[Jack of all Trades]

Armed or not, self-defense requires training and regular practice. There is no substitute for muscle memory conditioning and conflict simulation. If one is mentally unprepared, a firearm will not be a magic amulet of protection.

I have a good friend who was attacked in his office by an armed intruder, took a grazing shot to the head, and still disarmed the guy end held him until the police showed up. I have little doubt that what saved him was years of martial arts training.

[marktwain]

“I have a good friend who was attacked in his office by an armed intruder, took a grazing shot to the head, and still disarmed the guy end held him until the police showed up. I have little doubt that what saved him was years of martial arts training.”

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I believe you. I also believe that the most dangerous thing when people are attacked is denial. Most people simply cannot believe it is happening until it is too late to do anything effective.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Armed or not, self-defense requires training and regular practice. There is no substitute for muscle memory conditioning and conflict simulation. If one is mentally unprepared, a firearm will not be a magic amulet of protection."

No, actually it doesn't. Training and regular practice will make a person BETTER (probably a LOT better) at it if it happens, but there are WAY too many recorded instances of little old grannies who never practiced blowing away intruders. To say it is "required" is simply wrong.

Is it good to practice---definitely, but it is NOT "necessary". Armed and unpracticed is still a lot better than UN-armed and unpracticed.