More than five years back, I say, "more than five," because it was before I carried and I've been carrying about 5 years, I had an incident where somebody with road rage pulled right up next to me, and flashed a gun in his window - admittedly, I should have dialed 911 but dude pulled away, and I just let it go. My point being, one of the reasons I carry is because of other people's insane road rage. I'm not worried somebody is going to attack me on the streets - you would be pretty stupid as my exercise routine is pretty much Brazilian jiu jitsu all day everyday - I carry mostly concerned with A: other people's road rage, and B: gang members.
And if somebody pulls up to you in a car, and gets out, and they start shooting, or they are crazy violent.. I'm sorry, but I want my Smithy loaded with Federal HydroShock
Because I know you can not accept that bullet and continue.
When I clean my revolver, I triple, and quadruple check to make sure the thing is unloaded because I know if I accidentally hit myself with a HyrdoShock I am going to be screaming in agony.
The other thing is gang members - back when I was a youngster - age 19 - 25, I lived in Los Angeles. Gang stuff happens in bad areas, gang stuff happens in good areas too. I've seen a lot of random gang violence just happen on city streets. And that is like 5 guys at a time, 6 guys at a time.. and I just can't imagine a little bug having any effectiveness there.
So I think part of my problem is I feel South Florida - specifically Palm Beach County is a place where criminals are pretty violent, heavily armed. There are tons of drugs and gangs here, and I am just put off with the 22 lr ammo. Not to mention that rimfire ammo can have a dud here and there
I dunno, when I think 22lr I think of the tv show Gangland, and then I think, "who might randomly attack you on a street these days?" What character's and mayhem is out and about in the world?
For me the striker fired semi-auto - glock, xds, m&p is not a ccw gun. For me!! I am saying for personal reasons it is not what I like.
I am considering moving up to a hammer fired semi-auto these days - but I have some other things to think about there.
Long story short, when I begin to pick it apart, I just can't logically carry a 22lr where I live.
"Where," being the caveat.. cause if I was in a different geographical location.. "A small town in Montana, population 100." What are you going to carry there? A Glock 17? Why?