Posted on 02/08/2006 9:23:25 PM PST by DuckFan4ever
A Portland Police officer who was injured while firing a handgun has filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the manufacturers of the gun and the ammunition.
Officer Florin B. Pirv was taking a qualification test in March 2004 with a .45 caliber Glock 21 when the “breech/cartridge feed ramp fractured, causing backward propulsion of hot gases, hot air, and shrapnel to be blown into Pirv’s face, body, and hands,” according to the suit.
The lawsuit names Glock and two ammunition-makers, Federal Cartridge Company and Alliant Technosystems, also known as ATK. Glock is based in Georgia. The ammunition-makers are based in Minnesota.
None returned phone calls and emails seeking comment.
Pirv was one of two Portland officers injured while firing .45-caliber Glocks in March 2004, prompting Portland Police Chief Derrick Foxworth to order the recall of the weapons carried by 230 officers.
The bureau replaced them with 9mm Glocks.
Pirv’s suit seeks $50,000 in compensatory damages, $3 million for pain and suffering and $50 million in punitive damages.
Pirv is assigned to a patrol shift, according to a Portland Police spokeswoman.
"a powerful, effective plastic gun"
None of the important parts in a Glock are made of plastic. You probably know this, but yet I feel it's obligatory to say this repeatedly to Glock-haters.
Try and keep in mind that, whatever your own personal preferences are, turning to the other firearm and deriding it only plays into the hands of the gun-grabbers. I can't count the number of articles that quotes a "gun expert" who is busy reciting his personal preferences, which get reported in print as "firearms manufacturers are irresponsible and evil."
Seen this ping?
"Why is he suing two cartridge companies? Does he not know what ammo was in the gun?"
It's like people sueing aircraft companies. They sue every manufacturer of every part that's on the aircraft.
December 23, 2003
IMMIGRANT RESOLVE BRINGS POLICE CAREER Summary: Portland recruits Florin Pirv, a Romanian native Florin Pirv developed an immense appreciation for freedom, having fled communist Romania and immigrating to America with his parents and sisters in 1981.
That love of freedom also forged a desire to make a living protecting others. But when he arrived in the United States, the 19-year-old had several obstacles to overcome.
The family gave up a spacious home in Romania and moved into his uncle's garage in Southern
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 23, 2003
FLORIN PIRV Color photo:
Florin Pirv, the Portland Police Bureau's newest recruit, loads the ammunition clip for his .45-caliber pistol as he prepares to test his shooting skills at the police firing range Monday in the basement of the Justice Center.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There's the problem, using a clip in a weapon that requires a magazine.
Of course Glock and the ammo companies will claim improper ammo and they have a point.
The fact is tho that one can reasonably expect people to use any common ammo in their gun and +P ammo is common and supposedly safe in most guns.
Guns should have a large safety margin built in but it appears this one did not.
I wonder if it is possible they were shooting reloads depspite what the article says?
To quote Obi Wan,"An elegant weapon of a more civilized time."
I bet those guys were tickled to death to get those 9mm's.
Nothing makes me crazier than endlessly helping folks understand the magazine vs. clip difference!
~ Blue Jays ~
Put a 40 in a 45, then chased it with a 45.
Glock should be sued on general principle for making a confusing to operate, plastic POS in the first place. Their biggest claim to fame was being able to cram 19 9mm rounds into a clip.
did this guy somehow miss the new federal law which bars lawsuits against gun manufacturers?
The new law only put gun manufacturers in the same position as any other industry. Any comnpany can be sued for a defective products, as is being done in this case.
The new law targets political lawsuits that attempted to ascribe special responsibilities of liability for third party use to gun manufacturers.
"guess he won't be happy until Glock engraves silly warnings all over the gun."
New warning. Mind the warnings ;-)
Oh, c'mon, that's stretching it a little.
You're saying that someone such as myself, qualified with a number of weapons from 6 different armies of other countries, as well as five from our own army, carried a pistol for nearly 20 years for 8 hours a day, fired probably a million rounds thru a 1911 and a few thousand thru a Glock, as well as a few thousand thru a 9mil/military, etc, etc, etc, can't be expected to not say anything adverse against any particular gun manufactured today?
My personal opinion of a particular weapon would carry great weight, I would think, toward the determination of reliability and functionality of the weapon, but would not have anything to do with the "evil" intents of the manufacturer, would you not agree?
There are those that think that Glock is the spawn of the devil, but there are those that feel the same way about Springfield and Kimber and other brands. That's just simple human nature. I, for one, cannot stand to have an Izod sport shirt touch my flesh. I prefer Bass. Notwithstanding the fact that the fabrics are probably both made on the same loom in China.
I fail to see how a functionality comparison based upon extensive experience of a personal nature can play into the "gungrabbers" hands.
Personally, I dislike the Glock, but not because the manufacturer is evil or irresponsible. It simply does not fit my personal parameters of what a duty weapon should be.
I'm not flaming you and so do not misinterpret my disagreement with you.
My concern is that we become so paranoid about what the anti-gun nuts do or not do, that it affects us in reporting what we feel are valid concerns with the weapons we all are so familiar with.
Perhaps the key words there, though, are "valid concerns".
Simply stating that the Glock is a plastic POS is not sufficient, and I agree with you that such words should be backed up with truth and verifiable facts.
Again, I do not think the Glock is a plastic POS, as it is a fairly well made weapon, well-suited for the basic design intents.
It just does not satify me.
Now, if you wish to discuss irresponsibility in manufacturing, we can discuss the RG Roehm .22 revolver or the early (very early) Taurus pot metal "ripoff copies" or similiar so-called "Saturday Night Specials", the existence of which none of us can deny. Irresponsible, yes. Evil...I don't know, unless the pursuit of the almighty dollar can be categorized as evil under those circumstances.
I have actually purchased a couple of them for no other reason than to destroy them and remove all possible points of contention that the Brady Bunch may have or use.
How about an unrelated gun question? Hate to start a thread for just a question.
I'm planning to join a high power team this spring.
Anyone have input on the rifle to buy?
Like to keep it under a thousand, if possible. The boss has put my wallet on a leash. So I'm going to have to squirrel away some cash and probably trade in something.
Any advice gratefully accepted.
I have a Berreta Neo. It clogs up all the time and feed ramp failure is common. At least it can't hold a group better than three inches at fifty feet.
Piece of junk.
Hey, this guys needs to sue the Portland police department.
Everyone is looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
A POS? I ran easily 5000 rounds through a Glock 34 in a year with no failures to fire, no failures to eject, no jams. If a POS does that well, who needs quality.
I give up, what's confusing about a Glock? No hammer, no decocker. One button for a mag (not a clip) release, another to release the slide.
Load a magazine (not a clip), rack the slide, pull the trigger, boom.
If you find this confusing, in addition to the magazine/clip thing, perhaps you should stick with edged weapons.
Come on, you're being picky.
Most people don't know the difference between a clip and a magazine.
Me included. I always say magazine, but I might have clips.
At least I never blew up a gun.
Freepers love threads like yours.
By all means start a new thread, rather than hijack this one.
Most people don't know the difference between a clip and a magazine.
I believe accuracy is important, especially for the journalistic community.
There is a correct nomenclature to weapons. When the press refers to AR-15's as machine guns or assualt weapons, do we let them slide, because 'most people don't know the difference'?
When they talk about hi capacity 9mm pistols 'spraying bullets', do we let that slide?
I think it's important to hammer the press on minor technical issues because it might encourage them to get out and learn more about guns.
And, how can we hammer the press on these points, if we don't police ourselves?
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