Why are you people trying to start a war that no one will win?

[nadinbrzezinski]

131. As a medic I had to go to shootouts

Another country, other rules. So did the sensible thing and got one. Damn thing was cozy in winter, but damn hot in the summer.

As a reporter, I might walk into a SWAT situation, or worst. See the poor reporters who had to cover the Bundy situation. One of the local reporters kept mentioning camera man who wanted to not stay there for long interviewing the militia types, since he was afraid of getting caught in the cross fire. That is an old grizzled camera man who knows his chops, and the dismissive tone of the reporter tells me he either was too dumb, or too sure of press never gets shot...(yeah right, like medics never get shot), either is not good.

As to defensive. Here is a piece of advise people seldom take. You know the most valuable training you can ever take? First Aid and CPR. If you can afford to, take an EMT course, but realize that you also need to learn how to improvise a lot of the equipment an ambulance is equipped with. And some of it, cannot be improvised (yes nasal canula I am talking about you)

But a lot of it can. I was fortunate that I learned both the improvise every piece of equipment that can be, and the here are your toys go play. So yes, if need be I can improvise splints and cervical collars, no problem. Hell, that be very much worst case, even a chest seal.