However, the OP was discussing OC in Virginia. If I anticipated needing more in a fight, I wouldn't go there unless I was a LEO or in the military. While a diversion, OC of a long arm isn't at issue here.
We see folks promoting OC in environments that are scarcely populated and with a low chance of encounter. I've OC'ed when hunting in TX Hill country on private land. That's irrelevant to OC'ing in the urban supermarket.
BTW, folks sometimes talk about their retention skills, that is a good thing to have but most useful in the police environment where they must come in close contact with opponents. Even then, a large proportion of officer shootings occur with their own gun. For the civilian, a grab might be a complete surprise as no one can maintain complete awareness. See the links I posted on civilian problems. Also, who says the attempt at your gun might be just wrestling as compared to a start with a surprise knife or impact attack. You cannot discount a motivated attacker. Not everyone is scared of the appearance of the average OC person. I see no reason to hang an incentive for crime out in the open. You might say that the deterrent value is more than the incentive value. That will be your empirical question. Just as another nuance, cross draw holsters are easy to interfere with on the draw when the opponent is close up. Hard to draw to a retention possession.
We see folks promoting OC in environments that are scarcely populated and with a low chance of encounter. I've OC'ed when hunting in TX Hill country on private land. That's irrelevant to OC'ing in the urban supermarket.
BTW, folks sometimes talk about their retention skills, that is a good thing to have but most useful in the police environment where they must come in close contact with opponents. Even then, a large proportion of officer shootings occur with their own gun. For the civilian, a grab might be a complete surprise as no one can maintain complete awareness. See the links I posted on civilian problems. Also, who says the attempt at your gun might be just wrestling as compared to a start with a surprise knife or impact attack. You cannot discount a motivated attacker. Not everyone is scared of the appearance of the average OC person. I see no reason to hang an incentive for crime out in the open. You might say that the deterrent value is more than the incentive value. That will be your empirical question. Just as another nuance, cross draw holsters are easy to interfere with on the draw when the opponent is close up. Hard to draw to a retention possession.
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