At what point does being prepared go overboard

A little overboard....

But hey, if he can conceal it all, and can heft it around...why not?

For what it's worth:
Sig 226. 13 rounds (12+1).
Extra 11 rounds if I'm wearing a coat. 1 magazine in pouch on belt. (I've GOT to get an IWB magazine carrier).
Folding Schrade belt knife.

I don't feel the need to carry a backup gun....But as I said above...carry what ya feel is necessary. Having the non-lethal stuff in my opinion is a decent idea, I've thought about carrying pepper spray/etc.
 
There used to be a popular old topic called "What's in your pockets?"

While I believe that most folks pulled out every trinket they owned to outdo the last guy, the fact remains is that the members did own all of the junk in the first place--carried EDC or not.

But after all of these years the two most used items I carry are my cell phone and a SureFire E1e flashlight. Sure, I carry a jackknife, but most days I might use the knife once, and the phone ten times.

But I guess it's more fun to read about the romantic and exotic sidearms.
 
"Poor guy, probably can't go to the beach!"

Thats what an LCPs for and the gym.:cool:

How many spare mags would you carry with the Sig P226 SCT 20+1? :D:D
Im thinking 2 extras.
 
It's very simple although it took me awhile to figure it out.

It's too much and the person is paranoid if they prepare/carry much more than the person posting does.

It's too little and the person is a sheeple if they prepare/carry much less than the person posting does.

If they prepare/carry about the same amount that the person posting does then it's just right and the person is being prudently cautious without going overboard.

Any questions? :D
 
Who knows what some have?

I know in my neighborhood, there is a scare with some of the dogs around the neighborhood. Not on my street, but every time I see someone walking their dog throughout the neighborhood, they always have something like a golf club, walking stick, cane, etc. This thread makes me wonder what some might have under their shirts as well. Some houses around here have been getting broken into, fortunately not any of the ones that I know to be well protected. If it wasn't for the neighbors watching out for everyone, I would probably be moving.
 
While a revolver, speedstrip, and a knife are enough for me, I'll refrain from passing judgement. The older I get the more I believe the phrase, "just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me."
 
If I can't handle a situation with my Glock 23, 26rds of .40sw, a pocket knife, and a little Surefire flashlight... then it just ain't my day.

Besides, if the BG(s) gets the drop on you, 3,4,5, guns aren't gonna do squat. Just more guns to report stolen when the cops come.
 
Just to lean over to the other side of the fence a bit... Someone could easily argue that having many-many pounds of powder, cases of primers, thousands of bullets in many different calibers and firearms enough to arm everyone on their street being "over-prepared" as well. But a lot of us fit that category very well and would argue till hell froze over that there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. I would argue that without backing up an inch--I love my collection and add to it any way I can whenever possible. So lets not be too hasty to categorize someone just because they have a little different perspective on something without at least giving them the full benefit of justifying themselves. "Because I am allowed to by law, and I can" is the argument a lot of us fall back on matter-of-factly on similar such topics. That seems fitting here as well. If he's legal, then more power to him--good enough for me, whether I would ever consider carrying so much or not.
 
I think one gun is enough. If you really need more than that, you should not be going there. In fact you really think you absolutely need a gun and high chance you must use it, don't go there. You can't live all your life ion fear, chances are you meat death when no weapon will save you.:rolleyes: But ofcourse we live in a free country, carry what you wish, I wont stop you. I might think your buddy is on the paranoid side though. :D
 
I don't want to flame anyone for how much gear they carry, but my personal opinion is that the second fullsize handgun on the belt might be a bit much.

Statisticaly we're all paranoid for carrying a gun. Odds are you'll never need it. I think we have no grounds for chastizing someone who chooses to prepare a little better than us.
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doh_312 made some excellent points in his post, but I think the heart of this thread is the question "Does carrying more stuff mean you're more prepared?" Its kinda like guys who hang every conceiveable toy off their black rifle...if it doesn't serve a purpose/solve a problem for you, then don't include it in your equipment.

Why doesn't he just carry 2 Glocks?
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If he is truly carrying out of a perceived need for extra guns, then I would ask the same question. If I felt like I needed to carry two primary-type weapons on my belt I would think that the same gun would be a benefit (especially considering his four extra magazines). The reality is that it isn't as fun to own two of the same gun. He sacrifices interoperability for the fun-factor of owning two different guns (another reason I think he is overdoing it a bit).

So lets not be too hasty to categorize someone just because they have a little different perspective on something without at least giving them the full benefit of justifying themselves. "Because I am allowed to by law, and I can" is the argument a lot of us fall back on matter-of-factly on similar such topics. That seems fitting here as well. If he's legal, then more power to him--good enough for me, whether I would ever consider carrying so much or not.
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Another excellent point. Without haven't met or talked with this fellow, I don't have an understanding of his reasoning or personality. He might just be a little overzealous or he might be a total kook. As long as he doesn't run around doing something stupid to make gun owners look bad then I don't care how heavy his belt gets.
 
This guy will look good in court. Jury will think he was a blood thirsty maniac, and could you blame them.

I sure hope he was carrying OC spray as a first line.
 
The guy sounds like someone who probably shouldn't be carrying. It sounds like an ego thing with him. In my youth I went through a period like that where having extra weapons and such made me feel powerful and part of me hoped I would get into a scrap so I could use my knives and baton, etc.

Today I carry ONE gun and while I wouldn't hesitate to pull it out if I had to, if a situation came up where I DID have to draw it, I'd probably be scared and running on adrenaline. A lot depends on maturity I suppose or what kinds of things he's had to face in the past. But unless he's been in a massive gun fight and barely escaped with his skin, I'd say he's feeding an ego. FOUR magazines? If he needs that many, he likely won't survive the gun fight and at that point it's a question of how many BGs you can take with you before you bleed out.

Seems to me that SOME (not all) guys that carry an arsenal like that are hoping for an "incident" to occur that justifies carrying all that stuff. Especially the younger ones.

Chexmix, I hope you're not around him if and when it does if that's the kind of guy he is. :eek:
 
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Sometimes the judgments that we make in one instance and refuse to make in another really amaze me.

A "civilian" walks around in BDUs, talks about his Glock and says he likes the "DE50" and he's a mall-ninja, wanna-be commando.

Same guy walks around in khaki pants and a button up shirt carrying 3 guns, 4 extra mags, 2 knives and a collapsible baton and we refrain from making judgments? :rolleyes:
 
JohnKSa said:
It's too much...It's too little...the same amount
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I think it's the same problem throughout society. These guys try to compensate for some issue totally unrelated to the idea they're abusing.

We could say the same thing about an older guy driving a red Corvette and tree-hugger at the wheel of a Prius. The 'Vette owner probably won't meet any swimsuit models, and it takes just as many raw materials to build an eco-car. But both guys have "dreams."

Hey, I won't leave my group out, either. It happens all of the time.

I'll see a brand new pristine Sportster in front of the bike shop, and a middle-aged guy with fresh ink buying every bit of leather in the "road clothes" department. In his mind he's Peter Fonda, but in reality he's a incompetent insurance agent.

The problem is taking a serious look at yourself. And for some folks cognitive dissonance is the most painful process they will ever go through.

All of the guns, knives, spec-ops clothing and zulu-zone watches will never fill the void. The problem isn't the hardware, it's the software.
 
The way I see it ...

yeah, he's exercising his right, and since some people do think carrying even 1 gun is paranoid, we shouldn't be so quick to judge.

However, the question I ask myself is: "Do I trust this guy? Would I be friends with him? Hang out with him? Would I continue to be friends with him once I found out everything he packs on just a trip to the store?"

Answer: no way, no how. Something's plain wrong with this guy. I wouldn't want to be around him.
 
I never wanted to be a Commando but I fancied myself being a Guards Drill Sergeant (or any CSM or RSM), so I had a pace stick, gravel crunching ammo boots and spotlessly blanco'd P-37 web belt. But I've passed that stage in my life, mostly. Alas, I find that not only my guns and knives but everything gets smaller as I age.

Although I rarely carry a gun, I am not without concerns over my personal safety. I try not to be paranoid since I see that as a form of vanity. I somehow manage to get by with very little in the way of gadgetry, owning neither a watch nor cell phone nor camera. But I still sleep in a bed, cook on an electric stove (or "cooker") and use a normal bathroom--mainly because I've lived under circumstances without them.
 
NightSleeper said:
we shouldn't be so quick to judge...."Do I trust this guy?.....no way, no how. Something's plain wrong with this guy.
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Definitions of oxymoron on the Web:

* Conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence')

*A phrase combining two contradictory terms.
 
Personally, I think its hard to distiquish just when you've crossed the line into over-preparedness, but its usually easier to just look at what the end result is and determine.

For example, if I am carrying a spare magazine, I may as well get a double mag pouch because it really doesn't add much to my encumbrance. However, maybe those magazine hold 15+ rounds, and now I am carrying more than a box of ammo. I would say that's too much, and would be tempting for a zealous prosecutor to run with.

Personally, I find that my knife, which I would carry as a tool rather than a SD weapon, my keys, wallet, pen, small light, and my gun is enough. I find even a reload to be a bit bordering on over-prep, though I do carry them, especially for autos in the event of a malfunction. The light is actually a recent addition, and has proven to be quite useful in many cases just as another tool.

I wouldn't mind carrying an ASP baton, though, but I am in no hurry to get one.
 
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