It would be interesting to learn how many are thugs and how many "just" ordinary yutes preparing to defend themselves. It should not need to be said, but Prog officials seem not to realize that trained police officers are more likely to defend themselves and others more carefully and skillfully than most civilians. Civilians being forced to defend themselves when police cannot will get messy.
@PeterS This is because it is the "youts" of NYC we are talking about,not rural kids. The only time that NYC kids get to shoot their guns is when they are shooting them at someone else.
Most rural kids were like me,owning and shooting guns before they even became teenagers. These kids generally hit what they are aiming at BECAUSE they are aiming a gun,NOT shooting a "magical gun" that does it's own aiming and trigger pulling.
I can't remember now how old I was when I got my first gun,but it was a double-barrel 12 gauge with hammers,and I kept it and the shells for it in my bedroom.
And it never once occurred to me to even point it at anyone,regardless of it if was loaded or not loaded.