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As a gun owner and former small arms instructor, like... I'm happy, but I also feel like I got isekai'ed when I see fellow left sided folks imply that privately owned guns aren't basically the equivalent of the One Ring. They are simply a tool which bestows the ABILITY to use violence at a distance. What you choose to do with that ability is entirely up to the holder. A sword can be used as a shield as well, but a shield cannot be used as a sword if needed
Maybe not a sword, but shields can have spikes and sharp edges. Even as a blunt instrument a shield is a weapon not just a defense.
I'm going to press x on that one. What you say is true to an extent, but you would never grab a particularly pointy shield as your only weapon if you had to go on an offensive. Those things make it more effective from a defensive standpoint, but if I had to get into a fight I would choose a knife over any shield you could show me if I could only pick one, especially if I knew my opponent was going to also have an offensive weapon.
Really? You would pick a knife over a large blunt sheet strapped to your arm that can both block and bludegeon your opponent? Disregarding any sharp edges or spikes, a large shield can easily break bones if swung at someone.
In a knife vs. shield fight, the shield is an easy victor.
My original analogy is breaking down pretty fast here. I was trying to make the point that a purely defensive stance has to work 100% of the time, while an offensive weapon can serve both purposes to an extent. If I had known it was going to go this direction, I would have used the example of a Kevlar vest.
To answer your question though, 100% maybe. If my option was a butter knife. No. If we're talking about it decent 12 in knife or claymore or similar. Yes I would. If the flight is that dire, you can take a hard hit with a shield a couple of times, perhaps even a bone breaking one to an arm, and keep moving at a reduced capacity. As long as you can reach around one time and put the blade between their ribs while they're swinging a heavy shield, the fight is over. The point I'm trying to make, is that defense has to work 100% of the time, while offense only has to work once to do their respective jobs.
That's a spork...
It's more like a Swiss army knife. It has a lantern in it as well.
I've never been on the "ban all guns" side of the argument. I've had access to them since I was 10 and was a line coach when I was in the Navy. I'm just glad to see some of us on the left start to get it.
Navy as well. Was an FC, but got sent to Sami school because our SecO didn't trust any of the GMs to run his armory. lol. That was a fun cruise.
I was an stg, but because of "optimal manning" live fire exercises were made up of people throughout weapons dept.