(OR) Deputy Shot When Jacket Toggle Tangles With Trigger

[Double Maduro]

Guys, stuff can get stuffed into the holster along with the gun. Stuff happens. How many of you have gotten part of your cover garment inside your WIB holster? I know I have.

http://www.unclemikes.com/press_r.asp?lineid=176892

The link is to a recall by uncle mikes about a holster for glocks.

DM

 

[Derby FALs]

That doesn't make it the gun's fault.

 

[Double Maduro]

That doesn't make it the gun's fault.

Derby,

Where did I assign blame to any one or any thing?

If I must it would be a combination of mistakes leading up to this "accident".

The mistakes would include but not necessarily be limited to.

The officer not noticing that part of his clothing entered the holster with his gun.

The holster manufacturer for making a holster that would allow this to happen.

The firearm manufacturer who made a weapon that has no external safety. I know that Glocks are safe, after all the safety is in the trigger. Works every time until something pulls the trigger when you aren't expecting it.

So I would probably assign the blame to at least those three entities, not necessarily in that order.

DM

 

[carebear]

Glock has more safeties than any revolver, yet those are recommended for novices all the time. I think we underestimate the skill potential of the "untrained". Working a firearm safely, the manual of arms, isn't rocket science.

The only possible problem with Glock is a comparatively light DA pull. But paying attention to your triggerguard and keeping your finger off fixes that possible problem.

 

[nomadboi]

There were a couple old Webley revolvers made with safeties I think, back in WWI... tangent, but I thought it was interesting.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

What is described there certainly IS possible, and if accurate, they are correct in saying that there was no negligence involved. It's just an unforseen and unfortunate accident that could happen with any gun with a light trigger, and no external safety (manual or grip).

Yes, it IS possible, but not likely. It may not be openly called negligence, but wearing incompatible equipment is a real problem. How would he know the equipment is incompatible? Simple. Look for the dangly things down around the holster that should not be there.

I am just guessing here, but I would think that the drawstring toggle must have gotten into the holster AFTER he got into his car. Otherwise, it would have likely discharged sooner as he went about his business. So the toggle "worked" its way in while he was in his car? That seems awfully unlikely. Those darned toggles get into EVERYTHING!

My guess is that the officer drew his gun, ran a system check on it, and reholstered. At that time, he managed to reholster the gun with the draw string and toggle (assuming they were really the cause). I find it hard to see how the toggle would otherwise get into the holster. We are talking about a drawstring toggle. That is going to be a fairly good-sized item. If his holster had enough room for one to work its way in when a gun was already holstered inside, then he does not have the proper holster for the gun or vice versa.

Strangely, the notion of drawstring toggles snagging on things is known to be a safety hazard...
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/safety/car_seats_safety/school_bus_safety.html

 

[CTRL-ALT-DEL]

The only way a jacket toggle/string would work its way into a holster is if the gun was holstered with the jacket toggle/sting at the same time. Hope the officer recovers, and learns to be more aware when the holsters the glock.

 

[LiquidTension]

I've gotten part of my shirt snagged when holstering before, so I think this story could be true. Of course, I then pull it out and reholster WITHOUT the obstruction...

 

[MICHAEL T]

The Answer is Clear we must outlaw toggles. The are dangerous and the children need protected.

 

[alamo]

This incident aside, I think it's fair to say that Glocks are less forgiving than many other pistols in regards to negligent handling.


I think the toggle/string must have been dangling in his empty holster when he holstered his pistol. That's the one way I can figure this could happen.

 

[GunGoBoom]

DNS, everything you said is correct, true. It becomes negligence *at some point* if enough actual incidents of this unusual nature , and thus awareness is out there, that the officer and/or his dept *should have known* that the said incompatible equipment items were a true deadly safety hazard. I would say that it MUST have been snagged prior to or during the re-holster, not worked it's way in after; otherwise then I'd (personally) call that a defective holster (not tight enough). In any event, sure hope he makes a full recovery - he's gonna need good legs to continue being a bicycle patrol cop.

 

[spacemanspiff]

i think they should destroy the evil glock that intentionally tried to murder its owner.

 

[magsnubby]

This just proves how evil Glocks really are. I'm tired of reading about how one of those evil things "just went off". I've locked all of my Glocks up in my gun safe. I don't want to get shot while i'm watching tv.

Tomorrow i'm going to trade them all for Hi Points.

 

[Too Many Choices!?]

I sleep with my Glock sometimes...

I pay extra attention when reholstering ANY FIREARM... If it has a manual safety, it goes on...If it doesn't, then I pay more attention .... Best wishes and a quick recovery from a hard lesson learned .