Exactly. We have a duty to protect our loved ones, and everyone has the right to protect themselves. However, unless I am a uniformed officer, I do not have the duty to protect others who have chosen not to employ an effective means to defend themselves. That doesn't mean I'm not going to help others as I can and react to save someone I don't personally know. Of course I will, but my CCW is NOT meant to turn me into a law enforcement officer of convenience. Choosing to do so puts your loved ones at risk of going on through life without you. That isn't fair to them.
Yes and that's unfortunate, but I can't take care of the entire world. I will not accept responsibility for someone else's loss at the cost of causing my own loved ones that same suffering suffering in a scenario where I have gotten them to safety by trying to engage or re-engage and getting myself killed. It sounds very cold, but while I do care about everyone and want our society to think more clearly about protecting themselves and their loved ones, the suffering of others that are not my loved ones will always, and has to take a back seat to the people directly in my circle. My life for theirs is a fair trade. My life for anyone else who happens to be unlucky is not.
Making sure your loved ones come first is not cowardice, it's realistic and responsible. If everyone does it, and doesn't succumb to victim mentality, then we act with greater clarity. Refusing to act when an opportunity presents itself because you only care about yourself, or because you are so apathetic that you expect others to take care of you is cowardice. Being armed and not engaging when you see you can save a life right in front of you would be cowardly in my eyes.
Seek and engage however is what LEOs are trained for and it is their duty. That's why that cop that didn't go after that shooter was characterized as a coward and fired. He didn't do the job he promised to do, and people died.
Sorry, but I just don't agree with these comments. There is no negligence there. Self defense means defending oneself, or by extension your kin, and anyone else you can help get out of harms way as a Good Samaritan. Seeking out a target to stop their actions is offense, not defense. That is the job of police.
I respect that our opinions differ so I'll just say take care. I hope none of us are ever confronted with this scenario.