Cops have for many years had to undergo intensive firearms training -- in the use and, most importantly, the NON-use of a weapon. My brother, who works for the Illinois State Police, took the "deadly force" training a few years ago -- two solid weeks of classroom, followed by two more weeks of range work -- and this was the course for "administrative personnel"; the one for regular officers is longer. I'd much rather have ex-cops carrying than some others -- and that includes retired conservation officers, customs agents, and so forth.

The question, diana, is not "When does it become O.K. to draw that weapon?" but rather, "When is it appropriate to use the weapon?"

I have, and I've never made a secret of it, a permit to "carry concealed." I have this for several reasons, one of which is that it reminds me to periodically refresh the training I was REQUIRED to obtain. That training consists of the legal ramifications of carrying and, possibly, using a weapon; safe use of the weapon (including on the target range and home storage); demonstrating that I can properly care for the weapon, and range firing (which is NOT wildly firing at anythign that moves).

All that being said, I rarely carry a weapon (well, I do have a pocketknife). Since most armed encounters are at no more than seven yards (6.4 meters), I think that I can pretty much handle it. And if I'm wrong, well, it's actually very hard to kill someone with one shot, and I hope you brought either salt or Preparation H, 'cause you're either gonna eat that gun or...well....

And I certainly don't need a gun to enhance my ego or something (and I'm certain neither Kendall nor Big Mick do either).