The last thing a trained lawman would do is use a gun in a crowded situation. That is not the sort of thing olddude is talking about.
His objective is to teach the safe use and care of firearms in a society where guns are and will remain abundant.

Not pertinent to the theme of the thread, but posts have become scattergun in content, so I might as well add a few crime statistics.

Gary LaFree, a criminology professor at Univ. Maryland, says the U.S. is experiencing the lowest crime levels since WW2.
Factors include an aging population (younger people commit more crimes), increased immigration (immigrants commit fewer crimes), police are targeting problems and looking for solutions.
News, MWSNBC; other sources.
Year-to-year statistics are unreliable; long term swings should be looked for.
Some suggest, however, that the drop in crime may have bottomed out.

There are several explanations for the rise in rural crime, "convergence" of non-metropolitan and metropolitan life styles being a major cause.
See http://www.equotient.net/papers/crime.pdf

Across the border, Canada is experiencing its lowest crime levels since 1972.