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

I concede the point about opting out; I admit to missing that particular point while looking for a more specific point that suicide was not an option. So, this point is dropped. I stand by my availability argument. It is more likely for someone to own a FP6 than a katana[1][2]; and it seems my opponent is trying to equate ornamental katanas with real, functional swords. If a katana is made as a decoration, it is not likely to be made to the same quality standards as a katana intended for actual use. Decorative katanas can be had for $50[4]; but such a katana is more likely to break on the first swing, rendering the wielder effectively lost to the cause of survival. If we eliminate decorative items, katanas become even more rare. For the purposes of the remainder of my argument, I'll assume that the katana is a battle katana, not a decorative item; but this doesn't constitute concession of this point. In my previous argument, I had assumed the use of a battle katana; I'm not sure why my opponent seems to think I considered it a decorative item or "some joke weapon blacksmiths used to make just to waste time." I also argue that katana maintenance takes more than a wet rock on which to sharpen the blade; katanas require special care to remain in good condition[3], and without that care, they would quickly deteriorate. This deterioration can be equated to the dwindling supply of ammunition for the FP6. I disagree with the point about a novice being able to learn quickly to kill zombies with a katana. I think that a novice is too prone to mistakes to be able to survive without training before the event. On the other hand, shotguns have the well-deserved reputation for being very easy-to-use even as firearms go. The FP6's 12 gauge x 3" shells make for a very deadly blast which can deal a lot of damage to multiple zombies at once. The long barrel of the standard FP6 makes for a more accurate shot even in the hands of a novice. I disagree with the contention that the extreme short range of the katana somehow requires the zombie to have "the arms of Monkey deLuffe." You're not going to sever any heads from outside the reach of the grasping arms of a zombie, a katana simply isn't heavy enough for that, nor would you want it to be, because you'd tire too quickly with a heavy sword. But that means you need to spend precious seconds severing the zombie's arms before moving for the kill, which counters the argument about taking the time to load; in a massive fight, the shotgun welder could load after every shot, pump, and shoot again, which would take roughly the same time for a skilled gunslinger as severing two arms and a head would for an experienced katana-wielder. Pro failed, however, to address the point that the shotgun can take out more than one zombie per shot, whereas the katana takes at most one per swing. In regards to clean kills, it was my intention to allow both sides of the debate to have access to those items, as it nullifies your argument about the risk from gore. In regards to the zombie's sense of smell, there is as much basis for saying they have no sense of smell as there is for saying they have a supernaturally acute sense of smell. Until studies have been performed on actual zombies to determine their sense of smell, my contention that their sense of smell is supernaturally acute has as much basis as your contention that it is no more than a normal human being's sense of smell. However, I will point out that they are, in essence, a supernatural being. Sources: [1] http://en.wikipedia.org... [2] http://www.gunshopfinder.com... [3] http://katanaswords.info... [4] http://katanaswords.info...