I'm a former service member. I am armed everywhere I'm legally allowed to be and sometimes even where I'm not.
Blanket statements are dumb. Please stop.
Discussion
I said the most protective soldiers, not all soldiers.
Would you advocate for arming non-combatants though? Picking up a gun doesn't make anyone safer unless you of the right mindset and have trained appropriately. To make a frivolous parallel, an amateur in a Ferrari will never win a real race against a professional in a Mazda 3. The only way to not lose is to be the professional, or not pick up the gun.
The guys in the Ferrari and the Mazda will beat the guy with no car in a race. The car less guy could call an uber (law enforcement) but it would be too little too late.
Arm and train!
You're making the common presumption of a situation where violence is inevitable. Almost all of the time it can be avoided, unless you escalate it.
I agree, violence is extremely rare. I’m a very peaceful person and would never take the first step to escalate violence. But on the rare occasion that violence may arise, I’ll be prepared. I don’t leave home without it.
Capability is already a form of escalation. If there was a potential fight, now there is a potential gun fight, and you'll be in it because you are a threat. I understand where you're coming from, but I don't agree that you'll be prepared.
Thank you for your service.
And kicking the hornets nest in this thread again 😂