I read your article and I think you bring up good points.
I absolutely love that you are challenging the status quo...just because we've always done something doesnt mean we should continue to do it.
Having said that, I disagree with your premise, although admittedly I have no stats to back this up and I am a police officer which skews my view point.
Self defense shootings are a rare phenomena, yet the majority of us here on this site carry.
Why?
In the rare occasions where necessary, those of us who carry want to be able to possibly save ourselves, our loved ones, or others in the event the unthinkable happens.
With that in mind...
You acknowledge that cops are more likely to get involved in shoot outs with subjects who are going to be aggressive and will likely carry reloads...how is this different than the normal non cop?
The subjects who are aggressive and going to fight are not going to stop at just cops, these people walk around daily and whether you want to admit or not, you've probably been in close proximity of these people whether you knew it or not. If they've just shot at a cop, do you think they'd stop at shooting anyone else?
The first one is expensive, the rest are free.
Meaning after shooting or killing a cop....anyone else is fair game. How many times a person be sentenced to death?
Carrying reloads and being proficient and timely in reloading isnt a bad thing and doesnt hurt anyone.
Not being proficient in a reload and not having a reload/back up magazine, (I know you threw out revolvers in for your position in your article, but still...), could potentially hurt you.
If we're carrying a gun for a situation that will hopefully never happen, carrying a reload and training to reload under stress in a timely manner wont hurt.
I do agree with you regarding precision vs speed. But I do see the other side of the argument as well.
We were taught in the Marines that violence of action won the day and putting hits on target won fights 4 to 1.
I have no stats to back that up and it could very well be something made up to make us feel better and support the very argument you are against.
At the end of the day....I tend towards looking at it this way...
Carrying a reload and training to reload under stress and with a time constraint wont cause a training scar, and potentially cost a life on the street...the opposite is not true.
Please continue to write articles and push the status quo. I greatly respect the effort and time you put into this article, even if I dont agree with the premise.
Complacency kills and only by constantly questioning the narrative/powers that be can we improve.