I would much rather be in a gunfight than a knife fight. Look at video of stabbings from security cameras, shankings in prison, etc. Most people really have no idea the surprise, speed, and violence of action that the average, criminal using an edged weapon, will use on you. An edged weapon is probably one of the most serious threats a person could encounter. Say you get a few shots off. What if that wasn't quite enough? They may still have enough determination, blood pressure, and momentum to run into you, slash you fatally a few times, before you can fire another few rounds and put them down for good. Blades don't really malfunction and they don't run out of ammo.