A real, loaded gun gives its owner courage to do things like take on a gang of potentially murderous looters, as here, that a "dummy gun" just doesn't provide. The idea's to promise annihilation knowing you can do it, not to bluff. The confidence that comes from that sure knowledge gives the promiser a menacing demeanor that can't come from any other source.
This is so accurate.
Once the wife and I were getting groceries fairly late at night. Long story short a goblin that simply didn't belong came walking toward the car. Big goblin too.
As he walked toward us he viewed a woman calmly transferring groceries into the trunk while her husband was leaning against the car with a smile on his face staring straight at him.
The goblin turned on his heel and walked away furtively glancing over his shoulder at me. I never stopped smiling and neither did my wife. She carries too and would have been fine if she was alone.
The confidence was training and a Glock not a PC warm feeling and a toy gun.