I find it a bit curious...here we all are, on a gun forum, where we frequently spend a great amount of time railing against those who would disarm us, and discussing why others can't see the obvious advantage of having an armed populace. But then...some of us will quickly move to deride anyone who is so paranoid as to believe that they might actually find themselves in a situation where they might *need* a reload, or might have a catastrophic malfunction, and might *need* a BUG. It's analogous to those who steadfastly defend their right to own "their" guns...but can't understand why anyone would feel the need to own (and at times, will gladly chastise those who do) those nasty semi-auto AR-15s, AK-47s, etc.
While I can certainly understand, and appreciate, the reasons that many do *not* choose to carry a reload, or a 2nd gun...I would never take them to task, merely because they chose to do so. Over many years, I have found a relatively painless method of carrying what I consider to be justified, as reasonable and prudent.
I remember years ago, when I was working at a gun shop in Scottsdale...I got pulled over while driving home one evening. The officer asked me about firearms, and I informed him that I had a CCW, and that yes...I was carrying. When he asked me where the gun was...I rather sheepishly replied, "Well...there's one on my strong-side hip, and one in a Small-Of-the-Back holster". He raised an eyebrow (just a tad) and asked me if I was fearful of being attacked. I said, "No...I'm not!". Then I explained to him that I owned a Sig P230 that I'd had NP3'ed at Robar, and I took it along to show customers at the shop. I routinely carried a Glock in the shop (initially a G19, later a G20...and a spare mag), and since I was schlepping the Sig back & forth everyday anyway...I figured I might as well load it up and carry it, as well. Then the cop started BS'ing with me about guns...gave me a warning about my headlight, and sent me on my way.
For a long time, I carried a pistol with a spare mag, a couple knives, a collapsible baton, and a good flashlight. I recall another time I was leaving work at Motorola, and I got pulled over again (no, I'm not that bad of a driver...one moving violation in 43 years of driving, and that was in NY, about 35 years ago). I informed the officer that I was carrying, and he asked about any "other" weapons. I then started rattling off a knife "here", a knife "there", collapsible baton, etc. He sighed, rolled his eyes, handed my license back, and said, "It's not worth it...just go!" Ha!
Anyway...a couple years back, I found a good deal on a M.642. Here in AZ, I wear cargo shorts pretty often, and I figured a very lightweight option might be useful now and then. So, I got myself a pocket holster. It had a small spot to carry 2 spare rounds, but I just plugged a speed strip into it, and could carry a full 6 round reload right on the holster. At some point, I realized it might be handy to have the BUG in my left pocket, so if I couldn't use my right arm, for whatever reason.
Currently, I carry either a G32, G31, or G20, with a spare mag. In my left pocket is either a M.642, or M.442 with the aforementioned speed strip, or a Kel-Tec P.32, in a pocket holster which also carries a spare mag. Not only do I like having a BUG/NY reload, but it *also* gives me a weak hand option...and would also allow me to arm a friend or girl friend, should that be necessary.
I'm glad to hear that people are carrying what works for them. Please...can we *not* insult or belittle others for what *they* have decided is appropriate for their needs?
