The New Wave of Double Stack Micro Compacts

[ray1970]

Oh, I must have missed another one of these debates about safely carrying weapons.

I fully support everyone doing whatever makes them comfortable regardless of what I think.

I also know the best safety is the one between your ears and it never surprises me to see people who weren?t blessed with things like common sense or the ability to pay attention to what they?re doing.

[colorider]

Here’s my personal opinion. Carrying a firearm and drawing it safely and getting your shots on target goes FAR BEYOND a basic or intro to CCW class. It’s a skill set that must be learned and practiced as part of your life.
Holstering the firearm safely is also a major part of this as well.

[arbol]

My full feelings would break forum rules, but suffice to say, there is a lot of cops, security, and otherwise armed people that would get a good laugh about this. Maybe guns are small enough part of your life you can't trust yourself or believe in some pretty big leaps in mechanical failures. I think it's one thing to argue wanting a safety and I let those go, carrying unchambered....

Compared to people that are using guns as a tool, every day, yes, guns are a small part of my life. However, I carry guns every day. Can you not find a balance between someone who is using guns as an active tool, in their day to day job, and someone that is using guns as a form of self defense?

[Bailey Guns]

Carry your gun in the condition (ie: loaded chamber or unloaded chamber) you want it to be in in the event you're suddenly and violently attacked. If that means an unloaded chamber, good luck.

[fitz19d]

Compared to people that are using guns as a tool, every day, yes, guns are a small part of my life. However, I carry guns every day. Can you not find a balance between someone who is using guns as an active tool, in their day to day job, and someone that is using guns as a form of self defense?

Sure there's a difference, but unless you are a take the gun out on special occasions and otherwise a closet/bedside safe queen, I find carrying unchambered practically negligent. (I hate safeties as well but at least they are pretty negligible slow down with practice) Racking before being in the game not only costs you crucial time in an appreciable quantity, it is a liability in a sense because now if it does make the difference, the threat has another weapon (especially if you were drawing against someone with a knife or something). Watch Policeactivity video's and the like (raw bodycam type footage w/ out commentary) Not all of those situations are applicable, but there's enough that demonstrate having both hands free could be questionable especially if someone's in your face already.

It's no skin off my back at the end of the day, but my frustration is out of concern for those doing that potentially costing themselves. I think if you carry you should be able to have the confidence and attentiveness to not have a ND, and if still concerned, opt for a gun with a easily swept safety.

[arbol]

How are you carrying your knife?

[arbol]

Carry your gun in the condition (ie: loaded chamber or unloaded chamber) you want it to be in in the event you're suddenly and violently attacked. If that means an unloaded chamber, good luck.

The likely hood that I will be suddenly and violently attacked, is small. Will I survive that first attack, maybe. Will I be able to access my gun, maybe.

It's for sure not a great solution, but neither is being attacked suddenly and violently.

[Bailey Guns]

That is likely the worst example of mindset I've ever seen. You're right insofar as the likelihood of you, personally, being attacked. It's pretty rare. But it happens to someone every single day. And when it does it almost always happens quickly. If you don't believe that there are thousands of YouTube videos out there to prove it's true.

[Seamonkey]

It wears on me that I am relying on a manufacturer of guns to tell me it is safe to carry this loaded, chambered, striker fired, gun, on my person. This is basic buyer beware type behavior, and since I cannot prove to myself that I am 100% safe in doing this, I choose to carry unchambered.

There are also "oopsie" moments, etc.

The way I carry, neither of those cases will happen to me, and like someone above said, I still am carrying, if not with immediate availability

IMO your "relying on a manufacturer" concern is addressed by the multitude of external resources available from reliable sources. Search the interwebs for your "specific model" "reliability" "safety" "torture test". Same with ammunition, plenty of independent research has been conducted on the major brands, grain, and how the bullet performs - expansion/penetration - to help you make an educated decision.

IMO "oopsie" moments are always caused by the human. afaik modern firearms do not randomly discharge on their own. Training, practice, treating the firearm with the respect it deserves go a long way preventing "oopsie". Same with motor vehicles. No amount of mechanical safeties can compensate for the distracted human.

[Irving]

The likely hood that I will be suddenly and violently attacked, is small. Will I survive that first attack, maybe. Will I be able to access my gun, maybe.

It's for sure not a great solution, but neither is being attacked suddenly and violently.

This is the exact same argument for why you shouldn't carry at all.