Super interesting experience you had.

I'm not suprised that you had that reaction.
Guns are a great responsibility and not for everyone.

They require a lot of training to use safely and effectively.

Even though I am trained in their use and quite enjoy shooting, I choose not to carry.
In Israel if you carry you have a legal obligation to move towards the sound of gunfire and render assistance.

Most terrorist attacks in Israel are stopped by civilians carrying legal weapons.

Recently, my mild mannered British Israeli brother in law started carrying because he lives in an area of Jerusalem that is right on the edge of Arab areas. His downstairs neighbour and childhood friend of my wife, an equally mild mannered British Jew, carries a veritable arsenel to synagogue as part of the volunteer security team.

We are talking about expensive and sophisticated automatic weapons used by special forces with fancy sights and everything.

Neither of these people are typical gun owners in a US sense. They are just Dad's protecting their families.

Even female newsreaders carry in Israel.
But she is a trainned comabt soldier.

Unless you have the training and experience it is best not to have a gun.

I hope you have others who ARE trainned to protect you. That's what I rely on.