Wanted to start a new philosophy thread.
I've carried a firearm with me pretty much since the day I turned 21. That's 14 years of having a somewhat uncomfortable 1.5-3 lb piece of steel strapped to my waist. I have been through quite a variety of carry pieces over the years. Some were in an attempt to up size or down size. Some were because it was the hot shit new pistol that everyone was raving about and I had to get on the bandwagon. I have had good experience with some and bad with others. Thankfully, I have landed on a system that works well for me. I have learned to look past the glitter and glam and settle on something that will work as flawlessly as possible.
Recently, I took a step back from my current ideology of carrying and really did some deep thinking on it. Carrying a firearm is a great responsibility that requires a higher level of discernment and patience. The aftermath of a shooting/defensive encounter is very painstaking and expensive. If I can avoid that aftermath I will at all costs. With that understanding, i see heinous acts of violence occur in my community on a daily basis. Terror attacks are becoming more frequently. Hell, just last year a kid brought a shotgun to the school my wife worked at and was able to get a shot off. That was a bit too close to home.
Self protection is very important to me and as such, I want to have as many cards stacked in my favor as I can. That requires force multipliers. I carry 2 guns, a support mag, a fixed blade knife, a folding knife, a defensive flashlight and my wits; those are my force multipliers. If I have to step into a fight, I am coming like a freight train at full steam. I will end the fight if I don't meet my end first. I also carry a pocket sized trauma kit in the event that I have to manage a gunshot wound/stabbing. 5o some it sounds like paranoia, to others it sounds like sound preparation.
The gun - for a long time I was hooked on the single stack micro compact phase. They are small, easily concealed and easy enough to shoot. It made carrying a gun easy. But, it only held 6+1. Seemed like enough, I carry a spare mag. Then I was a victim of a home invasion
4 assailants enter the house while 6 or 7 of us are playing cards. At least 2 were armed. So was I, with an lcp. I was absolutely out gunned, we all feigned compliance. We were blessed that no one was injured severely (couple of us got roughed up by the jackels) and they left quickly when they realized they were robbing the wrong house, we didn't have much in the house at the time. They were looking for drugs. That's what we get for moving into a questionable side of town.
That next day I ditched the lcp and strapped on my Glock 23. I moved to doublestack guns because I see the need for more force multpliers.
A few couple years go by and I again find myself wearing a single stack for comforts sake. That's when I took the step back and began reassessing my philosophy of carry.
Why am I choosing comfort over comfort? I then realized that self protection is not comfortable so I need to be content with being a bit uncomfortable. Adversity is hiding around every corner ready to pounce, so I too should be ready to respond accordingly to that adversity.
Currently I am carrying a Glock 23 and a Glock 27 and I train/practice regularly. I carry Glocks because they have never failed me where most others have to some degree. I want to be able to punch as many big holes as I can as quickly as possible with the utmost reliability. It's not the most comfortable, but it's comforting. I only carry one support mag.
I now see the need for something bigger than a single stack pistol and as such I have gotten rid of all my single stacks and replaced them with double stacks. (exception for The Mrs, she carries my Kahr pm9 now, she finally decided that carrying is more than important and likes the little gun. I'm just happy she decided to start carrying)
So, what do you carry and why? How did you decide to carry
I've carried a firearm with me pretty much since the day I turned 21. That's 14 years of having a somewhat uncomfortable 1.5-3 lb piece of steel strapped to my waist. I have been through quite a variety of carry pieces over the years. Some were in an attempt to up size or down size. Some were because it was the hot shit new pistol that everyone was raving about and I had to get on the bandwagon. I have had good experience with some and bad with others. Thankfully, I have landed on a system that works well for me. I have learned to look past the glitter and glam and settle on something that will work as flawlessly as possible.
Recently, I took a step back from my current ideology of carrying and really did some deep thinking on it. Carrying a firearm is a great responsibility that requires a higher level of discernment and patience. The aftermath of a shooting/defensive encounter is very painstaking and expensive. If I can avoid that aftermath I will at all costs. With that understanding, i see heinous acts of violence occur in my community on a daily basis. Terror attacks are becoming more frequently. Hell, just last year a kid brought a shotgun to the school my wife worked at and was able to get a shot off. That was a bit too close to home.
Self protection is very important to me and as such, I want to have as many cards stacked in my favor as I can. That requires force multipliers. I carry 2 guns, a support mag, a fixed blade knife, a folding knife, a defensive flashlight and my wits; those are my force multipliers. If I have to step into a fight, I am coming like a freight train at full steam. I will end the fight if I don't meet my end first. I also carry a pocket sized trauma kit in the event that I have to manage a gunshot wound/stabbing. 5o some it sounds like paranoia, to others it sounds like sound preparation.
The gun - for a long time I was hooked on the single stack micro compact phase. They are small, easily concealed and easy enough to shoot. It made carrying a gun easy. But, it only held 6+1. Seemed like enough, I carry a spare mag. Then I was a victim of a home invasion
4 assailants enter the house while 6 or 7 of us are playing cards. At least 2 were armed. So was I, with an lcp. I was absolutely out gunned, we all feigned compliance. We were blessed that no one was injured severely (couple of us got roughed up by the jackels) and they left quickly when they realized they were robbing the wrong house, we didn't have much in the house at the time. They were looking for drugs. That's what we get for moving into a questionable side of town.
That next day I ditched the lcp and strapped on my Glock 23. I moved to doublestack guns because I see the need for more force multpliers.
A few couple years go by and I again find myself wearing a single stack for comforts sake. That's when I took the step back and began reassessing my philosophy of carry.
Why am I choosing comfort over comfort? I then realized that self protection is not comfortable so I need to be content with being a bit uncomfortable. Adversity is hiding around every corner ready to pounce, so I too should be ready to respond accordingly to that adversity.
Currently I am carrying a Glock 23 and a Glock 27 and I train/practice regularly. I carry Glocks because they have never failed me where most others have to some degree. I want to be able to punch as many big holes as I can as quickly as possible with the utmost reliability. It's not the most comfortable, but it's comforting. I only carry one support mag.
I now see the need for something bigger than a single stack pistol and as such I have gotten rid of all my single stacks and replaced them with double stacks. (exception for The Mrs, she carries my Kahr pm9 now, she finally decided that carrying is more than important and likes the little gun. I'm just happy she decided to start carrying)
So, what do you carry and why? How did you decide to carry
