I suppose not only our disinclination to use deadly force is what keeps us from shooting somebody who cuts us off in traffic.

I think the only reason we're not at a shooting war is the fact that as humans we are hardwired to believe in the supremacy of the human condition. We don't kill people because we believe in the creation of a positive human when he or she does nothing to harm, or when the harm can be mitigated.

That said, you shoot or harm my kin, all bets are off. That's what prevents us from rolling over when a foreign power (ie the Japanese in WWII) attacks our people. We as patriots have a terrific warrior past and an ability to react with deadly force. The natural reaction to a direct attack is to respond with sufficient force to neutralize. It isn't a shoving match anymore.

CK