Just picking up the thread ..
@ a_canadian -- The issue is NOT "defending your iPhone IMHO ... The issue is really wether you ARE allowed to or should defend yourself.
The BEST defense is always a very good "situational awareness" -- If you are properly aware of your surroundings, you will be able to spot "escalating situations" - and react accordingly-- Maybe this means a discreet drawing of your own gun, to have an advantage, or to just cross the street to avoid two slightly suspicious persons .. I'm convinced that that has saved me from muggings on numerous occasions, when I lived in one of the toughest areas of Manchester, England in the 90'ies
In my country the big political discussion right now, is wether to allow ordinary citizens to carry pepper-sprays (They are illegal for civilian use now!!) One of the arguments seem to be: Ordinary citizens should not need to defend themselves, for that we have the police!!! -- thus only the police should have "defensive weapons" --
Incidents of robberies at gunpoint are extremely rare here -- the kind of Perps that would rob you on the street have little access to guns. -- Even knife-point muggings are rare -- But they do happen -- even to school-kids at the local supermarket-
Shooting incidents has been increasing in my country .. We have some of the thoughest gun laws that I know of, maybe except the UK and Japan. These laws make it impossible for even the most law-abiding citizens with absolutely no records, to own or use a gun for self-defense .. if, as a civilian, you want to own a handgun your ONLY option is to join a sports-shooting club! After 2 years of membership, the board of the club may issue a permit for a handgun, after checks with the police. This gun can only be of certain approved calibers (.22RF, .32, .38, .357Mag, 9 mm, 40S&W, 44Special (Absolutely NO .44Mag.. Way too "Macho"& Dangerous
) 45ACP or 45 Colt.) You can ONLY carry this gun DIRECTLY from your approved safe storage (Gun-safe approved to EU standard EN-0) to an approved Gun-range, that is certified for the use of handgun calibres. (By the Police) or to a military shooting range.
If, as a civilian, you want to own a shotgun or rifle, you have to either get a hunting license (for that you need to take an official exam, with a curriculum of knowledge of all the animals you can hunt in our country + weapons knowledge) or you need to join a shooting club. (But then you can not buy a hunting rifle, only approved target rifles)
When you have the hunting permit (renewable every year - fee around $80!!!) you may purchase shotguns, but they must be registered to you. If you want a hunting rifle, you need to apply for a permit .. this fee starts at $132, and drops to half that for subsequent permits -- Permits for Silencers are free
In spite of all this -- we STILL had more than 25 shooting incidents last year - mostly by gang members trying to shoot each other in an ongoing dispute i our capital city .. 98% of the weapons they use are smuggled into the country from former Eastern bloc countries now in the EU ..
Tough gun laws- even when in effect for half a century --- have NO direct effect on gun crime -- it can still increase --