By Jim Irvine

There are many components that go into winning a violent encounter; having the proper tools at hand, shooting ability, physical conditioning, tactics and all the particulars of the specific incident. But the most important aspect may be mindset.

Having the pre-determined mindset that you will not be a victim, that you will win against any attacker, at any time, any place, and any situation, is the crux of self-defense.

Proper mindset starts with the realization that just because you live in a good neighborhood, work in a safe office and shop and travel in low crime areas, you are not guaranteed to be safe. Police rarely respond in time to stop a crime. They investigate the crime that happened before they arrived.

Click 'Read More' for the entire commentary.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer has published several letters to the editor in response to its April 29 story entitled "Gun advocates: Statistics are inadequate" and to the continued discussion over the latest Ohio CHL-holder to defend his own life when attacked.

Getting to the source of delinquents' angst?

I see very little difference between the young criminal who was recently killed in Mount Pleasant and a young Palestinian in a video making his martyr statement, or a car bomber in Iraq. What we have operating, from Kinsman Road to Baghdad, is a culture of death. This culture has its own unique values and rituals. It is united in a glorification of martyrdom.

Everyone is debating who was right and who was wrong. Everyone is looking for someone to blame. What few are asking is what drives the young into a grim culture of guns, bullets, blood and bodies. That is the discussion I would like to hear.

Randy Cunningham
Cleveland

We hope Mr. Cunningham found the time to read the excellent discussion being led by Plain Dealer columnist Regina Brett on this exact topic.

Click 'Read More' for other letters and brief rebuttal.