Since McArdle seems to be referring to handguns, her theory that they're equilizers for the weak seems to be postulating that they're a 'point and shoot' tech. Well, in a way they are but the actual accuracy of a 9mm handgun -- which would be your most common caliber -- in untrained hands is low. There's always the "put it on full auto and spray the immediate area of your attacker" option I suppose but it seems to me she's vastly oversimplifying and that does make me wonder why.
I thought Susan from Texas' comment raised good points.
4) the crucial element in all this is the willingness to seriously hurt or kill somebody.
I think guns dilute this a bit because of the distance involved but... you can fight off a larger attacker by slamming your pen -- a perfectly legal accessory -- into his eyeball (if you hit hard enough, you'll actually go through the thinner bone at the back of the socket and into the brain) and yet, no one seems to do that so I think you're right on the mark with your willingness requires training and/or experience comment.
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Date: 2008-06-30 07:13 pm (UTC)I thought Susan from Texas' comment raised good points.
4) the crucial element in all this is the willingness to seriously hurt or kill somebody.
I think guns dilute this a bit because of the distance involved but... you can fight off a larger attacker by slamming your pen -- a perfectly legal accessory -- into his eyeball (if you hit hard enough, you'll actually go through the thinner bone at the back of the socket and into the brain) and yet, no one seems to do that so I think you're right on the mark with your willingness requires training and/or experience comment.