On a recent visit with my dog at the Vet, the Vet had trouble getting blood from my dog's leg. My dog was in panic mode, as he always is when I take him in. The vet said that adrenaline literally thickens the blood. I think your are correct that fear (excess adrenaline) can paralyze people. However, people need to be taught more to over come it.
I was once a robbery victim in a store in which I worked. A gang of armed blacks herded everyone, customers and employees into the back and made us all lie down and empty our pockets. Fortunately, no shooting occured. Since that time, i am always vigilant wherever I go. I always CCW. Even when I am sitting at home, i have my gun in my pocket, even in my pajamas.
I have only had to fire my gun once. My dog was attacked on a walk one evening by a pit bull. For a moment, I was too shocked to know what to do. I didn't want to use my gun in the middle of a residential neighborhood. But I reasoned that there was no way I was going to watch my dog be murdered while I had my .38 in my pocket. I shot the pit bull twice to make it drop my dog. He only suffered puncture wounds to the skin on the back of his neck. The damned pit-beast actually survived. Fear and shock are difficult to overcome, but sometimes we have to do it.
Not that I disagree with you, but most people live their lives like it is 9/10....happily going about their daily routines not thinking about their situation or potential danger lurking around the corner...
Not sure how those skills would be taught to the average joe citizen...
The exception is the military and police who have been trained to address hostile situations...
Personally, I carry almost everywhere I go, especially the mall, and have thought though scenarios if something was to happen...
I guess I will never know how I would actually react until that times comes...
I know one thing for sure, getting a CCW certainly got my antenna up and I am much more vigilant in appraising my surroundings when I am out and about...
Better luck next time!