There are about 3 versions of this debate currently active on the Forum. Far more entertaining than what's on the tube.
To distill all this down: never leave home without something in a caliber beginning with "4" that holds a minimum 10 rounds plus at least two reloads, preferably extended snail drum mags in case you encounter a drug-addled psychotic bear who thinks you are romancing his mate and has brought the Hell's Angels and a couple of hundred MS13 thugs as backup and is approaching you from 100 yards. Got it.
After nearly 50 years of nearly daily carry (on and off the job) arthritis, two bum knees and progressively less acute vision have convinced me that much of what I did in my 20s, 30s and 40s I am no longer capable of doing. That and the fact that I no longer go looking for trouble dictate that my daily load out involves fewer guns, less ammo and no body armor. I also no longer keep a shotgun, riot gear, gas mask and Geiger counter in my trunk. If it takes more than 10 rounds I am content to go down fighting. If the 11th round would have changed the outcome, I've lived a long life but never expected to live forever.
Just one more question: unless you are expecting me to protect you, what do you care what I have chosen to carry?
I don't come here often, in fact, I came from another forum to have you S&W historians date one of my more historical pieces.
I was just reading through this and I must say "thank you" for adding a bit of humour and levity to a tired old topic.
My two cents will try to appeal to all views here, because there is a grain of truth to everyone's post.
Firstly, Buford, I agree the most with your opinion and share it. If one wants to know how to truly be safe, don't go to crowded areas, where alcohol is served, late at night. One of those is bad, and three ups the ante. By having a sweet disposition, a sober body/mind, and by having a forgiving demeanour with being able to unholster an understanding "oh, I'm sorry, my mistake" in less than a quarter of a second, I have talked my way out of more potential conflicts than anything I ever carried on my person.
Capacity? A gun? Ft/lbs energy? All good points. How about this one? You win every single fight that you never get into. Pretty sweet deal and it is free.
If you get stuck where you cannot talk your way out of something, your Nike-Fu fails you (running), and you are stuck with no other option than to fight, then yes, the most important thing is to have a gun on you. It might also be a good idea to have something in the 'non-lethal' category too.
For my own life, I have another rule too. I will not get involved in any fight, unless I am dragged into it as an unwilling participant and it is for my child, significant other, or myself. Every armed conflict entails legal trouble, being detained, job issues or loss. That is what is on the table, so whatever you fight for must be so important to you that you are willing to risk that. Some people will gladly sacrifice all of the above for nothing. That is not me. I have seen someone catch murder charges over an argument that originated around shovelling snow. Yes, some people's bar is set that low. If they are not my child or someone who means almost as much to me, I am not risking anything. My goal at this age is to no longer be a hero, but to be the guy who lives a long time and gets to spend as many Birthday's and Christmases with his family as humanly possible.
Now the hardware. The gun. Honestly? Do what you want. How do you think your gun fight is going to go? Carry whatever makes you happy.
I have carried revolvers and outshot guys with decked out Glocks (very fun to do dynamic moving target drills with a wheel gun against younger guys with tactical tupperware) and that proves the training point. I have also carried filthy bottom feeders (semi-autos) because I felt that was the most fitting for their inherent advantages too (so yes, sometimes the arrow does matter).
Personally, the gun part of the equation is boring to me. It would be a more exciting thread to discuss what each of you ate for breakfast this morning, because at least that actually had an impact on your day.
The what if game. Studying history is great, it can tell you a lot. Officer Timothy Gramins had fatally shot a guy to pieces with a .45 acp and the guy was mortally wounded, yet not stopped.
In another incident, Jake Carrizal was held down on the ground by a bunch of 1%er bikers, beaten, and also had one of them shooting at him with a handgun while he was down on the ground. Jake pulled a 2 shot 38 special derringer and ended the threat. He lived to tell about it.
Both of these incidents happened: the terminator bad guy who would not stop (Gramins) and the biker gang thwarted by a derringer (Carrizal).
In summary, life is about choices, and after the age of 18 there are no victims, only volunteers. I still feel that to be a softly spoken, sober individual (who is armed as a last resort, and for the benefit of those immediately important to him/her) will be a safer route 9 times out of 10, than being a Batman vigilante, who dual wields Glock 17's cruising the bars, looking for damsels in distress to save.
Just my two cents.
on fire, I would, but that’s my choice based on my training, experience and profession. If I’m going to become involved I want the best possible kit that fits the mission at hand. For me that’s a 9mm pistol with a red dot, carried aiwb and an extra magazine completely concealed. Sometimes a J-frame in the off side pocket to be able to arm my competent significant other. You make your choices and live with them! 
