I think guns carried in public should be virtually incapable of firing when dropped. Do you agree?

[TPaine7]

I'm no expert on guns, so I'd like to hear from those who are.

There are many who fear and oppose people carrying in public. I don't agree with them as a matter of simple justice and of constitutional law, but I do understand their position.

One of their concerns is gun accidents. Even given a well trained, responsible, sober CCW permittee who behaves perfectly, if guns fire when dropped, the potential for disaster is very real.

Absolute perfection is not possible in human products, but there are definitely ways to make failure rates vanishingly small. Triple redundancy in a well designed system should prevent almost 100% of firing as a result of dropping—and IIRC, at least one manufacturer has triple redundancy.

It is quite reasonable for people to expect that guns carried in public be certified not to fire when dropped. There should be double or even triple redundancy. I know for instance, that some safety critical systems in cars must be certified to have at least two fail safes.

It should be illegal to carry antique guns that lack mechanisms to prevent shooting when dropped. And if he wasn't carrying an antique, how did this guy's gun shoot him in the buttocks? Is this just another case of a reporter not getting accurate facts? I wish I knew what he was carrying.

http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/la-na-nn-nevada-man-shoots-himself-movie-20120815,0,5594673.story

(Edited to add a link to more stories. Have I been mislead on modern handguns? http://www.democraticunderground.com/117261815#post5)

What do you think (assuming that you can't prevent carrying of guns in public):

13 votes, 1 pass | Time left: Unlimited
	All gun carried in public should be certified designed (or retrofitted) with redundant features to prevent firing when dropped
	6 (46%)
	People should be able to carry antique guns without such features
	0 (0%)
	I'm ok with things as they are, whatever that may be from locale to locale
	7 (54%)
	Other (explain below)
	0 (0%)
	1 DU member did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[Skittles]

1. this is the kind of guy the NRA says will protect us from guys like Holmes

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/15/13296949-man-drops-gun-in-movie-theater-shooting-self-in-buttocks?lite

[TPaine7]

2. Link? n/t

[Callisto32]

19. So THAT'S how you get 80K posts.....

Srsly, what?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. Liability insurance has pretty done that already for those being manufactured today

Another concern here is that we could end up with the same kind of nonsense that CA does with their approval process which simply raises prices with no increase in safety.

Your questions about what causes such misfires occur is also quite valid. Is the cause tampering, bad design, or is it so rare that it makes it newsworthy?

[rDigital]

4. Exactly. nt

[TPaine7]

5. Good points.

I think those who support gun rights should be in the forefront of legitimate safety legislation and activism. Not only because we don't want the Californias and New York Cities of the country to drive the agenda, but because it's the right thing to do.

Also, I loathe the idea of finding myself clutching the "gun rights truth." I want the real truth, even if it makes me adjust or outright change my views.

I wish I knew the truth about this guy's experience, and I hope it comes out. I wish the media was about accuracy and not about selling ads by shocking and outraging and stirring the pot.

(I guess while I'm wishing for a responsible media, I might as well wish for a winning lottery ticket and a pet unicorn.)

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. Like most of those with technical backgrounds, I tend to want data and lots of it

Unless there is a lawsuit, rarely are effective investigations done into accidental discharges since there is no requirement to have them done.

Case on the media recently (medical TV show). Bubba put his .32 Auto into the front of his pants and it discharged. No one appeared to care about why that occurred, focusing instead that he hit his scrotum. That seems to me the rule rather than the exception.

I have never had an accidental discharge...ever. However in addition to a selection of toteable weapons, I also have an large umbrella liability insurance policy. It just makes sense in today's litigious society.

[gordianot]

6. Of greater concern carry a firearm in public what are you going to do if someone tries to take it?

Publicly displayed firearms are an invitation and places you and others in danger. This is my opinion I have several firearms. I am not citing statistics. I do not want to take firearms away from others. To the point approach all firearms as if they may discharge. When I see people who carry firearms in public it makes me uneasy not that they will have an accidental discharge but that someone will put that person in a position they will have to protect themselves and their firearms

This is my obervation and opinion.

[TPaine7]

8. This is one reason why I favor concealed carry. Well concealed.

To me, however, a gun that can fire when dropped is not so easily dealt with. It seems to me that a gun that will fire when dropped will fire when struck, or when its owner falls, or in a car accident, or...

The solution is not as simple as covering it up.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. There are times and places for open carry, mostly "upcountry" IMO

while hunting, hiking, etc. Very low accident/misuse rates and is really more safety equipment than anything else. Its effectively required where I live.

I am of mixed minds about open carry in other areas. In many cases it is indeed shit stirring, and while shit stirring has its place. I tend not to do it, at least these days.

[ileus]

11. That's when I OC, hunting, hiking, fishing, ORV rides.

[gordianot]

18. It is safer to open carry in the woods or in my case on the farm.

On our river front with floaters I conceal carry even though my sole purpose for a pistol is water moccasins. My Grandfathers admonition when you carry a gun be clear why you are doing it. Making a political statement is not a good reason in my opinion.

[PavePusher]

28. What you "feel" has no relevence unless supported by "data".

If you can demonstrate a statistically significant problem, then we can start to address it with solutions. If we can't demonstrate a problem, we can't apply solutions.

That's how it works.

[TPaine7]

37. Perhaps you're being a little hard on gordianot

Star Member gordianot (5,714 posts)
6. Of greater concern carry a firearm in public what are you going to do if someone tries to take it?

View profile
Publicly displayed firearms are an invitation and places you and others in danger. This is my opinion I have several firearms. I am not citing statistics. I do not want to take firearms away from others. To the point approach all firearms as if they may discharge. When I see people who carry firearms in public it makes me uneasy not that they will have an accidental discharge but that someone will put that person in a position they will have to protect themselves and their firearms

This is my obervation and opinion.

I see two admissions that this is an opinion, an admission that gordianot is not supporting that opinion with statistics and no prescribed solution for society at large.

[holdencaufield]

10. At the risk...

... of starting another shite storm like I did before. I stick buy my previously stated maxim ...

If the weapon is easily loaded (removable magazine or clip) then carry unloaded. An AR-15 or a semi-auto handgun can be loaded in seconds and is there really any situation where you can't take that time to evaluate the situation to see if deadly force is even warranted? I'm not talking about a war zone, I'm talking about public places in the USA.

If the weapon cannot be easily loaded (tubular magazine or revolver) then carry loaded but NOT with a round in the breech or active cylinder. That is a guarantee of no accidental discharge when dropped.

Mechanical safeties such as transfer bars trigger locking can fail -- but, if there is no round to fire, there cannot be an accidental discharge.

[safeinOhio]

13. I can rack the slide in one second.

Many say that there is no use in prohibiting 30 round mags because a shooter can change out a mag in 3 seconds.

[Trunk Monkey]

31. So lets do a little drill

Let's say you're attacked and the first thing the attacker does is slashes your off arm.

Or let's say your off hand is busy fending off the attacker,

How fast can you rack the slide now?

Another question when you get a slide, you get a FTF

Now what?

[safeinOhio]

40. What if pigs could fly?

Do you happen to have any stats on how many people have their arm cut off in a gun fight?

Now, I'll bet I can find hundreds of cases where some hot shot blew a hole in his leg with a racked chamber, even experts.

► 0:55► 0:55

If Gommer had to rack that round....?

[TPaine7]

48. Getting hit—with a bullet—in one arm or shoulder before you complete your draw

is not in the same ballpark as flying pigs.

That would tend to make racking the slide more challenging than most would prefer in a life-or-death situation.

And that's certainly not the only scenario where you wouldn't want to worry about a slide. See post 38.

[Trunk Monkey]

49. The difference being, of course, that pigs don't fly.

If gomer had been up against a real opponent at that range he wouldn't have had time to rack the slide before they were on him.

As with Holden Caufield I am going to recommend that you pick up an air soft gun and practice some Tueller drills then get back to us on how much time you really have to chamber a round

[safeinOhio]

50. Real life

I've had a gun pulled on me at that distance, a couple of feet in front of my face. There is no time to pull a weapon. I grabbed the gun, took it away from him and it ended with no shots being fired. If I Had reached to draw a weapon, I would be dead.
But, he had not cut my arm off first and I didn't shoot myself in the leg.

[Trunk Monkey]

54. Is it my perception or are you truly antagonistic toward people that don't share your worldview?

I’m not going to say that didn’t happen I’m going to say that doesn’t always happen, not everyone stops to threaten you before attacking. I have never drawn my sidearm at work but I have pepper sprayed one guy that tried to jump me in a parking garage one night he walked right up to me like he was going to ask a question and started yelling something about doing two tours in Iraq so my fat ass could have cheap gas. (Not to say I didn’t feel some sympathy but I wasn’t going to let him beat my ass over it.) Anyway he was on me way too quick for me to have chambered a round had I needed to and that’s my point.

[safeinOhio]

55. It would be even faster to always

hold your handgun in your hand at all times. As the video I posted shows, it takes time to draw a weapon to protect your self. A second or two could make a difference..

[Trunk Monkey]

56. Whatever dude, you do it your way and I'll do it my way NT

[holdencaufield]

43. It's but a flesh wound...

[Hoyt]

15. I agree, but it's not deadly enough for those who are into packing in public and all things guns.

[holdencaufield]

16. Yawn....

[Equate]

21. nt

[Callisto32]

20. If I am fumbling with loading, I don't have as much concentration for evaluation.

Sorry, I have to disagree. If you are carrying an unloaded gun, its just a heavy, awkward club.

[holdencaufield]

26. "If I am fumbling with loading..."

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

Practice, practice, practice

[Trunk Monkey]

33. get an airsoft gun

and do some Tueller drills, then get back to us.

FWIW company policy where I work dictates that all armed guard must carry with a loaded chamber

[Callisto32]

53. A good start.

But still, I've watched good, experienced, practiced* shooters fumble a reload on the range, I practice and I occasionally fumble a reload at the range, drop the mag, miss the well, whatever.

Carrying the weapon hot in a safe manner removes this variable and time, and training to carry a loaded weapon safely, and doing so, is far less complicated than having to effect a load before bringing a weapon into the fight.

I don't disagree with practice practice practice, but I still disagree as previously stated.

*Edit

[TPaine7]

38. I can think of some scenarios where you wouldn't want to rack the slide.

Off the top of my head:

In a situation like this ( http://www.democraticunderground.com/117261006 ) you may be able to get inside the length of the long gun so it can't be pointed at you. Generally, it would be advisable to hold the barrel with one hand to keep the situation under control, but that would mean you couldn't rack your gun's slide.

In any situation where you're barricaded or otherwise hidden, racking the slide will tell the bad guys that you're there, that you're armed and more or less precisely where to look.

If someone has the drop on you and you calculate that you have nothing to lose by defending yourself--it's do or die--fractions of a second will count.

[ileus]

12. A Glock style safety may not be the best for some CC

and new people to the progressive carry movement...


OWB with the proper holster is where the Glock style safety was designed to be. In my few attempts at IWB I found my 9c/229/PT145 too uncomfortable for seated positions. They're great if you're standing. Your mileage may vary, I only OWB carry my "compacts" and most of the time OWB belt carry my LCP. I also pocket carry my LCP on occasion. (once or twice a week)


I suppose a manual safety would be a good thing for noobies that are new to CC. Some states already require a manual safety, that's why most all Rugers, and M&P's can be bought with a manual safety.

Revolvers have never had a "safety" my LCP has a long hard trigger pull. There are a few safeties in both of these style firearms that keep them from firing when dropped.

As I always say...........Safety First. The last thing our cause needs is a bunch of ND's with the proper training and maybe firearms we can continue to expand the rights of the people.

Carry On my friends.

[Hoyt]

14. Virtually incapable of firing at all would be better.

[Reasonable_Argument]

32. I'd rather

Have citizens who are potential victims of rape, homicide, or armed robbery to have at least a chance to defend themselves.

[DWC]

17. This is not a question of law but common sense and responsible conduct

Even antique firearms can be "virtually impossible to discharge when dropped" if carried in a proper manner and condition.

Semper Fi,

[TPaine7]

23. Point taken,

but the laws are for those less, ahem, well endowed in common sense and responsibility.

The idea is to prevent them from hurting or killing the innocent and from providing ammunition to those who want to infringe the rights of more knowledgeable and responsible folks like you.

[DWC]

57. Some of the greatest things about America are:

1. People are free to be stupid,
2. Others are not responsible for the fact in point #1, and
3. Our unalienable rights shall not be infringed because of it.

Semper Fi,

[ManiacJoe]

22. Modern handguns are drop safe.

Liability suits have taken care of that.

News reports usually mislead readers as to what happened because the gun owner does not want to admit what happened or does not know what happened. The normal cause of "dropped guns" firing is the owner trying to catch it and mistakenly causing the trigger to be pulled in the process.

[TPaine7]

24. That being so, I can see the case for not multiplying laws needlessly.

The list of alleged drop-fire cases I linked to in the OP does give me pause, however.

[ManiacJoe]

27. The key word there being "alleged".

[spin]

25. Modern firearms have drop safeties ...

Monday, July 2, 2012
Firearm Myths - 3 (Hollywood Edition)

1. If you drop a pistol, it will go off when it hits the ground.

You've probably seen this scene enacted in several movies. Someone accidentally drops a pistol and it automatically goes off with a bang when it hits the ground, usually killing some villain's sidekick while it does so. For example, there's the scene in the movie, True Lies, where Jamie Lee Curtis drops her gun down the stairs and ends up shooting a whole bunch of people.

You want the truth? The probability of this happening was certainly higher with older model pistols, so it might make sense if it happened in a cowboy movie. With more modern designs, this is much less likely to happen, especially with models manufactured since the 1980s or so. This is because there are devices called drop safety devices that are designed, precisely to prevent this from happening. In fact, we discussed these devices in posts here, here and here last year. And most modern pistol designs include one or more drop safety devices built in. As a matter of fact, the US military as well as NATO and some other countries' militaries require pistols to pass several drop tests before acceptance. SAAMI standards which are followed by most manufacturers in the US (as well as some foreign manufacturers selling products in the American market) also require pistol models to pass several drop tests. As do some states in the US (for example, California and Massachusetts, though the test standards for each state are different). The US Federal Gun Control Act of 1968 also introduced drop tests for imported gun models. On top of that, most reputable manufacturers add drop safeties to their designs, because they don't like lawsuits.

Why do we still hear news reports of people getting shot accidentally by dropped firearms then? Well, in the majority of such cases, the firearm in question usually turns out to be an older model firearm, which doesn't have drop safety devices built in. In extremely rare cases, the firearm has a malfunctioning drop safety device.
http://firearmshistory.blogspot.com/2012/07/firearm-myths-3-hollywood-edition.html

Therefore if you chose to carry a firearm, it is a good idea to buy a modern weapon.

Obviously it is a damn good idea to carry a handgun in a quality holster.

If a handgun does drop it's unwise to try to catch it. The attempt might cause contact with the trigger and on some handguns such as the Glock this could lead to a discharge. Just let the weapon fall.

[virginia mountainman]

29. Most accident discharges with Glocks happen when..............

They are being re-holstered, and the person has their finger on the trigger, as the gun slides into the holster, the holster pushes the trigger finger..than BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gun worked properly, it fired when the trigger was pulled..... Shooter has poor trigger discipline, and had an "accidental" discharge.

[spin]

30. Another factor with the Glock is that it is easy to change the trigger pull weight ...

and make it far lighter for target shooting but that might be a poor idea for carry.

I carry a double action only revolver for self defense and it has a very heavy trigger pull. I prefer such a weapon. A lighter trigger pull aids accuracy at 25 yards but the overwhelming majority of self defense shootings happen within 7 yards and often at only at 6 to 10 feet.

[HALO141]

36. Trigger weight on revolvers is usually even easier to change.

Lots of people do it by simply backing off the trigger spring screw. This also often ends up in the gun failing to operate properly after a time as the screw continues to back out due to vibration.

[Jenoch]

34. They already are.

[HALO141]

35. They already are.

I can't really find any information on the model of handgun that he had so I'm resisting the urge to speculate further on this incident.

I will say, however, that it is common for people to try to cover up their own stupidity by claiming something like "it went off when it hit the ground." I can demonstrate why this is impossible but, of course, not in this type of venue.

[slackmaster]

39. I think it's a good idea. California has a pretty strict drop test for ALL new handguns sold here.

IIRC they have to be able to survive multiple drops onto concrete from six feet without firing, regardless of the position of any mechanical safety.

That said, I wouldn't entrust my life to any gun that wouldn't pass that test. If I'm going to carry a weapon, it has to be very reliable, accurate, and safe.

[Travis_0004]

41. Modern guns will not fire when droped

The issue is when people drop a gun, they try to catch it as its falling. This is the wrong thing to do. If you let it hit the ground, you may scratch it, but it will not go off. If you catch it, its very easy to accidently pull the trigger (thus making the gun go off).

Transfer bars and drop safetys have been around for 100+ years, and I can not name a single modern gun without these safety features.

[gejohnston]

42. most single action revolvers

outside of the New Model series and New Bearcat.

[holdencaufield]

44. That is why...

... it's a strict rule in single-action shooting to never put the hammer on a live round. The sixth chamber is always empty.

[PD Turk]

45. As has been stated a few times already

Most all modern weapons are drop safe, I believe the "dropped it and it went off" is most often an excuse dumbasses use for accidents due to poor handling. I'm a supporter of responsible carry and as such I believe everyone who carries should be very well trained before doing so. I think anybody who is caught behaving recklessly with their weapon should have their CCW permanently revoked.

As far as antique weapons, they can be handled safely as long as the user is intimately familiar with the weapon and it is maintained in good operating condition. There are special considerations with antique weapons that must be followed. For instance, I have an antique SAA Colt in 44-40 and when I carry it, I only load 5 rounds and leave the hammer sitting on an empty chamber, That way, if I did drop it and it landed on the hammer it wouldn't go off. Each weapon has their own quirks so learning them well is really important.

[russ1943]

46. Re ur query; Have I been mislead on modern firearm?

I think you're not the only one to have been misled.


13 August 2012 Culloden, Georgia. 'It was God's call': Shocking words of mother whose daughter, 6, died after her brother accidentally shot her. The mother of a six-year-old girl who was killed when her brother's hunting rifle accidentally went off says nothing could have been done to prevent her daughter's from dying. Haydee Stanovich made a shocking statement about little Jenn's death, saying it was 'God's call' that she took a bullet to her chest when a loaded gun fell off a bed and fired. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2187810/Jenn-Stanovich-Mother-says-accidental-shooting-girl-6-Gods-call.html#ixzz23XhgfRNd
Man held after gun discharges in Dallas Walmart, injuring bystanders. Posted Tuesday, Jul. 24, 2012 The shooting occurred about 9:20 p.m. Monday at the Walmart, 9301 Forest Lane. Canady was waiting in line to check out when he reached for his wallet, his gun fell and went off. Bullet fragments struck two children and an adult, Dallas police said Tuesday. Canady also was injured. The injuries were minor, police said. When an off-duty officer confronted him, Canady ran from the store. After a brief foot chase, Canady was arrested. Authorities say he has a concealed handgun permit. Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/07/24/4121203/man-held-after-gun-discharges.html#storylink=cpy
Brother accidentally shoots sister after dropping gun. Posted on June 17, 2012 at 11:43 AM Updated Monday, Jun 18 at 10:17 AM. HOUSTON—A woman died after her brother dropped a gun, causing it to accidentally discharge and shoot her in the head on Saturday, according to police. She was 24-years-old. A bullet struck Rochelle Jackson in the head. She died at the scene. http://www.khou.com/news/Brother-shoots-sister-after-allegedly-dropping-gun-on-accident-159351445.html
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado Springs man is recovering after he dropped his gun and it went off while he was mowing his lawn. Posted: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 10:00 pm Police say the man had a loaded handgun in his pocket on Sunday when it fell out, struck the sidewalk and discharged. The bullet hit the victim’s lower leg. http://www.starherald.com/news/regional_statewide/man-shot-after-dropping-gun-while-mowing/article_bfa5f9b6-a430-11e1-ae3d-0019bb2963f4.html
Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Dog knocks over shotgun, gun discharges, shoots 8-year-old girl An 8-year-old Gerber, California girl was watching television in her living room with her 7-year-old friend when a shotgun in the dining room discharged. According to the police report, the shotgun had been left loaded and propped against a wall with the butt of the gun on a small wicker chair. Because no one else was in the room at the time, police speculate that one of the several dogs in the home bumped the wicker chair, causing the shotgun to fall.
Mother of boy, 9, who accidentally shot classmate pleads not guilty over firearms charges. Prosecutor claims mother and her boyfriend are legally responsible for the shooting. By Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED: 23:39 EST, 15 March 2012 | UPDATED: 00:49 EST, 16 March 2012. The mother of a nine-year-old boy who accidentally shot his classmate when a handgun went off in his backpack has pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of a firearm. The boy took the .45-caliber handgun from a car glove box and brought it to Armin Jahr Elementary on February 22 in a backpack, authorities said. It fired when he dropped the backpack on a desk. Kitsap County, Washington Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2115736/Mother-boy-9-accidentally-shot-classmate-pleads-guilty-firearms-charge.html#ixzz21a1GKODV
Feds investigating accidental shooting at Jefferson Barracks. February 28, 2012 3:56 pm • BY CHRISTINE BYERS • [e-mail] > 314-340-8087. ST. LOUIS COUNTY • No one was injured when a veteran outpatient dropped a small caliber gun inside the mental health outpatient center at Jefferson Barracks today at 2:30 p.m. The man accidentally dropped a small caliber weapon and it discharged in the foyer, said Marcena Gunter, spokeswoman for the St. Louis Veterans Administration Healthcare System. http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/feds-investigating-accidental-shooting-at-jefferson-barracks/article_3835e3d0-6257-11e1-b517-001a4bcf6878.html
By Mark Berman Opposing Views, Tue, February 28, 2012 It seems that a raccoon got caught in a trap in the rural town of Redfield Saturday morning, so 68-year-old Larry Godwin decided to shoot it. Well, the first shot ricocheted off of the cage and hit Godwin in the lower abdomen area. He then dropped his gun and it went off again, hitting him in about the same spot. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating, likely to make sure that the man is telling the truth and that the raccoon did not somehow wrestle the gun away from the man and shoot him itself. http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/animal-rights/man-shoots-self-twice-trying-kill-caged-raccoon
Sunday, February 27, 2011 BAY MINETTE, Ala. -- A Baldwin County husband and wife were wounded late Friday night in what appeared to be accidental shootings at their home east of Bay Minette, authorities said. One of the shots was fired by the couple’s young son. Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Maj. Anthony Lowery said Aleisha Jones was shot in the neck when the boy picked up the .40-caliber Glock handgun that had just injured his father, and fired. Both were taken to University of South Alabama Medical Center, and a hospital spokeswoman Sunday afternoon said both were in satisfactory condition. It all started, Lowery said in a statement, about 9 p.m. Saturday, when the father, Allen Jones, got the pistol “from the glove box of his truck and was walking through a screened porch area attached to the main house when he tripped and fell.” The gun fired, and the bullet hit Jones in the left thigh, just above the knee. The incident took place at the family’s home at 46211 Old Carney Road, just off U.S. 31, about three miles east of downtown Bay Minette. ..Aleisha Jones and the boy quickly ran to Allen Jones’ aid, and the boy picked the pistol up first, Lowery said. When Aleisha Jones tried to get it away from him, the gun fired again, wounding her in the left side of the neck. http://blog.al.com/live/2011/02/gun_fires_accidentally_twice_i.html
MESA, AZ (CBS5) - Reason to go: Dropped gun fires in Walmart stall Posted: Feb 21, 2012 1:23 AM EST Updated: Feb 21, 2012 11:09 AM EST In Mesa, a man was inside a Walmart bathroom when a bullet struck just a few feet from the urinal where he was standing. http://www.kpho.com/story/16978166/reason-to-go-dropped-gun-fires-in-walmart-stall
No charges filed in accidental shooting at Inlet Square Mall ,by Ryan Naquin. Posted: 02.15.2012 at 12:39 PM Updated: 02.15.2012 at 5:50 PM Just before a veterans pinning ceremony, a woman was shot in the leg when a gun went off inside another woman's purse. The bullet went into the victim's right leg and lodged in her left leg. Police said gun discharged when the woman placed her purse on the ground. http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=719905#.Tzv_v1ym-Hc


That’s just a few from earlier this year. Just the ones that made the papers, were reported on. Maybe ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, there ARE others and maybe,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, there were many more like the one with no injury, probably most dropped firearms didn’t kill or harm anyone sufficiently to have to go a hospital (luckily).
Gun enthusiasts routinely and repeatedly dismiss dropped gun discharges with statements about how so called “modern” guns are drop safe.
Check out Judy Price’s experience with a modern drop safe Taurus Millennium. She’s since found out about others. http://www.youtube.com/user/taurusgunaccident?feature=watch


It's not a myth.

[ManiacJoe]

47. See post #22.

[jeepnstein]

52. Her side of the story is very compelling.

Problem is the weapon would not have fired had the trigger not been pulled. Maybe the holster had snagged the trigger, maybe she tried to catch it, but the trigger was pulled. Firearms will discharge when the trigger is pulled. By her own admission the soft holster she was wearing was tangled in her clothing. I'm willing to wager that she put the weapon into the holster after she put on the holster. That's a big problem when you're dealing with those soft concealment models.

She wants to blame the weapon but that's not what caused the negligent discharge. She caused it.

[geckosfeet]

51. Most modern handguns are virtually incapable of discharging when dropped.

Even with a round in the chamber. The same cannot be said for older firearms, especially revolvers, rifles and shotguns. Even modern long guns are far less drop safe than modern handguns.

However nothing is 100%. Always treat a gun as if it was loaded and never point it at anything that you are not willing to destroy.

[AndyTiedye]

58. Even Wyatt Earp Had an Accidental Discharge from Dropping His Gun

Last Sunday night, while policeman Earp was sitting with two or three others in the back room of the Custom House Saloon, his revolver slipped from its holster, and falling to the floor, the hammer which was resting on the cap, is supposed to have struck the chair, causing a discharge of one of the barrels (sic). The ball passed through his coat, struck the north wall then glanced off and passed out through the ceiling. It was a narrow escape and the occurrence got up a lively stampede from the room. One of the demoralized was under the impression that someone had fired through the window from the outside.

January 12, 1876 edition of the Wichita Beacon as quoted in http://www.tactical-life.com/online/combat-handguns/dropped-gun-inertia-discharge/

[TPaine7]

59. I doubt he had a modern gun by 2012 standards, but is interesting that he didn't carry in a way that

prevented drop firing. (I assume it was possible to carry in a safe, drop-fire free way based on other posts in this thread, not on my own personal knowledge.)

[ManiacJoe]

60. To be drop safe, those cap-and-ball revolvers

... would need to be carried on an empty chamber. Carrying on an empty chamber is still a common practice for revolvers.

[JPEN]

61. education

It is my experience that when people take the time train and to familiarize themselves with the inner workings of their weapons, then negligent discharges don't happen. I spent 2 1/2 years of my life down range sleeping with a loaded pistol and rifle. When I would go on a "sunday drive", I had a .50 cal belt fed machine gun loaded WITH NO SAFTEYS (it was designed in WWII). I never once had a negligent discharge. Not one of the 30 people in my platoon ever had a negligent discharge. We never were foolish enough to drop a loaded weapon either, even when crawling and running and climbing and saying holy bat shit and running again and dropping off roof tops and climbing out of blown up caught on fire vehicles. We never had one negligent discharge. As such, if you are not a complete jackass and know your weapon, it should be damn near impossible to shoot someone or yourself on accident! If this guy would take the same time to train and critically think, he would never have shot himself in the ass. It serves him right! It makes people who conceal carry look bad. I'm glad he is the only idiot to get hurt. Next time he is going to be sitting in a crazy ass chair like at the theatre, perhaps he should not put one in the chamber. An extra half second to chamber a round don't mean shit during a shooting spree as the sociopath likely will be shooting someone else first which will give you (or me) plenty of time to rack the slide, double check reality, and kill the stupid prick!