It's better to have a katana than a shotgun for a zombie apocalypse.

Point 1: opting out When it really comes down to it, long-term survival is just not in the cards in the case of a zombie apocalypse; and without understanding the source of zombie menace, one cannot say for certain that it will end. Will it end when all zombies are killed - assuming that goal is reached, of course - or will some continuing event cause more people to turn even in the absence of active zombies? Will all those who die with an intact brain become zombies, or only those who die as a result of a zombie attack? Without knowing the answers to these questions, survivors of such an event would need to make some decisions. First and foremost among them is whether or not survival is possible. I don't expect many people to conclude immediately that it's not, but as time goes on, more and more people will lose hope. Suicide in such an event is understandable, which brings me to my first point: how does one cut off his own head with a katana? No other method of suicide would be acceptable in such an event, with the uncertainty of who will turn, other than a method which severs brain from body or destroys the brain. On other hand, it's widely known how to commit suicide with a shotgun in such a way. I disagree with the implication that this is not a valid option in this debate; that assumption was made in your point #3, but I see nowhere that it was stated in the resolution, definitions, or debate structure that it was not an option. Point 2: availability My opponent argues that the availability of ammunition would be a limiting factor in the use of a shotgun. He mentions some limited sources for ammunition, however, unlike a shotgun, a katana is not a common weapon in this day and age. I know where I'd get ammo; where would you get your katana? If it is presumed that one already has the katana, then it can likewise be presumed that one already has a stockpile of ammunition for their shotgun. Point 3: effectiveness Simply put, I don't agree that a stab to the forehead would be sufficient to defeat a zombie with a sword, particularly the lightweight katana. I think the only effective method for killing a zombie with a katana would be decapitation. A stab in the forehead will mostly avoid their grasping arms; a decapitation blow requires that you get much closer, significantly increasing the risk of injury. Conversely, any shot to the head from a shotgun will kill the zombie, and the nature of a shotgun means that potentially more than one zombie can be killed with a single shot. Point 4: clean kills A painter's mask and goggles, available from the hardware section of Wal-Mart, would be an effective way to prevent zombie goo from entering the mouth, nose, or eyes. Any non-zombie-inflicted wounds could be bound with medical supplies from the pharmacy department such as an ace bandage. This nullifies the risk of contamination from the supposed rain of blood from a shotgun blast. Conversely, the very nature of the katana requires that the wielder get dangerously close to the zombie, increasing the risk of a scratch or bite which would effectively end the person's attempt at survival. In the case of being surrounded, the thought that one could slice and dice their way out of trouble without a scratch is fanciful at best. If the zombie horde is too big to break through with a shotgun, then death is a certainty and the only thing left is choosing whether or not to opt out; which is much harder to do with a katana. Point 5: noise Certainly a shotgun is a noisy weapon. But as has been stated in the definitions, they rely also on the sense of smell. I contend that stealth against a zombie is impossible, because they would smell you; that horde that would be drawn to the sound of gunfire would similarly be drawn to the scent of the live human fighting the zombies - regardless of the weapon. Anyone embroiled in a zombie apocalypse would be sweating a lot, from fear, stress, and exertion, and that would be like a beacon to the nose of a zombie. Back to you, DakotaKrafick.