Originally Posted by Mike Brewer

I know that if I fail in a life or death situation, it's my carcass on that E.R. slab. I know that it's my family parading past my body in tears because I didn't have the will or fortitude to save myself. The flip side is that I recognize what it means to draw a weapon and go to work on someone with it, and that single factor has kept me out of more fights than anything else. As a moral consideration, I am not willing to take on that kind of karma unless it really is me or him. The reality of the situation and the gravity of the consequences has a sobering effect on the ego, and I think it should. Only once ego is removed can you really decide what your own morals will allow.