Attorney accidentally shoots self in class

[Pilgrim]

DUNBARTON — A Concord attorney accidentally shot herself in the leg while attending a firearms course yesterday.

Penny Dean was not hurt badly when she fired her handgun while attempting to put it in a gun holster she was wearing.

Dean was taking an advanced shooting course offered by the Concord-based Lethal Force Institute at the Pioneer Sportsmen shooting range on Clinton Street when the accident happened shortly before 2 p.m. yesterday.

“Miss Dean was holstering a handgun, at which point the weapon discharged and fired a bullet into her left leg,†said Dunbarton police officer Christopher Connelly. Police determined the shooting was accidental after a brief investigation at the pistol range.

Dean was wielding a 10mm Glock Model 29 automatic handgun, which is popular with both men and women, according to Lethal Force shooting instructor Massad Ayoob. She was among five students involved in a five-day firearms course.

Ayoob described Dean as a “very skillful and confident gun handler.†He said she was using a holster that was not right for the gun and said that it was not immediately obvious to the instructor prior to the accident.

Ayoob said it was the first such accident in his 23 years as a firearms instructor.

Dean had taken previous firearms instruction from the Lethal Force Institute prior to the advanced training she was involved in yesterday, according to Ayoob.

Dean was taken by ambulance to Concord Hospital, where she was treated and released.

http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showfast.html?article=42427

 

[Chipperman]

So, did a thumb break get inside the trigger guard?
Seems they are implying it was the holster and not her finger that caused the discharge.

 

[Marshall]

Dean was taken by ambulance to Concord Hospital, where she was treated and released.

So close to one less ambulance chaser but yet so far.

 

[Jim K]

Goes to show that even the best run ranges can have accidents. Which is why most of them require guns be unloaded before leaving, even if the shooter has a CCW license. They figure if he loads the gun and shoots himself off the range, that does not reflect on them.

Jim

 

[Harold Mayo]

Ayoob described Dean as a “very skillful and confident gun handler.†He said she was using a holster that was not right for the gun and said that it was not immediately obvious to the instructor prior to the accident.

My first reaction to that statement is that a "very skillful and confident gun handler" should not be using a holster not right for the gun in question AND it shouldn't be up to the instructor of an "advanced" class to tell "advanced" students who are "very skillful and confident gun handlers" which holster is appropriate for a firearm....

But, of course, what do I know....?

 

[nhhillbilly]

Ambulance Chaser? Penny Dean is on our side. She had spoken for gun rights in the state house and in the courts. I don't know about her voting record but her activtism is on the right side.

 

[jrpeterman]

Forntunately, Ms. Dean will be alright and not have any permanent damage due to the injury. Accidents/Incidents can happen and do. I think incidents like this can serve as a reminder to observe and practice safe handling and use of proper equipment.

 

[El Tejon]

As much as I hate to see LFI's record ruined and damage done to the rkba, when I took LFI-1, I told Mas (after class comments) about some of the gun skills that I saw at his class that concerned me--waving of guns, pointing guns behind the shooter, inter alia. All I got was a scolding for being insensitive to women (the offenders happened to be women--have seen plenty of Elmers that I would not trust with guns who are male).

As Harold sez, what do I know. One time, at gun camp . . . . I'm only a student who sees the unsafe behavior: "inappropriate" holster? "advanced" class? skillful gun handler? ***, over? Must have been LFI-1, no?

Jim, LFI runs a cold range, for "safety." Could have been during a drill.

Glad she will likely have a speedy recovery. Would like to know if that was operator or equipment error.

 

[JNewell]

So close to one less ambulance chaser but yet so far.

This is the high road? Totally out of line under any circumstances, and even more so when we're talking about someone who's taken the time and spent the money to take several classes to increase their skills.

 

[Marshall]

JNewell,

Geeze, no sense of humor? Don't like lawyer jokes? I am fully aware who she is and what she was doing. Lighten up, take THR of not being so sanctimoneous. Merely posting what you did show's that.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

I'd like to know the make and model of holster. Some of these things aren't immediately obvious if you order online and don't get the chance to tryout the fit. Still, I would have expected this problem to become apparent when testing the holster for fit with an UNLOADED gun. Unless it was a wear issue, of course.

 

[SAWBONES]

Anyone can make a mistake, and nobody's perfect.

I'd bet the holster had a thumb break (nasty things!) that got into the triggerguard when holstering the gun.

If so, more care is required when holstering than without a thumb break, and sometimes even two-handed holstering is necessary.

If the user was a woman, I'd bet she doesn't usually carry using a belt rig, and may have been less familiar with such than she needed to be. (Most women who will even acquiesce to practice CCW at all will do so via purse carry IME, excepting Ms. Tamara of course.)

 

[Rival]

RE: Glock

Are there a lot of documented accidental discharges involing Glock?

I would feel confident carrying 1911 and BHP with round in the chamber (either cocked and locked or with a hammer down, naturally condition 1 preferred), or with a Makarov with round in the chamber (either with safety ON or OFF - either is safe with Makarov). But I would feel less confident with a Glock with live round in a chamber, especially if the trigger has lightened spring...

 

[SouthpawShootr]

Are there a lot of documented accidental discharges involing Glock?

Not really, but there are loads of negligent discharges.

Glocks and other DAO guns (we can argue later about safe-action vs DAO) require special care when holstering. Almost all of these guns lack a manual safety, so you can't just jam the gun in the holster. The chances of getting the trigger caught on something (too often on a retention device) are too great. This is an even greater problem with short travel triggers. I don't like thumb straps either. However, some PDs mandate retention systems of some sort on holsters for off duty guns (I know of two locally who require it - if it's not there, it's unauthorized equipment and that's off duty). If you're not a LEO then a well-fitten holster should not require retention devices unless you're horseback riding or something like that.

 

[jc2]

Actually, the Glock has quite a record for unintentional discharges--both in this country and overseas. It is a design that is prone to operator error. In the compromise between safety and ease of handling--and it is a compromise--Glock definitely compromises safety.

Most DAOs (and the Glock is a DAO) have a few things going for them when it comes to administrative handling the Glock does not including:

1. A longer trigger stroke.

2. A slightly heavier trigger stroke (at least than a Glock with a standard trigger return spring and/or a 3.5 pound disconnector--a NY1 trigger spring helps in this regard).

3. A hammer you can keep your thumb on when holstering.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

The standard connector for Glock pistols (except 17L, 34, 35) is a 5 lb connector. Glock specifically says not to put that 3.5 connector in any gun other than the three already listed. Glock certified armorers are told not to do it (some do it anyway). This is a liability thing. The NY1 trigger adds a spring to the 5 lb connector which increases the pull weight to 8 lbs. They NY2 increases to 8 lbs. I have a NY1 in my G22 and I hate it. Seems to stack rather badly. Never tried NY2.

 

[one45auto]

So close to one less ambulance chaser but yet so far.

LMFAO!!!!

Oh my God Marshall, you don't know how close you just came to making me choke to death. As it is I dribbled all over myself while laughing so hard I couldn't breathe. Thanks a lot.

 

[mete]

El Tejon, sorry to hear that you're so insensitive. Next time read the book "Teaching Women to Shoot" by Vicki Farnam. Then you'll know how to criticize women in a senitive manner.! Some people don't like to be criticized but the alternative is to have someone hurt.

 

[El Tejon]

Thanks, mete, I'll put that on my list of books to buy. Big shows coming up this month and October.

Can you recommend a 12 step program for the politically incorrect gun school students? "Hi, I'm Kirk, and I don't want to get shot by the unsafe gun handling of my fellow students. I need your help. [Altogether] Hi, Kirk."

 

[sfhogman]

Well, that does it. The trigger shoe is comin' off my Single Six.

 

[VaughnT]

While I'm certainly sorry to hear about this mishap, all these stories about the glock going off unintentionally makes me wonder how it ever got the foothold that it currently enjoys.

Recently, my company's security auditor told me that I can't carry my Colt 1991 anymore because it's too dangerous being single-action. I'm fighting it while surrounded by less-than-expert people carrying glocks!

Hope she recovers quickly and gets back on the range.

 

[jc2]

all these stories about the glock going off unintentionally makes me wonder how it ever got the foothold that it currently enjoys.

Herd mentality and good marketing?

 

[Trebor]

One of the Fobus holsters has been recalled because the retaining strap can get into the trigger guard during holstering and cause an unintentional discharge. I wonder if that was the case here. Even before this specific recall, I've been warned about that possibility in general with holsters with retention straps.

If you read the article closely, this isn't the first class she's taken at LFI, which makes me suspect that this was a LFI 2 class. Also, the choice of a 10mm pistol makes me think that she is an experienced shooter.

 

[Marshall]

LMFAO!!!!

Oh my God Marshall, you don't know how close you just came to making me choke to death. As it is I dribbled all over myself while laughing so hard I couldn't breathe. Thanks a lot.

OMG, don't go and choke on me, I don't have any insensitive, uncalled for humors that are totally out of line under any circumstances and qualify for sanctimonious objections for that!

 

[JoshM14]

the weapon discharged

Glock Model