Right, Im not saying it is. Im saying that having a weapon w/o the training or mind set to use it is almost always worse than nothing at all. Im not trying to make a case for required training. If you carry its up to *you* to prepare. If you arent mostly likely youll screw up. Is that really what you want? If youre unprepared:
Youre a hazard to noncombatants (and yourself) and thatll get you put in jail for sure if you shoot them. Any time you must draw your weapon its guaranteed to be stressful. Do you really believe youll perform w/o training? If you answered yes please stop carrying in public, youre a hazard to yourself and everyone around you.
Second, if you havent mentally prepared to pull the trigger (if necessary) you run the risk of having your weapon used on you and others. Youll also very likely to wind up dead or wounded.
Third, its always better to not shoot and situational awareness along w/ having a dominant position are the means to accomplish this. You only get this by training. The worst of all worlds is having to shoot. Even if theres no criminal trial its almost certain there will be a civil trial (wrongful death). Then theres the dead/wounded guy’s buddies seeking revenge.
Your brain is your most important weapon. If it isnt ready how could an inanimate object compensate?
Yet, from past experience we have seen that citizens are much less likely to have any 'collateral damage' associated with a defensive shooting than from the so-called 'professional' police who apparently have such training.
It's always better to have and not need than to need and not have. Will everyone be capable of effective use of arms in all given scenerios? Probably not, but some will. It's always better to have an armed citizenry than a disarmed one.
Agreed...