Tony Hwang wrote:

Hi,
Your idea of self defense? Self defense = Carrying fire arm?
Were you in the service? How well did you do in the firing range?

Carrying a firearm is near the bottom of the list. I'd rank the defenses as:

* Avoiding dangerous situations and locations
* Leave any situation that develops
* Try to de-escalate the confrontation
* Carry a firearm
* Display the firearm
* Shoot the goblin if unlawful force is threatened.

Collecting on your fire insurance is to be avoided, but it's more than
welcome if all upstream avoidances fail.

"How well did you do?" is part of that last resort. I suspect that in most
states (Texas and Tennessee to name two) a legally-blind person can qualify
for a concealed handgun permit. It's really not too difficult to hit a
man-sized target from 21 feet away. Heck, you've got as many as 15 chances
to do so... If, during the melee, a baby, a holy father, two granny-ladies,
and the last living Australian Walking Parrot get popped, well, that's a
shame.