Self Defense: CCW vs. Hand to Hand, a question of perception

Most people see guns as simply a death weapon. They don't see it as an effective disabler, minimizer or defensive threat to attack. They see it as aggressive, offensive, and intended to kill. Not only that, but somehow they feel that guns will magically fire themselves in the cases of those handling them that are not law enforcement or military.
How many people do you see out in the world that won't be in the same room as a police officer that has a loaded and/or chambered weapon on them? I haven't met any. However, when I bring a gun that has no ammunition near by in any sense, hell, no magazine in place... They're afraid of the weapon immensely.
Apparently only those paid to handle weapons are capable of competent handling.
Look at how often a holstered weapon could be aimed at you. If a cop bends over in front of you, does his weapon not face behind him? How is it that his gun does not have magic bullet properties (i.e. it'll accidentily fire on its own!) yet, any civilian's weapon does?
Just seems asinine to me.

***Mikkito fully supports this thread***

Mikkito said:

Apparently only those paid to handle weapons are capable of competent handling.

Click to expand...

How true. Have you ever been on the range with a non-gun-nut cop? Scary shit.

Example. At my old department, the firearms instructors were very progressive. Lots of dynamic drills, hot range (i.e. we're all adults and you're responsible for loading/charging your weapons, being safe), etc.

During semi-annual qualifications, we were all snuggled up on the 5 yard line getting the boring 5-10-15-20 etc. basic qual drills out of the way. Despite the hot range, some officers would wait until going to the line and hearing the instructions before chambering up, so the instructors would call out readiness, if you're not charged now, charge, etc.

Well, on this day, DY's favorite lummox (ask him) unholstered, turned 180 degrees so he was facing AWAY FROM THE TARGETS AND TOWARD THE INSTRUCTORS, chambered a round, then turned back toward the targets. I stared at him, then at the instructor, who stared at me, then at him, then at each other again. It was just so matter of fact that nobody even thought to scream at him. He had some remedial instruction later in the day.

I have no idea why he did that. I guess he didn't want to offend the targets or something.

You'll also see cops do the old wild west "draw a bead" move, wherein they draw to a 30 degree upward angle and slowly bring the muzzle down on target. You can see a move like that in the Todd Jarrett video, when the student takes his first or second shot: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4584332856867071363&q=ipsc+jarrett.

Don't get me started on the old-timers who are way more concerned about liability than about officer safety. Good luck if they're your backup.

/hijack. So yeah, pretty much what Mikki said - instrument of death, political hot potato and of late a major Democratic party plank (ergo neutral Democrats tend to default to anti-gun, and true-believer gun haters are further legitimized).

I think comprehensive sex education and gun safety classes in all public schools would accomplish great things.