John, of course you are right. I've heard stat's from time to time about how many death row inmates are later found to be innocent, and it was pretty suprising. Who knows the truth ...
I've been blessed by being another step or two away from the dark side, but it has been close enough:
1. My wife, prior to our marriage (but after we met) was with a girlfriend when they went to see that girl's boyfriend. They found him at home, on the couch, with a bullet in the side of his head. Took a while for the LEO's to determine what happened - he had caught an employee stealing from him (about $75 as I recall), and the low life killed him so his crime wouldn't be revealed.
2. A Controller (CPA), who worked for us a short time before the end, was strangled to death by a hired killer. Her estranged husband hired the guy. Took a couple of years for that one to be solved.
3. Another CPA friend in Beverly Hills had her family over for dinner. Someone forgot to lock the door. An armed, masked man entered the condo. The family and friend were seated around a table. The BG put the gun to her head, and told the family to put their heads down on the table. The BG led her around the condo gathering booty, constantly holding the pistol to her head. He bound her before he left. Just before getting up, he knelt down and whispered into her ear 'buy a gun, and lock your door!'. Of course, being the 'intelligent person' she is, she has
not bought a gun - says she 'doesn't like them'. I don't know if she has gotten any smarter about checking her doors.
We have had other brushes or acquaintances with brushes against the 'dark side'. I don't need any other examples for my own motivation. I always find it interesting how some people seem to think it is reasonable to carry a concealed weapon or otherwise have a firearm available if you have already had a close brush with crime. But, if you decide to have the same firearm available because they murder one person each day in your metropolitan area, well, then you are 'paranoid'.
These stories remind me of the advice I've heard from various instructors - you never know when the dark side will appear, so once you are comfortable carrying a firearm, then you should carry it everywhere possible.