Officer exonerated in theater gun incident

WTNH ^ | 4/17/2003 | AP

[always vigilant]

(Hartford-AP Apr. 17, 2003 11:35 AM)_ An off-duty state Capitol police officer has been exonerated in a gun incident at the Bushnell Center.

An investigation began in February after Officer Paul Warren's personal gun went off accidentally inside the crowded theater.

The incident occurred during intermission of "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife" starring Valerie Harper.

The gun, a .380-caliber Browning automatic handgun was in his shoulder holster when it went off as he and his wife were returning to their seats at the end of intermission.

Both Hartford police and state Capitol police could not determine why the gun went off and found no negligence on Warren's part.

They also determined he did not violate any laws or department policy.

[IGOTMINE]

The cop pulled the trigger on that Browning. There is no other way that gun would go off while it was in a holster.

Pardon the pun, but it does appear that some pigs are more equal than others.

[flashbunny]

"Personally, I would never carry a semi-auto pistol with a round chambered unless I was going into a situation of present danger. Your opinion may vary, but that's my rule."

Your ignorant, anti-gun drivel is growing tiresome. The problem is you don't know if a situation is dangerous until the situation is over. If people (smart people, that is) knew they were going into a situation of 'present danger', THEY WOULDN'T GO INTO IT!!! That's what firearms and martial arts training teaches you. You avoid dangerous situations, but you prepare and keep yourself ready for them as though they are always possible, no matter if you're in a theater, an office (which could get shot up), a school (ditto), or a day care center (see california a few years ago).

Unless, of course, in addition to you apparent firearms expertise, you also claim to be psychic and know which situations will be 100% without danger.

[MineralMan]

"If the "Browning .380" in question was a BDA, there's a "decocking" lever to safely drop the hammer after a round is loaded, at which point it becomes a double-action for the first shot.

If one does not drop the hammer, it's possible to carry it in a "cocked and locked" mode. Possible, that is, if one is a complete idiot, since you're essentially eliminating one of the basic safety features of the weapon. I'm wondering if this guy just earned his "complete idiot" badge. "

Well, considering the trigger pull weight of that weapon in double-action mode, I would assume that this idiot did not "accidentally" discharge his Browning if it was in that mode.

Knowing the weapon, I'm assuming that he had it cocked and locked, but either forgot the safety or "accidentally" unsafed the weapon. Then, while fumbling with it while sitting down to prevent discomfort, he triggered it.

I don't see how he could have fired it while in the shoulder holster if it was in double-action mode.

[Clean_Sweep]

Well that is a picture of one model, Browning has made different models though the years and we don't know what model he had.

[KneelBeforeZod]

Could it be that Browning makes the "potato gun" that "misfired" that frog into some kids face?

[MineralMan]

""Personally, I would never carry a semi-auto pistol with a round chambered unless I was going into a situation of present danger. Your opinion may vary, but that's my rule."

Your ignorant, anti-gun drivel is growing tiresome. "

I'm not anti-gun. I told you my own rule for carrying. That's what I do. What you do may be different. Personally, unless I know someone well, I find it intolerable to be around them when they are armed. I know too many armed idiots.

In all my 57 years, I have never discharged a firearm unless I intended to do so. I'm not at all ignorant of firearms, as you suggest. I'm not anti-gun in any way.

I have my personal rules for carrying, and I follow them. You have different rules. That is why you are not allowed armed into my place of business.

[KneelBeforeZod]

So I can look cool like the Hollywood types that always have to chamber a round before they shoot the bad guy?

dont forget you need to turn you gun sideways to shoot it...

(does not apply to police, hitmen, special forces or steven seagal)

[ArmstedFragg]

I'm assuming that he had it cocked and locked,

Yeah, that'd be my guess, too.

Probably wanted to carry it like the guys with the big guns do.

Think I'll give him a call and ask if he's got room to add me as beneficiary on the family life insurance policy. :-)

[MineralMan]

"Probably wanted to carry it like the guys with the big guns do. "

The only fun part of this story is thinking about the fine ear-chewing he no doubt got from his wife when they got home that night. Whee!

[thepitts]

Why was a round chambered in an automatic? In a revolver, I can understand an accidental discharge, but in an automatic?!?!? Accident my behind. I'd call it callous disregard for the most basic gun safety and handling rules. Clip full of shells, fine. But chamber the shell ONLY when you are ready to fire the weapon. Not when you are merely carring the weapon.

LOL

[refreshed]

Don't have a dog in this fight, just some definitions.

From Oxford Concise:

Shell: US. A cartridge.

Cartridge: A case containing a charge of propelling explosive for firearms or blasting, with a bullet or shot if for small arms.

Have a nice day!

[FreedomPoster]

>>I'm wondering if this guy just earned his "complete idiot" badge.

Personally, I'm convinced that's a given. Modern firearms experience amazingly few mechanical failures that would create that most elusive of beasties, the true "accidental discharge".

[dljordan]

I always carried one "up the spout" in my Hi-Power and never had a discharge. Of course it helps if you keep the safty on. The Glock 26 I carried kind of made me nervous as the safety was on the trigger.

[ArmstedFragg]

The only fun part of this story is thinking about the fine ear-chewing he no doubt got from his wife when they got home that night. Whee!

Slightly off topic, but the situation sort of reminds me of the old stand-up routine about the guy who cites two reasons why he won't mess around on his wife: guilt and noise.

While he's messing around, the guilt, the guilt.

Then when she finds out, the noise, the noise!

I suspect it was a bit noisy around the homestead.

[MineralMan]

"Don't have a dog in this fight, just some definitions.
"

Good for you. Some folks try to dismiss others' arguments based on their own personal definitions of firearms nomenclature. That never works.

Shell, cartridge, round. I'll bet none of these folks ask for a box of shotgun rounds or cartridges.

It's just a way to avoid discussing the real issues involved.

[coloradan]

So, we've learned that you can be arrested and prosecuted if you yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater, but you can fire a gun in a crowded theater, and not be prosecuted - if you're a cop.

[FreedomPoster]

>>dont forget you need to turn you gun sideways to shoot it...

In that case, you'll of course need these:

HoMeBoY NyTe SyTeS

Don't fail to "click image for larger view"

[MineralMan]

"So, we've learned that you can be arrested and prosecuted if you yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater, but you can fire a gun in a crowded theater, and not be prosecuted - if you're a cop."

Well, yes. And CCW permits are pretty hard to come by where this stupidity happened, so pretty much the only folks in the theater who were armed were cops.

Were I the owner of the theater, I'd post a big "No Firearms. No Exceptions." sign outside it. That would keep this idiot cop out of the theater altogether.

[flashbunny]

Yes, a case / shell / cartridge is a component of a round, not the round itself. The definition supports that - it is the case containing the rest of the compnents that go into the round - a 'shell' by itself is just something you pick up at the range if you're a reloader.

Taken with the correct definition, I'd agree with what's his name that you shouldn't carry with a shell chambered - you want an actual live round in there.

[Eagle Eye JR]

The time difference between chambering an auto, and drawing one is neglible
Do you really know what you're talking about? The time it takes to chamber the round is enough time for something significant to happen. I would always have one chambered.(IMHO)