Reply #136: I think his attitude toward life was a good thing [View All]

And that was not to walk thorugh this life afraid and constantly armed.

Anyway, a potential attacker is not a basher until they bash you, and then it is probably too late. In Matthew's case, those guys were his 'friends' right up until the time they attacked him. Where is the opportunity to pull out a gun and say 'leave'? Not much there. A trap is a trap is a trap! Had he pulled a on them when they said something offensive, he would have been arrested as someone who tried to sexually prey on two straight men at gunpoint.

What's more, if the 'ethic' of carrying firearms was pervasive, then Matt would have been out-gunned.

If you're walking down the street and someone follows you shouting epithets, then a gun could be effective. But in any case your biggest worry is getting shot by your own family.