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Was Accidental Discharge by Illinois Judge a Dry-Fire Mistake?
Ammoland ^ | 13 March, 2018 | Dean Weingarten

Posted on 03/17/2018 1:18:41 PM PDT by marktwain

It happened on 15 September, 2017. An Illinois Judge, Patrick O'Shea, 67, accidentally fired a short barreled Smith & Wesson five-shot in his apartment in Wheaton, Illinois. The bullet went through a mirror, the wall, and into the next apartment. No one was hit, and there was little property damage. He checked to see if anyone was in the apartment. There was not. He may have thought “No harm, no foul”, and proceeded to attempt to lie his way out of the problem. Big mistake. It changed his life. From dailyherald.com:

On Sept. 24, the neighbors told police they found what appeared to be a spent bullet on their living room floor. They turned over the bullet to police, along with photographs they had taken of their damaged wall.

Police reports say O'Shea gave property managers at least three excuses for the hole, including that he accidentally put a screwdriver through the wall while hanging a mirror and that his son accidentally caused the hole while using a pneumatic nail gun.

Ekl previously called the shooting an “accidental discharge of a gun” that O'Shea believed to be unloaded.

As a condition of his bond, O'Shea was ordered to turn in all his weapons, ammunition, FOID card and concealed carry permit to Wheaton police.

I have a strong suspicion that this was a dry fire accident. They happen to people who take carrying a firearm seriously, and while rare, happen often enough to take precautions so they do not happen to you. The common situation goes something like this:

(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: banglist; dryfire; il; judge
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To: marktwain

My friend didn’t say whether the mower his neighbor was working on was running or not. If it wasn’t, I would have thought the sound of that bullet piercing the gas tank would have made quite a thunk.


41 posted on 03/17/2018 4:11:04 PM PDT by Elderberry
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To: marktwain

I did the exact same thing when I was a rookie cop. I did not lie. What happened to me? Nothing. Got my ass chewed by the shift lieutenant, that was it.

CC


42 posted on 03/17/2018 5:02:50 PM PDT by Celtic Conservative (Do you know what really burns my ass? A flame about 3 feet high.)
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To: Sasparilla

............mine went straight through the floorboard like a hot knife through butter. After that, I assume it hit the pavement and disintegrated.


43 posted on 03/17/2018 5:32:34 PM PDT by Cen-Tejas
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To: Lurker

“What do you call the lawyer who graduated last in Law School? Answer: Your Honor.”

Can also include the following:

Congressman/woman

Senator

And from the previous administration, Mr President.


44 posted on 03/17/2018 5:56:11 PM PDT by 2CAVTrooper (Democrats... BETRAYING America since 1828.)
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To: marktwain
Dry fire accidents tend to happen to people who are proficient with firearms. Other people do not bother dry firing.

It was certainly a wake-up call to me against complacency. I think through each step nowadays.

45 posted on 03/17/2018 8:07:17 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Democrat laws and regulations kill people.)
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To: marktwain
Dry fire accidents, while rare, tend to happen to those who are proficient in firearms use.

I am proficient in firearms use and would never 'dry fire' a weapon inside my home while trying to 'practice'.

After cleaning and reassembling a weapon, and after careful inspection, I will pull the trigger, so that the weapon is stored without tension.

The idea of dry firing practice {indoors} is against every safe thing that I have learned about guns for the past 70 years.

46 posted on 03/18/2018 4:16:02 AM PDT by USS Alaska (Kill all mooselimb, terrorist savages, with extreme prejudice! Deus Vult!)
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To: USS Alaska; All

Am I wrong in believing that “dry firing” is pulling the trigger with the gun unloaded?

Another question is about the little 44 I have. It is so hard to rack that most women could not even do it. The gun store just told me it would get easier but it hasn’t. Any suggestions?


47 posted on 06/12/2018 1:59:10 PM PDT by arrogantsob (Shttps://www.freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=3662210,41ee "Chaos and Mayhem" at Amazon.com)
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To: arrogantsob

“It is so hard to rack that most women could not even do it. The gun store just told me it would get easier but it hasn’t. Any suggestions?”

You might try putting in a lighter set of springs, depending on the make and model of the gun.

L


48 posted on 06/12/2018 2:05:42 PM PDT by Lurker (President Trump isn't our last chance. President Trump is THEIR last chance.)
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To: Lurker

That is about the only thing I could figure would help, thanks. It is just like another safety.


49 posted on 06/12/2018 2:16:33 PM PDT by arrogantsob (Shttps://www.freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=3662210,41ee "Chaos and Mayhem" at Amazon.com)
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To: arrogantsob

I am a bit confused. You said “.44”. While there are semi-auto pistols chambered in .44 they’re a bit unusual. Did you mean .45 perhaps?

L


50 posted on 06/12/2018 2:43:41 PM PDT by Lurker (President Trump isn't our last chance. President Trump is THEIR last chance.)
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To: BradyLS

To be fair, he was probably under the influence of cocaine at the time.


51 posted on 06/12/2018 2:48:18 PM PDT by Rastus
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To: VeniVidiVici

That’s about what Terry Kath of the band Chicago did. Ejected the mag, forgot about the round in the chamber, pulled the trigger. He only did it the one time. Of course, he wasn’t aiming at the floor.


52 posted on 06/12/2018 2:53:07 PM PDT by Rastus
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To: Rastus

I’m still pissed about that. Chicago went right into the crapper after that.


53 posted on 06/12/2018 2:55:04 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: dfwgator

I like their commercial love songs. I like both phases.


54 posted on 06/12/2018 2:55:57 PM PDT by Rastus
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To: StAnDeliver

Booze, drugs and hookers increases living expense.


55 posted on 06/12/2018 3:01:43 PM PDT by Rebelbase ( Tagline disabled.)
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To: Lurker

It is a 9mm. My brain is going on strike.


56 posted on 06/12/2018 5:53:11 PM PDT by arrogantsob (Shttps://www.freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=3662210,41ee "Chaos and Mayhem" at Amazon.com)
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To: arrogantsob

“It is a 9mm. My brain is going on strike.”

LOL. No worries, it happens. I’d check Brownells or Midway for a set of lighter springs. Install them yourself if you’re comfortable doing so or have a competent gunsmith do the work.

Then make sure you test it with your chosen ammunition. At least 100 rounds. 200 would be better. Make sure or functions properly.

Best,

L


57 posted on 06/12/2018 7:36:03 PM PDT by Lurker (President Trump isn't our last chance. President Trump is THEIR last chance.)
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