Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
As I have said before, you do not want to have an accidental/negligent/unintentional discharge with ANY firearm, but most certainly not a shotgun. Shotguns are intended to make big holes in things, or lots of holes in things, and they do exactly that. Be certain you make holes only in things you intended to perforate... .
Stay safe,
lpl
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http://www.defense-training.com/quips/23Apr04.html
23 Apr 04
Shotgun ND, from an LEO friend on the East Coast:
"Our agency carries shotguns (Remington 870s) mounted behind/above the driver's head, on the cage. Last week, one of our patrol officers was on normal patrol. As he waited at a stoplight downtown, a finger on his free hand made its way into the trigger guard. The shotgun discharged. The 00 buckshot round blew out the passenger-side window, and buckshot pellets flew down a side street. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and property damage (other than our patrol vehicle) was minor.
This officer had been, of course, properly trained in the use and storage of the shotgun, but shotgun training here has been lax the past few years. Supervisors have failed to emphasize how important it is to check all emergency equipment at the start of the shift. As a result, officers merely accounted for' the shotgun, rather than inspecting it as they know they should.
It took this public ND to shake up everyone here sufficiently so that we are now taking shotgun training and procedure seriously once more. We were lucky. We got a relatively inexpensive 'lesson.'
It is easy to let important things slide in this business. Excuses are legion. Our department paid a small price for this "reminder." I hope and pray there won't be a 'next time!'"
Lesson: There is no "right way" to do a wrong thing. Firearms are unforgiving. NDs are inexcusable. We carry guns in a high state of readiness, constantly. There is no substitute for correct training and constant, rigorous supervision. We need to either take care of business, or get out of business!
/John
Stay safe,
lpl
======================================
http://www.defense-training.com/quips/23Apr04.html
23 Apr 04
Shotgun ND, from an LEO friend on the East Coast:
"Our agency carries shotguns (Remington 870s) mounted behind/above the driver's head, on the cage. Last week, one of our patrol officers was on normal patrol. As he waited at a stoplight downtown, a finger on his free hand made its way into the trigger guard. The shotgun discharged. The 00 buckshot round blew out the passenger-side window, and buckshot pellets flew down a side street. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and property damage (other than our patrol vehicle) was minor.
This officer had been, of course, properly trained in the use and storage of the shotgun, but shotgun training here has been lax the past few years. Supervisors have failed to emphasize how important it is to check all emergency equipment at the start of the shift. As a result, officers merely accounted for' the shotgun, rather than inspecting it as they know they should.
It took this public ND to shake up everyone here sufficiently so that we are now taking shotgun training and procedure seriously once more. We were lucky. We got a relatively inexpensive 'lesson.'
It is easy to let important things slide in this business. Excuses are legion. Our department paid a small price for this "reminder." I hope and pray there won't be a 'next time!'"
Lesson: There is no "right way" to do a wrong thing. Firearms are unforgiving. NDs are inexcusable. We carry guns in a high state of readiness, constantly. There is no substitute for correct training and constant, rigorous supervision. We need to either take care of business, or get out of business!
/John