How much is enough?

How much firepower is enough? How much do it take to end an engagement?
The correct answer is "No one knows".

With any luck your ammunition would rust through before you ever had to find out, but we know that may not happen, hence the questions.

Some people will say that you need as much firepower as possible, just in case.
There is some merit to that arguement, of course. If I'm engaged with multiple attackers, a 5 shot revolver may leave me high and dry. At the same time if I carry a full double stack magazine along with 2 back up mags I'm sacrificing comfort and ease of carry.

I think its fairly well understood that bad guys, for the most part, are looking for easy targets. They want targets of opportunity. Heck, if they were willing to work for their money, they'd have a job, right?

As most police and law enforcement will tell you, make noise and fight, make it hard for them, because quiet complacency is exactly what the bad guys want. If you fight you have a much better chance of getting out alive.

The same principle applies here. If you can't get out and you are in fear for your life, then you had better commence to fighting. You draw your gun, yell "STOP!" and put the first round down range, it is a good bet (albeit not a guarantee) that the bad guys will beat feet out of there.

Bad guys are lazy, self-serving, tools who prey on the innocent because they don't have the moral fortitude to actual work for a living. To that end they want the easiest score they can get. Someone putting rounds in their direction will definitely make them reconsider their current choices in life. Especially when you've trained and practice and are hitting what you aim at.

So, considering all that...how much is enough?

How ever much you are comfortable with carrying. You think an Airweight with 5 rounds of .38 Special is all you are going to need, then go for it! At least you are armed and able to protect yourself. If you feel the need to have 12+1 in the gun and another 2 magazines on you, go for it!

Remember, the weapon you've legally purchased and are legally carrying is a one payment insurance policy. Just consider that when you make your decision.