Do Not Pull Trigger to Check if Gun Is Not Loaded

[JBP]

When I got to the range this morning with my .44 Mags (SRH & SBH) and .454 SRH I was told by the range officer that all handguns had to be kept pointing downrage at the bench rather than on the tables behind the benches.

Apparently this past week an off duty LEO decided that after finishing firing he would check to see if his 9mm was empty by pulling the trigger rather than removing the magazine and racking the slide (the fact that the slide was not locked in the open positon would be a pretty good indication that there was still a round chambered. I have some older semi-autos where the slide does not lock back after the last round is fired, but still ). The end result was that the bullet went through the table, hit the concrete floor with shrapnel from the table and the bullet hittng two range officers. If he had been pointing the pistol a bit more to the left he probably would have wounded, if not killed, the shooters that were by the tables.

So besides having to keep all handguns on the bench at all times, no one other than the range officers will be allowed to carry while the range is open to the public, and if you shoot an Encore or Contender (as I do) you will have to change the barrel on the bench as well.

 

[yhtomit]

Which range?

JBP:

Since my brother lives in MD and would like to go shooting in the near future, can you tell me what range this is? I'm glad I don't run a range -- there are so many ways for it to bite the folks who run it.

timothy

 

[Owen]

Standard operations for IPSC/USPSA and IDPA.

At the end of the stage, you remove the magazine and show clear.

You then drop the hammer/striker on an empty chamber by pulling the trigger. If the pistol fires, you get to go home. It's sort of a belt and suspenders arrangement.

Of course, while pulling the trigger, the gun is pointed at the backstop...

 

[Croyance]

I would like to hear that charges were pending for negligent firearms handling that resulted in two injuries. LEOs are citizens too.

Is he related to a certain DEA agent?

 

[Snowdog]

Is he related to a certain DEA agent?

He was the only person in that room qualified to shoot a 9mm.

 

[MCgunner]

There is no other way to relieve the tension on the striker in a Glock "safe action". That infamous "safety" of the Glock (and the ridiculously light trigger) is why I will never carry one. I might shoot IDPA with one, great for that, but not for concealed carry, not for me, thanks.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

This is the officers fault.

If YOU pull the trigger it's on YOU. Not an issue with the weapon.

You can always get a heavier trigger put in your Glock if you don't like the one it has.

Before this gets hi-jacked into a Glock bashing thread please note that the post didn't list the weapon involved. Probably was Glock, but not sure.

Either way. YOU pull the trigger on a loaded pistol it should go off.

 

[steelhead]

A shooter is always responsible. Even when making up for an inadequacy in a firearm's design or manual of arms. Not much different when a Cz52 went off, in the lane next to me, when the decocker was used.

The officer, most likely, was taught to clear his firearm, and then pull the trigger (while pointed into a bullet trap or range backstop), to make sure it was "safe". If you ever wondered what those sand filled red cans are for in the locker rooms - now you know. It seems, however, he forgot some of the critical steps......

 

[MCgunner]

A shooter is always responsible. Even when making up for an inadequacy in a firearm's design or manual of arms. Not much different when a Cz52 went off, in the lane next to me, when the decocker was used.

Oh, I heartily agree it was the shooters fault, just expressing why I won't carry a Glock, because of the light/short trigger AND the requirement of pulling the trigger to release the striker. It has no decocker. I guess you don't have to release the striker, but it's just s dumb design IMHO. I'd rather have a hammer, internal or external, and a real DAO or DA with decocker.

When I decock a gun, I always do it with the muzzle in a safe direction and I'll also stick my thumb in front of the hammer with my off hand and lower the hammer slowly. On my Rugers, you can do that and I do it even on an empty chamber except at an IDPA shoot where I'm required to pull the trigger as someone else mentioned. There is no reason just to let the hammer fall. When you're handing a firearm, you should pull your head out and get a fresh breath of air at least long enough to safely decock.

 

[JBP]

Since my brother lives in MD and would like to go shooting in the near future, can you tell me what range this is?

This was at the Hap Baker range in Carroll County on Rt 140 between Westminster and Finksburg.

 

[Smurfslayer]

all handguns had to be kept pointing downrage at the bench rather than on the tables behind the benches

Double ewe, tee, eff ?

Are you saying it was common practice to permit handling BEHIND the shooting line? That is NUTS, NUTS, NUTS... And, it only takes one ID 10 T to screw it up for everyone else. As shooters, we can not have it both ways; either we have to "police" shooters at the line, or RO's are going to do it FOR us. It's for this reason, and the immediate safety need that anyone may call a cease fire - and should if they witness stuff like this.

 

[Tyril]

I was also suprised by this incident. I went to Hap Baker yesterday, and was informed that my 1858 replica with its cylinder out on the bench should now also be in a locked case when not actively in use.


I was a bit suprised, but can see how something like this could lead to the closure of a range.

It's almost fortunate that the offending shooter was a LEO, as most who wish to close down our shooting lanes tend to group LEOs in a separate category.


Check the chamber!



-mike

 

[Nortonics]

Would I be out $10 if I bet the LEO was female?

 

[Croyance]

Not arguing with you here, just wondering why you guessed that? Most bad police gun handling incidents I remember reading about were by male police officers.