"When you need it, you need it," he said. "Every split second counts." "
Posted on 02/25/2009 6:55:13 PM PST by marktwain
A retired St. Paul police officer was wounded Saturday when a pistol belonging to an off-duty Minneapolis police officer accidentally discharged at a gun show.
Both men were working security at the Minneapolis Gun Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center when the accident happened about 1:15 p.m., said Minneapolis police spokesman Sgt. Jesse Garcia.
The semi-automatic pistol went off when the holster got caught on a chair that the Minneapolis officer was either leaning back on or getting off of, Garcia said.
One bullet hit the floor and fragmented pieces struck the retired officer in the leg and hand, Garcia said. He was treated for a small wound and released Saturday.
A bullet fragment also grazed the Minneapolis police officer's pant leg. The officer, who has been on the force for more than 20 years, was not injured.
Garcia called the incident a "freak accident."
"You could probably sit in the chair 10,000 times and it will never happen again," he said.
The retired officer was working for a private security firm hired by the gun show, while the off-duty officer was hired by the convention center, Garcia said. Both men were near a check-in table that was set up to make sure guns were inoperable, he said.
Minneapolis police will do an internal investigation, which will include an examination of the gun and holster, Garcia said. But because the incident is considered an accident, the department will not consider any discipline, he added.
Minneapolis officers keep the safety switch off when carrying guns in a holster, Garcia said.
"When you need it, you need it," he said. "Every split second counts."
Most people inside the convention center were unaware of the incident, Garcia said.
"There was a cheerleader show and a dog show going on there, too, and it was business as usual afterward," he said. "I'm sure 90 percent of those there didn't even know it happened."
Just a little bullet wound. Nothing to see here. Move along.
wonder if it was one of the recently recalled smith and wessons...
That's not much of a freak unintentional discharge if they don't use the safety. That goes straight into pure negligence.
"When you need it, you need it," he said. "Every split second counts." "
So, let’s see here, police are the only ones who are supposed to be able to control their guns? I mean I am sorry for the guy who got shot, and glad he didn’t get killed, but hey, let’s make it real clear. Guns ARE dangerous. Dangerous to whom is an “it depends.” Dangerous to those who take them for granted. And dangerous to tyrants. That second part alone makes them worth the risk of unintentional injury (or intentional injury too for that matter). Every day it seems to me more and more that the Liberty Tree needs watering.
OK...
Precisely.
Note to self: Avoid Minneapolis at all costs, the cops carry condition 0.
A 1911 style has the grip safety and shouldn't go off, so I assume this was a Glock variant.
I carry with one in the pipe, full mag, and SAFETY on. On a 1911, I can take the safety off as I clear the holster and not lose a millisecond. And lean back in a chair and not shoot anyone.
/johnny
Count on this story to have been totally mangled by the reporter.
Nice way of saying it was a Barney Fife moment, huh?
Probably a Glock variant. I love my Glock but let’s face it a lot of folks probably shouldn’t carry one since they want to carry it with a round chambered like they are heading to the O.K. Correl.
Not a Glock, since there’s no safety “switch”.
And the gun fired because the trigger was squeezed. My bet is he had it out for whatever reason, went to holster it with his finger on the trigger instead of indexed down the barrel, and as he shoved it into his holster his finger caught and fired the gun.
Note the subtle but very important liberal anti-gun bias. The sentence reads "... pistol ... accidentally discharged ..." What, the pistol didn't mean to discharge? Foolish pistol.
The sentence should properly read "... was accidentally discharged..." to indicate the truth that somebody was behind the accidental discharge. The pistol was just minding it's own business.
Yeah. Well I was assuming that the the author doesn’t know what he is talking about. The Glock has a safety that’s supposed to prevent something getting caught in the trigger guard, a drop safety. Oh.. and the one between your ears ;-)
First ever discharge at a MWCA show.....
Even with the idiot reporter, and some facts lacking... there is no such thing as an 'accidental discharge'. There are negligent discharges, and purposeful discharges.
/johnny
Yeah. The gun was out of the holster. Either coming out or going in.
BS coverup, as usual.....
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