Reply #70: Lots of logic errors in your post.

[ManiacJoe]

> There are usually ways out of situations without resorting to a gun.

That there are. But note your "usually" qualifier. While most of the time a gun is not needed, there certainly are times when it is needed. Since those times cannot be accurately predicted, one can either hope that he survives when the odds catch up with him, or one can be prepared and better increase his odds.

> The odds of a situation where a gun is really necessary is so small it's hardly worth worrying about.

Absolutely correct. This is why most folks can be go about their activities without much thought. It is these unfortunate circumstances in the small-odds end that need to be worried about. One can either be prepared for them or just wing it.

> Avoidance is probably the best way.

Avoidance is always the best way. However, that requires being aware of your surroundings, and avoidance is not always possible.

> I'd eat at home (or the police headquarters' cafeteria) if I thought I needed to carry a gun into a restaurant.

Carrying into the restaurant is not the point. The point is carrying everywhere you go. If you think the restaurant is an unsafe place, you do not go there whether you are armed or not. If you are not going to carry into the restaurant, where are you going to leave the gun while you are there?

What makes the restaurant different from all the other places you have been so that it has different odds of needing to defend yourself? The only correct answer is that the restaurant has the same odds. The real question is do you choose to be prepared for the unlikely event of needing to defend yourself from deadly force, or do you just play the odds and hope for the best when your number comes up?