[sarvinc]

Devil's advocate. Brandishing a firearm i.e. displaying but not drawing it could be considered an 'inactive' defense. Knowing someone owns an iPhone might dissuade one from attempting theft.

[wagglycocks]

This is an extremely poor analogy. Displaying a weapon is absolutely not a defense. Firearms should never be used to threaten in this manner.

[dmourati]

Brandishing a firearm is a crime.

[mirimir]

It's also stupid. People who brandish firearms often get shot with them.

[aeturnum]

Even so, you cannot brandish a weapon at someone you don't know about, while encryption doesn't care.