I do not dispute what you say. Further, I should have known better than to refer to the weapons used by the perps as fully auto. The press refers to all weapons that fire more than one round as automatic. From the news reports, I know that multiple rounds have been fired and in some instances non targeted individuals have been killed or wounded. Targeted individuals are usually known to the police, therefore they are able to conclude gang related.
I further agree that self defense is taking personal responsibility for ones life, however I would not be so quick to label as sheepish those who do not choose to live in condition yellow. Many times witnesses come from the ranks of the old, infirm, and children. And, an able bodied man who comes forward also subjects his entire family to this condition.
I am not arguing for sheepishness. Lack of witnesses is a serious problem for police and prosecutors especially in gang infested neighborhoods, but I am not convinced that all who choose to remain silent should be labeled coward. What to do if ones twelve year old comes to you and says "I saw such and such".
If you have the capacity for self awareness and know right from wrong, you can live in condition yellow. That would seem to rule out infants and the senile. Kids should be raised in the mindset. Adults should be inculcated with the following ALERT LEVELS
In today's world (so called civilized, but not) you really are either sheep, sheepdog or wolf. Did you not click the link: "I ONLY HANG WITH SHEEPDOGS?" Being a sheep is not being a coward. Not today. Actually, the wolves are the cowards just as terrorists and criminals have always been. Crime and terrorism are tools for losers. That's why they can never win.