- Messages
- 4,996
- Reactions
- 2,279
As some know, I have recently returned to carrying a revolver as my EDC.
That spurred a lot of debate in another thread as to whether a revolver can handle the threats a person is likely to face in their daily lives. I am obviously a person that believes it can or I would not carry one. I read a lot of talk about running gun battles, quick reloading, reliability, and so forth. In the end my opinion is still unchanged. I just do not feel most of those reasons are plausible.
When I look at what I feel will be the most likely circumstances for me to need a gun they fall into two different categories. Threats I will face at home and threats I will face in public.
At home I do keep both a high capacity semi-auto, a shotgun, and a rifle. I do not think I am likely to need them all since the biggest threat I possibly see happening is a home invasion. The odds of that being done by half a dozen armed men is not large enough to even consider in my opinion. Still, it requires no extra effort to have these things at home so I do. They can also serve double duty as recreational weapons, hunting weapons, etc.
While in public I see a few different situations that I might likely find myself facing. Robbery, carjacking (have had it happen), getting between two gangs, and just being in the wrong place at the wrong time during a public shooting spree. In fact I have stated before that I feel the most likely situation I might find myself facing these days is being at the mall at the wrong time when some kook loses it and shoots up the place because he got fired from Hotdog on a Stick.
In all of the public situations I see myself facing I do not think I will ever be in a prolonged gun battle with anyone. In fact the vast majority of these situations are going to be over very quickly. The worst is most likely to be the mall shooting scenario, but even that would be over much quicker if there was an armed response from the crowd against the unsuspecting attacker. Since carrying a bigger gun with extra mags is an effort during daily life (unlike keeping guns at home) I choose not to burden myself with them.
Prolonged gun battles just do not happen IMHO. The images we all get in our head of fighting off multiple armed assailants from a fixed position are fun to consider and plan for...but it is kind of like planning on what you are going to do with your lottery jackpot. It is just harmless fantasy. Most robbery/mugging/carjacking situation are going to be resolved simply by pulling the weapon or by firing a single shot or maybe two. Even reports of gang shootings do not usually involve prolonged gun battles. Witnesses usually report a half dozen or so gunshots being fired total...and that is with two or three gang members shooting at each other.
Civilians just do not get into running gun battles. I just do not see it happening. I see reports all the time of people defending themselves and their homes with their firearms, but I never see the pitched battles so many people use as justification for a big gun with a 20 round mag being on their side daily. I have no issue with people carrying those guns, I just do not see the justification for it. If you do it you have to be willing to admit it is only because you want to do it. Trying to paint a scenario where it is necessary and anyone else that doesn't do it is somehow endangering themselves is not a valid position.
So in the end, I feel completely comfortable with my six shots of .38spl+p ammo on my side. I even admit that I probably do not need to carry it at all. I carry it because I want to carry it. Not because I need to carry it. I could probably be every bit as safe just by spending a little more time being aware of my surroundings and avoiding situations that might be dangerous. I do not need to ever be at a mall if I do not want to be...but I like to be so I carry just in case. And when I do carry, I carry what I feel is going to cover any threat I am likely to encounter while still being both comfortable and practical. I believe a gun should be BOTH comfortable AND comforting. Not one ofr the other.
Would love to hear other people's opinions and perspectives.
That spurred a lot of debate in another thread as to whether a revolver can handle the threats a person is likely to face in their daily lives. I am obviously a person that believes it can or I would not carry one. I read a lot of talk about running gun battles, quick reloading, reliability, and so forth. In the end my opinion is still unchanged. I just do not feel most of those reasons are plausible.
When I look at what I feel will be the most likely circumstances for me to need a gun they fall into two different categories. Threats I will face at home and threats I will face in public.
At home I do keep both a high capacity semi-auto, a shotgun, and a rifle. I do not think I am likely to need them all since the biggest threat I possibly see happening is a home invasion. The odds of that being done by half a dozen armed men is not large enough to even consider in my opinion. Still, it requires no extra effort to have these things at home so I do. They can also serve double duty as recreational weapons, hunting weapons, etc.
While in public I see a few different situations that I might likely find myself facing. Robbery, carjacking (have had it happen), getting between two gangs, and just being in the wrong place at the wrong time during a public shooting spree. In fact I have stated before that I feel the most likely situation I might find myself facing these days is being at the mall at the wrong time when some kook loses it and shoots up the place because he got fired from Hotdog on a Stick.
In all of the public situations I see myself facing I do not think I will ever be in a prolonged gun battle with anyone. In fact the vast majority of these situations are going to be over very quickly. The worst is most likely to be the mall shooting scenario, but even that would be over much quicker if there was an armed response from the crowd against the unsuspecting attacker. Since carrying a bigger gun with extra mags is an effort during daily life (unlike keeping guns at home) I choose not to burden myself with them.
Prolonged gun battles just do not happen IMHO. The images we all get in our head of fighting off multiple armed assailants from a fixed position are fun to consider and plan for...but it is kind of like planning on what you are going to do with your lottery jackpot. It is just harmless fantasy. Most robbery/mugging/carjacking situation are going to be resolved simply by pulling the weapon or by firing a single shot or maybe two. Even reports of gang shootings do not usually involve prolonged gun battles. Witnesses usually report a half dozen or so gunshots being fired total...and that is with two or three gang members shooting at each other.
Civilians just do not get into running gun battles. I just do not see it happening. I see reports all the time of people defending themselves and their homes with their firearms, but I never see the pitched battles so many people use as justification for a big gun with a 20 round mag being on their side daily. I have no issue with people carrying those guns, I just do not see the justification for it. If you do it you have to be willing to admit it is only because you want to do it. Trying to paint a scenario where it is necessary and anyone else that doesn't do it is somehow endangering themselves is not a valid position.
So in the end, I feel completely comfortable with my six shots of .38spl+p ammo on my side. I even admit that I probably do not need to carry it at all. I carry it because I want to carry it. Not because I need to carry it. I could probably be every bit as safe just by spending a little more time being aware of my surroundings and avoiding situations that might be dangerous. I do not need to ever be at a mall if I do not want to be...but I like to be so I carry just in case. And when I do carry, I carry what I feel is going to cover any threat I am likely to encounter while still being both comfortable and practical. I believe a gun should be BOTH comfortable AND comforting. Not one ofr the other.
Would love to hear other people's opinions and perspectives.