Pastor's Daughter Accidentally Shot at Church Dies

[Lasher]

179. Air Force? You folks were good helpers for us real soldiers in the Army.

I didn't know they let you guys have sidearms. Just kidding, thanks for your service.

I guess you could say I have "severe risk-phobia."

The M1911 was not designed to always be "chambered and cocked, with the manual safety ON." The environment dictates its configuration. In some environments it should be in Condition 4 (The chamber is empty, hammer is down and no magazine is in the gun).

We are discussing a civilian environment where safety is more important than a quick-draw or stealth. As you have pointed out, there are uninformed people who are carrying guns around. For example, how many people know that the single action M1911, unlike more modern firearms in its class, lacks a firing pin block? If you don't know that, and its implications, then you won't understand why you shouldn't be carrying one of them around in Condition 2 (A round is in the chamber and the hammer is down).

Logic therefore dictates a setup that is as idiot proof as possible, while still maintaining a reasonable degree of readiness. Condition 3 (The chamber is empty and hammer is down with a charged magazine in the gun) satisfies this requirement.

For a supporting example we need look no further than the tragedy in the OP. That young woman would still be alive today if the young man had kept his firearm in Condition 3. If there are "serious student/instructor(s) of defensive shooting" who are laughing about that, I don't want to know them.