Re: bullies

"And guns are rarely ever used for self-defense"

When guns are brandished for self-defense it rarely makes the statistics, much less the news. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that guns are used to deter crime far more often than to commit crimes.

You are, of course, correct that violence is only appropriate after it is clear that other means of persuasion will not be effective, and only in cases of self-defense (collective or individual). However, we must never impede peaceful citizens so much that criminals should have a monopoly on private sector violence, because monopoly power is always abused.