If you use a gun in a fistfight, you will go to jail. For a long time. Unless and until your attacker crosses the line from ordinary force to DEADLY FORCE (force likely to cause death or great bodily harm), you are not justified in using deadly force yourself.
You can't shoot your attacker because of what you think he "might" do. Sometime, ask a police officer about the "Use of Force Continuum".
-- Frank
Please, go back and read the beginning of my earlier post here:
http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2495170&postcount=57
That describes how things will be analyzed in many court rooms across the country (probably not all of them).
You think your statement is the ultimate answer? How about when a 250lb muscled guy raises his fist to a 100lb girl? How about when a guy with crutches is attacked and pushed to the ground? How about when there are 2, 3, or more attackers (again, without weapons)? How about a mother being attacked in the company of her 2 young children? By the time some of those situations happen, you are much too far along the force continuum.
BTW, I should point out that you are from Illinois. I believe just owning a gun there allows the cops to put two in your chest