Do you mean, Stim, that some die for the idea that everybody should have access to guns?

But in all the cases you list, people are still only taking the risk (stupidly, of course) rather than going to certain death.

Suicide bombers and kamikaze pilots go/went to certain death for a cause. So did Christian martyrs, as well as many innocent people accused of heresy or witchcraft. So do soldiers who refuse to surrender - though in that situation, some may believe they can still escape, and some others may be more suicidal at that point than selfless.

Most people may be more ready to face certain death to save the lives of others, especially loved ones, than to further a cause.

Somebody once told me that if the only way he could save his own life was by exterminating everyone else, he'd gladly exterminate everyone else. Fortunately, he's not likely to be in that situation.