was a genuine misunderstanding because my presentation was less than perfect. If the latter, I apologize. If the former, perhaps some denizens of the Gungeon come to the discussion board with a predetermined penchant for aggression.

Anyway, thanks for participating.