George:
I used to have a Rolex Submariner, which I valued very highly. I lost it to a band of five armed robbers in 1993 in the confusion surrounding the Abacha coup in Nigeria. I now wear a less expensive but equally accurate Swiss watch.
At the time, I hardly noticed the loss of my Rolex, or my automobile, or my passport, or my fractured jawbone. When I came back around, I was just surprised and grateful that I was still alive. Four of the robbers had revolvers or semi-automatics, but it was the fifth weapon, locally known as a "Dane Gun," which really riveted my attention when it was shoved into my belly. A "Dane Gun" is a homemade shotgun, usually 12-guage, which no sane person would ever attempt to fire. It is small comfort, though, to know that your assailant may lose both of his hands at the same time you lose your life.
Of course, I was unarmed when all of that occurred. I also had the distinct discomfort of realizing what was about to come down about 15 seconds before it all hit the fan. Only the military, the police . . . and, of course, the criminals . . . were able to carry guns in Nigeria at the time.
If something like that doesn't make a man an avid supporter of the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution, I do not know what would do so. All of which is yet another of many reasons why I so value my R9s and why I am so rarely without it.
RS