>> Methods exist, such as thumnbprint control required to fire, or a locked box
> requiring double thumb prints to open.
> I can see it now, some bad guy is prowling around in someone's home
>intent on mischief and the owner has to go through all that to protect himself
> Meanwhile the bad guy is locked and loaded ready to do damage without a
> second thought.

True enough.  Best to train these gun owners to take care of their guns &  properly lock them up when not in attendence with them.

> Far more news is made by someone making a mischief than one using a gun
> for self defence.
> Its like a car, again.  There's no news in thousands of drivers going
> about their business with no problem.  It the one who is involved in an
> accident that makes the news.

"Dog bites man" is not new, but "Man bites dog" is, unless he's on Coney  Island, maybe!

> The other guys in SP, even regulars, were armed only with a baton and
> mine was made of balsa wood.  :)
> Of no one (other than us) knew who had a effective baton or not.
> The baton was deterrence.

Not to someone hoped up on some thing, or just seriously enraged, beyond reason
& awareness, then the balsa holder is in big trouble. Did you carry a proper 
cosh in your back pocket for such an emergency?

I've seen the knives the army has -- one of those in your boot would seriously  increase your self-confidence in any "Situation."

My main defense, if needed, is my brain -- I'll first try to talk down the  miscreant, then use what I know about self defense to maximize mty chance of  survival (we had a rash of swarmings where older men were murdered by a crowd  of teen thugs--my knowldeghe of this gives me a legal basis to feel my life is  in danger & I can use force as warranted & necessary to defend myself--leader  is going down & HARD, & he'll probably be crying & mewling after--that'll get  half the rest running away.)

>> Are the Seals a separate program within the USN who are separated from the
> main Navy & trained with a greater intensity like the Marines?
> No need for a sidearm on a ship.

In wartime, I'd hope, as the enemy Seal-types could board you on the quiet  sider & attenpt to take over the ship'scontrols.

>> His main job was escorting supply boats across the Atlantic.
> A brother was in the Coast Guard for supply ships in the Pacific.
> His ship carried whatever was needed somewhere.  One time it might be
> soap, another TP.  He was killed in January 1945 when they were carrying ammo
> and something happened with the ship blowing up in the harbour at
> Guadalcanal, with all hands lost, save fou
> I was named after him, five years and two days later.

He was the sole fatality? :( 

>> I think it really sucks that both your houses are partisan.  On 6-Jan, 2021
> during the coup
> Getting a bit close to modern politics there.

Fair enough; I'm sorry.

I was going more for the philosophic view: that balance is required in all  things, especially those involved with groups of people.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-5