Thats always the thing about gun folk who won't go to the mailbox without their weapon, right? However they justify it, its inherently this fantasy that they'll get to shoot somebody. If you're worried about being prepared, why not a police stick thing, mace, or a tazer maybe? Why does it HAVE to be the hyper lethal super easily reloaded thing or bust?

In that vein, these are all things cops carry on them too, why do they NEVER use them and go straight for emptying a clip instead of practicing escalation of force?

The answer? Murder boners. In both cases, its all just a power fantasy of getting to end a life without facing consequences. Sure, a taser will probably make most people drop a gun, but then you dont have the satisfaction of feeling that ultimate power of control over someone else's life.