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Sticking with the original question, I think the obvious answer is the same as the answer to most other questions that start with "why do you......."?

I carry multiple guns because for me, the positives of that decision outweigh the negatives.

The positives have been laid out in detail, and some have questioned how often those would actually come up in real life, or in certain specific situations. I'll admit that the marginal benefit of a second gun is less than the marginal benefit of a first gun, and that the marginal benefit of a thrird, fourth, or fifth gun decreases still further. However, it would be incorrect to say that there is NO benefit from increasing the number of guns available.

The real question is what is the cost (if any) of carrying a second gun. Obviously, you have to buy a second gun, which will be more or less of a concern depending on income, etc. You also need to find a comfortable carry method, and even the smallest little pocket pistol will be less comforratble to carry than an empty pocket, waisband, ankle, etc. For me, the costs of carrying a second or third gun are very small and the (admitedly limited) benefits of carrying a second / third gun outweigh these very small costs. It's really as simple as that.

Another poster challenged the statement that "two is one, one is none" by saying that this would logically lead someone to carry an infinite amount of guns. Actually there is a logical limit, and that is the point at which the marginal benefit (for a specific individual) is less than the marginal cost (for that same individual). For alot of people this happens with a second gun, so they choose to only carry one, justifying that there is no real benefit (for them) from the second gun. Heck for some people, the equation flips to a net negative at one gun, so they carry none. For me, I reach this point after either 2 or 3 guns depending on what I am wearing and the resultant difficulty / cost of concealing the extra weapons relative to the marginal benefit obtained.

Or as another poster said, each person will reach their own decision on what is right for them.

RPB wrote:civilian? or category now narrowed to CHL?
category limited to outdoors incidents?

03Lightningrocks wrote:Utilizing multiple guns????? While carrying concealed...OUT ON THE STREET??? I ask a very specific question. I would like to see some examples of a self defense situation, out on the street... by a civilian... where MULTIPLE weapons came into play. I would even like to see an example or two of situations where a CHLer was taken down because his primary weapon failed.

no cases of a CHL holder using or needing multiple weapons in a self defense scenario while out on the streets.

I had to say civilian because Police, security gaurds and others charged with protecting life or property have very different risk factors than an average Joe just going through his average day in public. Home defense and business defense are obviously different because the method and motivation of attack is likely to be different. To think that the guy shooting you out on the street is going to shoot you in the arm and then allow you to stick your hand in a pocket and pull out a gun makes no sense to me. He is going to keep blasting you until you drop.

I was actually trying to find some statistics that showed carrying more than one concealed weapon was beneficial. All we seem to be able to find is cases of folks in home or business defense situations utilizing multiple guns.

risk factor of the CHP officer wrestling on the ground losing his primary is a foreseeable event with a CHL too I believe.
Having had a bad guy with a gun at my head whom I could have disarmed, I can't say it's impossible that I could be distracted for a nanosecond by a second gunman or other event and be disarmed too.

I benefit by peace of mind and leg toning going up stairs with added weight
I see no "downside" to carrying spare tires even though they weigh a little. Most of mine got dry rot in the trunk, ... but I had them for added peace of mind and, a few times I really did need a spare tire.

03Lightningrocks wrote:

RPB wrote:civilian? or category now narrowed to CHL?
category limited to outdoors incidents?

03Lightningrocks wrote:Utilizing multiple guns????? While carrying concealed...OUT ON THE STREET??? I ask a very specific question. I would like to see some examples of a self defense situation, out on the street... by a civilian... where MULTIPLE weapons came into play. I would even like to see an example or two of situations where a CHLer was taken down because his primary weapon failed.

no cases of a CHL holder using or needing multiple weapons in a self defense scenario while out on the streets.

I had to say civilian because Police, security gaurds and others charged with protecting life or property have very different risk factors than an average Joe just going through his average day in public. Home defense and business defense are obviously different because the method and motivation of attack is likely to be different. To think that the guy shooting you out on the street is going to shoot you in the arm and then allow you to stick your hand in a pocket and pull out a gun makes no sense to me. He is going to keep blasting you until you drop.

I was actually trying to find some statistics that showed carrying more than one concealed weapon was beneficial. All we seem to be able to find is cases of folks in home or business defense situations utilizing multiple guns.

The benefits of carrying multiple guns are not limited to cases where someone uses multiple guns. One of the benefits cited is having different drawing opportunities (its easier to draw from an ankle holster while seated at a restaurant, etc). Accordingly, I think you should be looking for examples where the good guy was carrying more than one gun regardless of how many guns they actually used.

I know that you excluded locations other than "out on the street", but it is possible that the "average Joe" could be going to work, or one of those other locations where people have needed to use more than one gun.

If you narrow the question enough, then you can prove any point. I am more interested in understanding the reasons why people feel burdened by a second or third gun to the point that they only carry one.

WildBill wrote:This has been an interesting thread with many points of view. There are valid reasons to carry one gun or two guns. There is no one-sized-fits-all answer. Statistics isn't going to decide the question, either. Each person needs to decide what is best for themself.

Katygunnut wrote:I carry multiple guns because for me, the positives of that decision outweigh the negatives.

Two very sound responses here. No reason to argue the basic question. It's a personal decision. There is not right or wrong answer.


Let's get back to important stuff like why do all you 1911 yahoos continue carrying old jam-prone technology when the perfection of a vastly superior Glock is available at every Academy for less than half what your shiny bling-bling gun cost.







TAM? TAM?? TAM?!?!

austinrealtor wrote:Two very sound responses here. No reason to argue the basic question. It's a personal decision. There is not right or wrong answer.


Let's get back to important stuff like why do all you 1911 yahoos continue carrying old jam-prone technology when the perfection of a vastly superior Glock is available at every Academy for less than half what your shiny bling-bling gun cost.

Carrying a 1911 would be a legitimate reason for concealing more than one gun....

OK, you folks have me scared to death with this thread. I only carry one gun. I found two to be very hard to conceal in most cases, and too much weight to lug around. But I though after reading this thread, "what if I NEED the second gun?" Well that started me thinking about other "risks" I've been taking all my life. Heck, even in a combat zone I was not within arms length of my gun at times. Surprised I survived. In any case, I looked at all the risks I've been taking during my life, and here's what I came up with.

First, flying. Even though I was an aviator for 40 years, I decided it was too risky to fly commercial anymore. I can't even carry one gun on the plane, let alone two or three, so what if it's hijacked? I'm defenseless! Heck, what if it just crashes! Best not to fly at all and greatly reduce the risk. Next, the cars have to go. There's no way to defend myself from idiot drivers who might blindside me on the freeway or secondary roads. Regardless of how defensively I drive, I'm still a target. Better to greatly reduce the risk by simply not driving. I also, at first, decided never to leave the house. That would decrease my chances of needing to "carry" more than one gun greatly anyway. But heck, I have heard most accidents occur in the home, so the house has to go! I was lucky to find a large cavernous hole under a big rock nearby, and I am now transmitting this message from there (I have wireless!). So, ....wait, I hear something down further in the cavern. Sounds like, could it be, nah...yeah it is, something is growling back there!!!

"This message was brought to you by the, "Life is a Risk from Birth to Death, So Carry As Many Guns As You Like" Network

03Lightningrocks wrote:

austinrealtor wrote:Two very sound responses here. No reason to argue the basic question. It's a personal decision. There is not right or wrong answer.


Let's get back to important stuff like why do all you 1911 yahoos continue carrying old jam-prone technology when the perfection of a vastly superior Glock is available at every Academy for less than half what your shiny bling-bling gun cost.

Carrying a 1911 would be a legitimate reason for concealing more than one gun....

nicely done. now you're gettin' it

The first thing you have to have when considering self defense options is the proper mindset. To get into the proper mindset you must evaluate your risks and consider what level of inconvenience you are willing to accept in order to be prepared for potential trouble. With the proper mind set you actually do go around looking for trouble. No your not looking to get into trouble, your actually looking for it so that you can avoid or deal with it when the time comes. Now that you have the situational awareness portion of the mindset in place you need to deal with the willingness to deal with, or avoid, trouble as it happens. At this point we have the basic tool set needed to survive a hostile encounter but if you can get better, or more, tools it will further your ability to protect yourself. When adding tools to your self defense tool set you must be willing to accept their short comings and potential avenues of failure. The ability to improvise weapons goes back as long as mankind has been on the planet, so even when you do not have your preferred weapon you are never disarmed if you have the proper mindset. When one is aware of the short comings of their tool set and have taken action to compensate for those issues their mindset is better than someone else who hasn't done the same.

This applies to carrying two concealed handguns in my case because I know that any machine, including my firearms, can fail and I prefer to be prepared for it. I also acknowledge that I can even arm a trusted, and capable, third party to aid in our mutual defense. I also know that in the event where I may need to use a weapon, having multiple options allows me to set at least some of the conditions of the fight giving me a chance to force the original actor to react putting them behind the curve.

...Mr. Heath, you should be hollerin' "Bingo!!!"...you got 'em all~~~thank you...