As you are aware @honeysim featured you on this week's Pay It Forward Curation Contest.
Very powerful post. Definitely a hot topic. Yes, there are other methods of self defense. However any other method, even with firearms you need to be properly trained to perform with any of these to have a desired effect. In the end, a fist will not be effective against bullet let alone and automatic or semi automatic weapon. The downfall to it all is we can pass laws, legislation and so forth, yet it will not affect those that have ulterior motives. As long as there are criminals, there will always be an imbalance.
I don't think it should be a crime for defending yourself, regardless of the method. We can speculate on how outcomes might have been different, it won't correct what happened. I guess a better question would could we do as citizens of the world do to stop such tyranny? If that is possible.
RE: Making self-defense illegal is a bad idea, part three.