It seems like you can't get too far into any conversation about concealed carry or back up guns without someone wanting to either talk about or try to justify the use of "mouse guns." However, if you really want to go there, you need to be prepared for a little realistic analysis of their usefulness. My realistic side says that there will always be those who want a small, unobtrusive, usually inexpensive (but not always) and lightweight little gun to just tuck into a pocket and move on. Gun manufacturers continue to make huge numbers of them. Also, there are still many such guns still in service from since before the Gun Control Act of 1968 labeled many excellent quality small guns "Saturday Night Specials" and therefore demonized them as being evil and useful only to criminals. Still, today we're seeing a resurgence of interest in such guns. This is driven largely, I think, by the concealed carry laws which exist in most states and the fact that ordinary people are looking for some way to be carrying, usually without any inconvenience or alteration to their daily routine. Serious guns for self protection require changes in your wardrobe and routines. Cops know this, of course, but may other citizens haven't figured it out or accepted it yet.

What is a "mouse gun?" Usually it is a small gun, chambered for a caliber that is not generally recognized today as a reliable attack-stopper. It can be a revolver, but is more often a nice, flat semi-auto pistol. The available calibers are somewhere in the range of .22 to .380, although there are exceptions even to that. They are usually pretty minimalist in their features, compared to more effective carry guns, and their main reason for being is that they make the person carrying them feel armed - not necessarily effectively armed, but technically armed nonetheless. Oh, and let's not forget that they can be deadly.

Let's face it, any well placed shot can kill, regardless of the ammunition, and heaven only knows how many people have died from small bullets that quite accidentally found their way to a lethal location. But, what are the odds? As an ordinary citizen, you can play the odds however you choose. As a police officer, do you really have that choice? In a recent Pro Arms podcast (episode 007, if you want to check it out), we were discussing the Ruger LCP. It is a new entry into the mouse gun market, chambered in .380, and very similar in size to the popular Kel-Tec P3-AT and P-32 pistols. The word at the last SHOT Show was that there were orders placed for 85,000 of the LCPs, just at the Show. I can tell you that they are as scarce as hen's teeth, as are the P3-ATs. Somebody must like them. One comment that caught a listener's attention was that we said the LCP would make a good third gun. Third gun? Well, personally I can think of a whole lot better primary and secondary, or back up guns, for street carry, especially for cops. But some folks want to use them as their primary gun!