In engaging the spirit of Budo and Misonokoro, Mind Like Still Water, and an aversion to violence one needs to embrace reality. Would someone want to see their partner or someone else murdered because they couldn't do anything about as the assailant might be armed?
There is a passive acceptance of imminent death that must be embraced to adopt this philosophy which will break down when reality of certain death presents itself. It is estimated that over 2 million lives a year are saved with civilians producing their firearm at the right time and the right way. Of those estimated 2 million cases, it is also estimated that less than 00.001 percent of all brandishing cases end up in a firearm being discharged.
As for suicide, and intentionally using a tool like a gun to end one's life, it is unfair to make the comparison at all. If I set myself on fire would we want to get rid of all matches? If I sat in a closed garage with my car running, a very common way to commit suicide, would we make comparison between having a car and killing one's self with it by using it in a way that is was not intended?
Abstract thought with the absence of pure and simple logic and a bit of emotion tossed in is an impossible debate to win. You either look at the cold hard facts , or you drift into thoughts of how you would like things to be. I would like for there to be no need for firearms in the world. Unfortunately , what I like is of no consequence in terms of what may happen. As one who worked as an EMT in Detroit for 15 years and seeing the senseless murder of innocent people every day at the hands of persons who did unconscionable acts, I can say that those who believe firearms don't or aren't necessary at times to save lives simply haven't been there.
Hold a young woman in your arms with blood everywhere and her brains seeping out the back of her head who has just been shot after giving up the money in an armed robbery, as an after thought , [robber already had the money and is half way out the door], comes back in and blows her head off just for fun. Stay with that lifeless body for a few hours, clean it up, wrap it in a shroud, tag the toe,write the name in a book all they while looking at the young life gone for no reason, a perfect creation of God gone forever. Then tell me that you would not have wanted to have a the ability to save that life by having a firearm of your own available.
I have dedicated my life to non violence and perpetuating the idea of a sober disposition and walking away whenever possible. As a 3rd degree black belt in Karate, and black belts in Judo and Aikido with over 35 years of continuous training, I would like to be able to say that is enough. But, I have been at the wrong end of the gun more than you'd want to be, been down on the ground with a gun barrel against my head, and I realized that all the technique in the world is useless at that point, and being there was a result of not having a firearm which puts me and others at the mercy of people who are insane.
I hope that explains my perspective. A peaceful world I'd love to see, but what I want is not always to be.
Mark Cortis [Wild West Academy]
http://www.wildwestacademy.com/248-506-3472
