There are SO many pistols chambered in 9mm, and also many in .45 acp, which are of the same approximate size and weight of the Beretta, Bersa, Makarov, Sauer, and all but the tiny little pocket guns that it's a wonder that anyone would take the chance of depending on a lesser caliber like .380. It's now ALMOST as easy to carry a real gun concealed as it is a popgun.
That's just it, your use of the word "almost" is a loaded term. Even between the relatively small Kahr PM9 and the new Kahr 380, there is an easily distinguishable size difference. There are alot of guns that are chambered in .380 that are easily the size of a small 9mm or even a .45, and so logically, it would seem one would opt with one of the larger caliber sizes right??? Well, size is one thing, but there are other factors for some people. Recoil and accuracy to name a few. Perhaps there are people with arthritis that can't manage the recoil of one of these larger, more potent calibers? Another thing to consider is perhaps alot of us don't like any of the pocket 9 options. I for one HATE the Kahrs. I don't like their feel, their recoil, or much else, the ONLY thing I do like is the caliber it's chambered in. I don't like the other options either. I already have an officer's 45. acp, but she's still ALOT bigger and bulkier than my .380 is. Guess who gets taken out more often? (The one that I can still hide without having to dress like a gang banger with baggy/saggy cloths) I'm not that big of a guy, so I don't have too much options in carrying. So for me, it's a matter of options that keeps me relegated to using a .380. I'm sure that there are others in similar circumstances.
I'm sure that there are legions of the authoritative voices we hear here and so many other similar places who, if told that they could not ever again carry a pistol at all without facing sanction would be in full compliance the next time they left their houses, and be completely comfortable with their new situation. Some would even be secretly relieved that the matter had been taken from them and they no longer had a choice. It would be so nice to not feel that they had to figure out where to carry those uncomfortable things any more.
I don't know where this came from. I can't even imagine anybody who would even spend time in this forum adhering to this mode of thinking, unless they were an anti-gun troll. I'm sure the vast majority of us strongly believe in an inalienable right to self defense.
It is NOT dangerous everywhere. Most live in quiet little neighborhoods and towns where the crime rate is low and their chance of being assailed on their streets is practically nil. Those who live in or must go into truly dangerous areas KNOW the danger and when possible arm themselves accordingly. The others simply avoid such places and live without substantiable fear, or could were it not for the deepset paranoia that instills them from watching news programs or reading horrific accounts or worst of all giving great attention to the supposedly real life cop shows that are so common and popular. These are your .380 owners and defenders.
And, given that these people really don't need any defense, self or otherwise, they're quite right that their little guns are good enough.
I think that's a bit over the top classifying all .380 owners to your typical middle class suburbia that never has or will see danger in their lives. Look, simple statistics show that the vast majority uses for guns in self defense never even require a shot to be fired. Criminals are like animals on the hunt. They are looking for an easy target, period. They don't want to risk getting shot by a BB gun, much less a "pop gun" like a .380. They want the yokel that will not offer resistence, once anybody establishes that they are willing to fight to defend themselves, the chances of the criminal leaving them to look for another more willing victim is quite good. In the unfortunate event that deadly force must be used, it is hoped that
whatever caliber you are using, that it will be enough to stop(i.e. end, kill, immobilize, etc..) the attacker.
One must always keep in mind that not everybody can carry a full size government 1911 on thier body because of the different shapes and sizes of our bodies. There's lots of people in this forum that carry these big pistols daily, but these guys tend to be big corn fed boys that could hide a small arsenal on thier person and none would be the wiser. Our occupations also can have a dress code/uniforms that we are required to wear, this also can play a big part in our choice of firearms.
So before all the haters of .380 come out and say how naive any person who carrys a .380 is, think about some of the other factors involved with carrying concealed weapons rather than simply thinking about it in terms of caliber only.