One in the chamber or no?

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Hm... every time I read it I still don't buy it... the attitude "CARRY ONE UP OR DONT CARRY AT ALL".

To those who say this, yes it makes sense that a full chamber is advantageous over an empty chamber, but do you seriously think it's better to not have a gun AT ALL than be at a split second disadvantage?

If the answer is "yes", let me ask you this:

What about car guns (ie glove box, console, under the seat)? Even a condition 3 gun on person is quicker than any condition gun in the glovebox. Should we not have those either?

Similarly, holster alternatives? Like purses? Or those planner mimics for office carry? Takes a couple seconds to draw so... Shouldn't have them???

According to this logic of all-or-nothing, YOU should all leave your gun at home because in any situation where you're going to use it IN DEFENSE, you're already at a tactical disadvantage. This is precisely why it is preferable in most situations to carry condition 1, but it by no means legitimizes being completely unarmed.

If your answer is still yes then please give me a reason that actually makes sense beyond "split seconds count" for why someone should go about unarmed.

Ahem... so anyway, no I don't. If my carry gun (Glock) had a manual safety (I'll save the whole "safe action" thing for another time, feel I've ranted enough ;)) or I carried it in a holster then yes I would.
 
ilikepancakes said:
...What about car guns (ie glove box, console, under the seat)? Even a condition 3 gun on person is quicker than any condition gun in the glovebox. Should we not have those either?..
What's the difference between a gun that you don't have and a gun that you can't get to quickly enough to put to effective use? A gun is not a talisman. It doesn't protect you by its mere presence. It's only worthwhile if you have the skill, ability and enough time to be able to put it to use to protect yourself. And of course anything you do to increase the amount of time you'll need makes it less likely that circumstances will give you enough time to be able to put your gun to effective use. You have no idea how much time you'll have until it happens.

You pays your money and you takes your chance. If someone chooses to hamper his potential response by carrying his gun "off-body" or in deep concealment or with an empty chamber, that's his choice. Maybe that won't make the gun useless if the time ever comes that it's needed. But then again, maybe it will.

ilikepancakes said:
...in any situation where you're going to use it IN DEFENSE, you're already at a tactical disadvantage....
True, and things like carrying the gun "off-body" or in deep concealment or with an empty chamber, further increase that disadvantage. Anyone who wants to make a tough situation even tougher on himself is welcome to do so.
 
I agree with everything you said, fiddletown. Still doesn't mean people are better off leaving a gun at home than carrying in anything other than condition 1.
 
Yeah that whole "an unloaded gun is no better than a brick" mentality is pretty faulty. Bricks can not be turned into loaded handguns in under a second. I have never understood the mentality that carrying a gun not chambered was just like not carrying at all.
 
I started off the bat with one in the chamber. My first CCW weapon was a Beretta 92fs, and I still use it occasionally. I really like the de-cock DA/SA of it. My other carry gun is a Glock 22 and I fully trust it with one in the chamber.
 
ilikepancakes said:
...Still doesn't mean people are better off leaving a gun at home...
Well of course, if you have a gun with you but can't put it to effective use, you may have just made a present of it to a bad guy.

But look, the bottom line still is that just having a gun doesn't do you any good. You need to be able to use it effectively. Can you? Are you trained in its use? How proficient are you? Can you get to the gun soon enough and put it into play soon enough? Do you really know how to use it effectively? How well can you manage things under stress? These things can affect the outcome of a violent encounter.

How fast will you have to be? How good will you have to be? I don't know, and neither do you.
 
I wish I could carry a gun in the first place. If you guys get to carry one with no mag in it's still better than me in the peoples republic of IL where I cant even keep it in the glove box with a mag in it in a case...
 
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