[DPB]

This is a very interesting discussion, and it's interesting to see how people think.

Actually, G21.45, I understood from post #13 that your choice of a handgun was based on "multiple assailants, running gun battles, and barricades." If I misunderstood, I apologize.

I couldn't find any info on Homestead. At Laurel Canyon (North Hollywood), the bad guys did almost all of the battling, largely controlled who was doing the running, and, had they really intended to break out, probably could have. The police who were trying to maintain the perimeter didn't have anything that would have stopped the withdrawal, if the withdrawal had been planned and executed to the same standard as the initial assault. Any success that the police had was a result of failures on the part of the perpetrators, which wasn't the fault of the police, but they weren't prepared to fight a war outside the bank.

Having said that, I don't fundamentally disagree with the concept that more and bigger bullets in the gun are an advantage. No question at all. However, the decision of what firearm I carry is not independent of other considerations.

First, I'm not trying to prepare for "a wide variety of CQB engagements" when I go to Home Depot. I'm taking a precaution that will give me an advantage in an extreme situation. If I was knowingly going FISHing (Fighting In Someone's House), my loadout would be significantly different. Likewise, I don't have a four point racing harness and roll cage in my truck, because I'm going to Home Depot, not driving the Paris to Dakar Rally. And statistically, there is a much higher probability of being in an auto accident than a shooting.

Second, in all seriousness, could you describe how you dress that effectively conceals a Glock 21, two spare magazines, and a backup gun, in, say, July? Yes, my manner of dress is affected by the fact that I carry a gun, but I am not wearing enough clothing to conceal my war belt during any month of the year.

Finally, a high capacity, large caliber handun is only an advantage if you can hide it AND run it as effectively as you can run a lower caliber or lower capacity gun. I, personally, cannot run a G21 or fat 1911 as well as I can run the smaller versions of these platforms.

One other thing, velocity absolutely defeats soft armor. Knives defeat kevlar because the surface area of the penetrator is minimal. Any defensive handgun bullet has far more surface area on the pentrating surface than a knife. Bullet configuration and construction can play a role, but they are secondary to velocity.