I totally agree with your concept, not some of the conclusions drawn in your examples. The important thing is to think it through for yourself (as you've outlined), consider reasonable input, and make a decision that is best for your situation.

Originally Posted by
butlers
Thus, depending on your answer,
There are situations where back-up iron sights (BUIS) are essential:
- You're a suburban dad on a budget and your AR is primarily for range/home-defense; you have a low-quality red dot, and you can't rely on your (literally) gun-shy wife or very young kids to participate in any sort of hostile encounter.
- How likely is it that your optic goes down? Small, but possible.
- What happens if your optic goes down? Your family is relying on you to make the shot, and so BUIS are absolutely essential.
There are scenarios where BUIS are important, but not critical:
- You're an infantryman and your AR is your primary duty weapon; you have a high-quality optic, and you're surrounded by dozens of your comrades who are well-equipped.
- How likely is it that your optic goes down? Very small due to mechanical failure; possible due to physical damage from small arms or just the abuse of hard service.
- What happens if your optic goes down? It's not the end of the world -- you have teammates who can pick up the slack, and you've most likely got a 15-17 round pistol for back-up. Would it be nice to have BUIS? Sure, but that real-estate may be better served by something else (e.g. magnifier, IR designator, etc).
And there are settings where BUIS are just a "nice to have":
- You're a rural hunter, and your AR is for long-range target work; you have a high quality scope, and you're open-carrying a large-caliber pistol for back-up.
- How likely is it that your optic goes down? Extremely unlikely.
- What happens if your optic goes down? You don't come home with a trophy.
Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President... - Theodore Roosevelt, Lincoln and Free Speech, Metropolitan Magazine, Volume 47, Number 6, May 1918.
Every Communist must grasp the truth. Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Our principle is that the Party commands the gun, and the gun must never be allowed to command the Party Mao Zedong, 6 November, 1938 - speech to the Communist Patry of China's sixth Central Committee
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