Originally Posted by
FergusonTO35
Police continue to lose their lives while armed with 9mm, .40, and .45 as has happened in my state the past couple of years. Many bystanders are hit by stray police bullets because agencies emphasize capacity and stopping power over marksmanship. I used to work for an LE agency and had access to a drive with the coppers' qualification scores. The weapons used were Glock .40 and .45 pistols, 870 riot guns, and M4 carbines. Most of the cop scores were not encouraging.
Friend, a gun or cartridge is only useful if you can actually shoot the darn thing. I, and thousands of other people, cannot shoot a carry size gun in a +.40 caliber cartridge. I've been shooting a wide variety of guns for over 30 years now and am keenly aware of my strengrhs and limitations. So no, more practice is not going to change anything in this regard. A smartly loaded .38 Special or standard 9mm is the strongest handgun I can shoot with any kind of accuracy and follow up shot ability. I will continue to carry the .380, .38 Special, and 9mm because they match my abilities and I am confident with them. After all, it's my life on the line and not someone else's. If I were to carry a gun I knew was beyond my ability and then failed to put rounds where they need to go in a life or death situation then it will be me who bears the consequences of that decision, not the well intentioned person who told me that a small gun would only get me killed.
The body count in the Orlando massacre could have been alot lower if at some point the terrorist had received a well placed round from a .38, 9mm, or even .32, .25, or .22. It may have not have had the same dramatic effect as a .44 or .45 but it almost certainly would have incapacitated him enough to limit the carnage. A "small" gun or cartridge always beats none at all.