Firearms yes or no

[Hitman]

My opinion is that firearms are no less legitimate as a means of self defense than any other. Am I wrong?

I can give you a very clear answer from the legal point of view -as far as spanish laws concern, of course, as those are the ones I know- and that is: If you are on a one vs. one situation, as a general rule if you use a gun where the other has no weapons you are screwed legally. The exemption of criminal responsability would never be appreciated as complete, and as such you would more than probably jailed, even if acting in self defence.

a skilled Martial Artist cannot accidentally kill someone

I agree with all you said except with the above quote. My experience tells me that as long as any risky action is involved, a probaility -even if minor- of hurting or even killing someone, exists. I can well remember when sparring at the boxing club how some guys got "accidentally" K.O. even using helmet and big gloves. It sure was their fault by doing an incorrect movement the adversary could not expect -a novice move many times- but the result didn't change that

Accidents happen, and martial arts are an activity prone to them, trust me.