Quote from: cockpitbob on March 14, 2016, 01:25:27 PM
The 2 times I've serves at the Boston Marathon were 2014 & 2015 (right after the bombing). Both years, from wherever I stood, I could see multiple armed law enforcement or military people. A ham with a bunch of gear is likely to be searched, so I wouldn't carry a gun. But even if I did carry, I wouldn't consider drawing it unless my life were in immediate danger. As you point out, there's no way to tell a good guy from bad. Also, I doubt the military folk get the same "shoot/don't shoot" decision training the police get.
These days with all the operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and such the military does do a fair amount of MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain) training. A lot of that does involve shoot/no-shoot scenarios.
I do see your point. I'm not going to say if I've ever carried at an event. I do carry extra first aid and trauma gear. If push ever comes to shove I plan to disappear into the woodwork until the lead stops flying and the dust has settled. After that I'll take off my ham hat and put on my combat lifesaver hat. That's just me though.