I get what you are saying.
I also believe in ones right to carry. I carry myself. Though I am also trained to defend myself with my hands.
I'm also not a coward. I lived in the ghetto for a while and walked the streets everyday without carrying.
I have said this before but I don't think you were around at the time. Twice for sure and a third time possibly I could have killed someone and been in the right and no charges. I didn't. I have zero desire to kill someone. I will if I have to.
my dad taught martial arts for my whole life, and one thing I've found out (the hard way, sorta) was that learning how to defend yourself, albeit an excellent way to build confidence, self esteem, etc, it tends to do the same thing as getting a car and making it faster..
that is, it's sorta human nature to see HOW fast your car is..
or in this analogy, how good one is at combat.
I got expelled from three schools, suspended countless times, juvenile battery charge...
It's a fine-line..
the other thing that sticks out in my head is the part in the movie "Friday", sorta scary..
"kids these days are too afraid of takin an ass-whuppin"
Self-defense is a wonderful thing to know, but unless you're really disciplined, it's almost a sure-fire way to get in trouble. especially as a kid..
EDIT- I did want to make clear that I wasn't implying that your advice isn't good advice, just that often times the people learning self-defense aren't doin it to defend themselves, rather to make themselves better at fighting.
fine line between the two.
The little that I know of you, i'm sure you are responsible about all of it, but I think you are a quasi old-timer like me, no?
annnnnd age brings wisdom and mellowness..
annnd much lower testosterone levels!