Some times, it really is accidental
Tam notes an unintentional discharge of a gun by a police officer caused by keys or radio antennae getting in the holster. I do not recall where I read it but someone once advocated cutting strings off of jackets for this very reason. Probably a good idea.
August 11th, 2017 at 4:54 pm
I agree that this isn’t “negligent discharge” in the usual sense of the word. Instead, it’s clearly a case of defective design. The holster is no good; the excuse that it needs to accommodate the gun light is clearly nonsense.
August 11th, 2017 at 7:37 pm
Paul Koning,
All light-bearing holsters are like this. It’s necessary to accommodate the fact that the light is wider than the trigger guard.
Unc,
Cutting drawstrings off that brand-new Dead Bird or Kitanica gear is called the “TLG Circumcision”.
August 11th, 2017 at 9:22 pm
Clint Smith, in his fashion, advocates cutting all of the strings on jackets for just this reason.
August 12th, 2017 at 11:52 am
I get that the light is wider, but how about cutting the holster higher above the trigger guard (blocking part of the upper grip as well). Yes, that hurts in establishing a proper grip on the draw, but would require that radio antenna to make a 180 degree bend to get to the trigger.
August 12th, 2017 at 12:49 pm
Here’s an idea: let’s declare all Glocks defective and ban possession until they are retrofitted with a mechanical safety. I don’t care if you shoot yourself, but your stupidity in owning a gun that cannot be made safe is liable to get me shot.
August 12th, 2017 at 4:50 pm
wildbill:
What about the century’s worth of revolvers that have no mechanical safety? Other than a heavier trigger, of course. Still might not have made a difference in this case.
The inherent problem with the light bearing holsters is that any method you use to block access to that clearance gap introduces it’s own potential to trip a trigger. That’s just problem #1. I’m sure this incident will spur further design work, but not many will be happy with the resulting product.
August 13th, 2017 at 12:21 am
As discussed in a thread long ago and far away, UD is an accurate if ambiguous catchall phrase and could be used here with no argument.
But while AD is not exactly mutually exclusive of ND, still pretty much all of the former are also the latter, and certainly in this case to claim otherwise is a cop-out (heh).
Blame it on the hardware, the gear, or the venue…but the dude whose job description requires him to control all of that and doesn’t? Negligent.
August 13th, 2017 at 12:42 am
And if I owned up to my 3! (insert screaming ‘moticon here) from back then, so can he. Shit, references Xavier, you know that’s vintage…I miss him. Anyway:
http://poetnthepawnbroker.blogspot.com/2008/04/negligent-dischargesaccidental-sounds.html
August 13th, 2017 at 4:12 am
I’ve carried on duty for the last 11 years, Glocks, M&P’s, HK USP’s and Sig 226’s with and without lights. Every kind of duty gear and body armor, over and under various jackets, under every crazy ass situation you can think of and more that you can’t. All those guns were drawn multiple times in dangerous and not so dangerous situations and no negligent discharges drawing or holstering. The fault lies solely dude and not the gear.
August 13th, 2017 at 11:20 am
My ND #1…God, what was 30 years ago when written is now near 40. Unintentional? Certainly. Accidental? Definitely. Negligent…? Hell to the yes.
http://poetnthepawnbroker.blogspot.com/2008/04/negligent-discharge-number-one-1978.html