...his handgun discharged...All by its own self, no doubt. Good grief.
...it accidentally discharged...
...Johnsey's Smith & Wesson semiautomatic handgun went off accidentally...
[Via KABA Newslinks]
Thursday, May 08, 2008
"Gun Accidentally Discharges"
[Via KABA Newslinks]
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5 comments:
I'm going to slightly disagree here as I've seen my father's utility belt and could easily see where something could get jammed in the trigger when reholstering.
Personally, I'd prefer the phrase "the firearm WAS discharged" which, is a fact. If it was truly accidental or negligent is beyond our, or the authorized journalist's, ability to discern given the lack of details.
I wrote about this yesterday, but more about the fact that unholstering and reholstering your weapon simply increases the chances of this happening. I value other's opinion on that, though.
It's still within the control of the operator, Robb. If you know your belt arrangement may snag, extra precaution must be taken to eliminate/minimize physical hazards, and extra awareness must be employed to make sure it doesn't. And I don't see where this article definitively stated that as a factor--it could have been a carelessly placed finger.
As the article said, cops put the belt on 240 times a year. Chances are it is being done "on automatic" as opposed to with all the due diligence required for handling a readied firearm. Taking things for granted would seem to be as much an issue here as anything.
Absent a malfunctioning firearm--and there is no indication this was one (and if it was, there are maintenance and serviceability responsibilities that also come into play)--if the morning ritual is performed with deliberation for each step, this just won't happen.
The operator is responsible, not the equipment and not the gear. I don't know any expert who teaches otherwise.
He accidentally shot himself is true. The gun did not accidentally shoot him.
As for due diligence, he was probably working on automatic. It is a mistake most of us make when repetition becomes a reflex instead of a thought process.
It is a shame that his mistake was fatal, but it was his mistake, not the guns.
As long as an inanimate object is being blamed the real problem will never be addressed let alone solved.
Having fired thousands of .50cal,.30cal, LAWS,MAW,HAW,grenades,mines,command detonated mines,.223cal,C-4,Plastique,.45cal,Redeyes,Stingers, Miniguns,Cannons,Mortars,and a 40mm duster for fun,I've never had an AD. It's easy. Don't. Get. Arrogant. Approach every gun,explosive,shell,whatever,with that same respect and awe you had as a rookie. And never,ever,get in a hurry.
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