Should that price be a violent and avoidable death?
Not a question of should. It's a question of
is. You go camping without checking the weather forecast, and without bringing the right equipment, and you die of hypothermia? "Should" doesn't really enter into it.
And the person doesn't have to die, as I outlined before. There are many alternatives (that no one seems to want to recognize). Including going to jail for breaking the law--how does THAT help with their safety?
there are valid reasons a person might lack a carry permit
Valid reasons like, "I never thought about it much," and "I was against guns until I needed one"?
But anywhere it is illegal it is mere malum prohibitum
Is claiming that your crime was "mere malum prohibitum" a defense at law? It is true that not all crimes are equal: some carry 20 year sentences, some less than a year. Killing someone "in self-defense" while carrying illegally and then fleeing the scene--what's the sentence for that?
one should also wait for the 'WALK' signal before crossing the street to escape a mugging.
Wrong analogy. More like: "But officer, I only jaywalked because I
think I might be at special risk for a mugging at some time in the future, so I couldn't afford to obey the traffic light right now!"
most people do not have carry permits
And ALL people should be held responsible for what they do and for what they fail to do (see "hypothermia," above).
I make good money, but I don't think I could afford to hire bodyguards.
But you
could afford to be convicted of a felony...or could afford to DIE? Come on, it's one or the other: either this "threat" is in fact so dire that any reasonable person would do something extreme (like leave town) to mitigate the risk; or it's so trivial that you can't be bothered to
inconvenience yourself...except to place yourself at legal jeopardy by carrying illegally and "hope for the best," knowing you've always got Plan B: shoot and leave the scene!
The correct response to a known, imminent lethal threat is not to arm yourself so you can have a good, fair gunfight, and a great court fight after that (assuming you survive at all, and in enough physical condition to eventually make it to court). It is to use that knowlege to AVOID the threat. Just like a TRO and leaving town, a handgun does not negate all threats--and carrying one illegally exposes you to new threats to your finances, freedom, and safety.
(Sorry for talking tactics in a Legal forum; but the arguments seem to be, "Screw the law: if you think you need a gun, break the law!" Hey, interesting advice.)