A .223 using good defensive ammo is LESS likely to overpenetrate than most pistol rounds. However, I am of the philosophy that you should assume every round you fire frim any defensive firearm is going to hit a few layers behind it, and I plan accordingly. It's not like you can ASSUME it won't. Some of your shots may miss, and aren't going to be stopped by the bad guy at all. Overpenetration is FAR down on my list of concers when choosing a cartridge.
I will never use a handgun when I have the oprion of using a long gun. My primary is the shotgun loaded with #4 buck. My backup, (and my wife's primary) is an M-1 carbine.
The anti-gunners have invented an arbitrary standard where they say 'weapons of war' have no place in the hands of civilians. They are entirely ignorant to the fact that throughout history, 'weapons of war' have been side by side with civilian arms, often exactly the same. They are trying to convince the public that there is a difference, just because arms have become more modern.
Here's the key thing to remember. They aren't after ARs. They aren't after handguns. They aren't after 'combat shotguns'. They aren't after hunting guns. They are after ALL guns. In dividing them into categories, they are trying to divide US into groups, and get us to go against each other, and be willing to throw each other under the bus, they don't have to take all of us on at once. If you admit that a certain kind of gun is just a hobby, and not NECESSARY, then you admitting that you would be willing to give it up.
Rights are not justified by need. Make THEM compromise. We don't compromise.
