T. B. As one of the folks who advocates an armed society being a polite society, I wonder if you've ever imagined this scenario. It's entirely possible, given the nature of the characters involved.

Let's say that you and I are in a mall parking lot, and one or the other of us opens a door into the others car while it's pulling into a parking spot. There's a scratch.

We are alone in our vehicles. No friends or relatives around.

Now, you have a temper, and I have a temper. If you don't think you do, then just imagine that you do. Pretend. I know I do, at times.

Our "discussion" of this matter escalates.

I have reason to believe you are armed. In this scenario, most people are. (The NRA has "won", and massive amounts of money spent on PR has convinced the American people that the other guy is basically a rotten SOB, and never to be trusted and the only way to be safe is to carry a gun to protect your kind, thoughtful, considerate self from the mean, cruel, uncaring other guy, who is everyone.)

Do you believe for one second that either of us is going to turn our back on the other? Can either of us take a chance on the other shooting us in the back if we try to withdraw from this dispute?

Nope. Once an argument starts with armed people we are forced to do whatever we can to completely immobilize and disarm the other guy. That includes, but is not limited to, shooting first if possible.

Once I believe you're armed, we have to take it to the end. There is no backing out.

Dumb idea.

Bowser