ouch ... workplace ND in TX

[30 cal slob]

linky:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,306719,00.html

Texas Office Worker Accidentally Shoots Himself in Both Legs While Sitting at Desk
Wednesday, October 31, 2007

FORT WORTH, Texas —

A 47-year-old man was shot in both legs when he accidentally discharged a handgun while sitting in his cubicle at an insurance office, police said.

The man, who hasn't been publicly identified, had put his .45-caliber gun into his jacket pocket and then draped the jacket over the back of his chair, said Brett McGuire, Lake Worth police chief.

The gun discharged Tuesday morning as the man settled into his chair. He said the man must have done something to make the weapon fire.

The bullet passed through both of the man's legs and a bookcase before lodging in the wall of a cubicle.

McGuire said there was no indication the man had brought the gun to target anyone.

"He wasn't having problems with his bosses or co-workers that we know of," McGuire said.

McGuire said his department has no record of the man being licensed to carry a concealed weapon. He said detectives would wait until the man, who was taken to a hospital, had recovered before deciding whether to pursue charges.

 

[JesseTX]

.. Wha? I don't see how that's even possible if he just sat down while the jacked was draped over the chair.

Seems fishy.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Glock. Put it in a holster moron.

 

[El Tejon]

Ahhh, the shining brilliance of "pocket carry" comes through yet again.

I'll bet he was told at the gun store that "carrying a gun in your pocket is all you need.":banghead:

Pursue charges? For what, following the advice of a gun shoppe? About time we prosecuted people for that.

Buy a good holster and a good belt. Put your pistol in your holster on your belt. Stop listening to Gun Shoppe Commandos.

 

[K-Romulus]

Good job - chalk one up for the anti's . . .

As others said, be sure you have a SECURE holster system. They even make pocket holsters that would help prevent this sort of thing. Knowledge is power . . .

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Pursue charges? For what...

The person in question does not have a Tx CHL. He was illegally carrying when he shot himself. Not the brightest bulb.

 

[wdlsguy]

Pursue charges? For what, following the advice of a gun shoppe?

McGuire said his department has no record of the man being licensed to carry a concealed weapon.

 

[tnieto2004]

Pursue charges? For what

McGuire said his department has no record of the man being licensed to carry a concealed weapon.

 

[scurtis_34471]

Pocket carry without a holster is beyond stupid, especially if you have a gun with no manual safety. Its not like pocket holsters are expensive or difficult to use, so I really don't get it.

 

[40SW]

Agree with you guys 100%!!!!!!!!, I don't care what type of action your pistol has, if you are going carry inside the pocket, GET A HOLSTER!!!!!!:banghead::banghead:, and I don't want to hear, "I'm on a budget and can't afford one!!". I hear that alot from students. Uncle Mikes has great stuff for $10-$20. You don't have to get $50-$100 Galco leather. , and I don't want to hear, " oh, but it has a 7 lb trigger pull, nothing is going to happen, don't you know, its a law enforcement Glock with a 7lb trigger.", what!!!!!!!!!:banghead:, I don't care if its a S&W Sigma with a 12lb trigger. If you do Mexican carry or inside the pocket, No holster=dumbarse

 

[K-Romulus]

It seems that the AP story has a few more details that the FoXNews version left out.

More info:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/31/AR2007103101055.html

McGuire said the man must have done something to make the weapon fire. The bullet passed through both of the man's legs and a bookcase before lodging in the wall of a cubicle.

There was no indication the man had brought the gun to target anyone, but rather he "just felt the need to carry it," McGuire said.

"He wasn't having problems with his bosses or co-workers that we know of," McGuire said.

Police have no record of the man being licensed to carry a concealed weapon. He also appears to have violated his company's policy against bringing guns to work without company officials' permission.

 

[damien]

Pursue charges? For what...

The person in question does not have a Tx CHL. He was illegally carrying when he shot himself. Not the brightest bulb.

I am not sure that this is the case. Even in Illinois, which does not have a CHL at all, this is probably not illegal. He had the gun on private property. If that was he was the owner/renter or had permission, it would be totally cool. In Illinois, at least.

They would have to prove that he had the gun on someone's property who did not give him permission or on public property. I am only guessing here, but I seriously doubt Texas says you can't have a gun at your own place of work. We don't even restrict that in Illinois (although it is not that common, excepting gun stores and 7-11s!)

Police have no record of the man being licensed to carry a concealed weapon. He also appears to have violated his company's policy against bringing guns to work without company officials' permission.

Now this could be a problem unless a manager wants to stand up for him and say he had given permission.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

I seriously doubt Texas says you can't have a gun at your own place of work.

Texas law says you can wear a weapon openly or concealed on any private property with the consent of the property owner. By Texas law, you can wear a concealed weapon on private property without the consent of the owner (exempting certain legislated locations) if you have a CHL. The worst a non-consenting property owner can do to a CHL holder is tell them to leave or have the police give them a tresspassing notice. A non CHL holder on non-consenting property is carrying a weapon illegally.

For the record, the company in question was non-consenting to weapons carry.

 

[Mr. Designer]

I carry a revolver and I still have a pocket holster. Not worth the risk to pocket carry without one.

 

[CTPistol]

morons like this feed the fight against us!

be real special of that ND went into the next cubicle and killed his co-worker.

soory, but this a NON-EXCUSEABLE event

 

[LeoC]

...when he accidentally discharged a handgun while sitting in his cubicle

He said the man must have done something to make the weapon fire.

I was glad to see the way these details are being reported. The police chief definitely made it clear that guns don't fire by themselves. The responsibility for the ND is purely the worker's. Good that the writer including that in the story.

Now if we could just get them to correct "the gun discharged" wording

 

[texas bulldog]

Texas law says you can wear a weapon openly or concealed on any private property with the consent of the property owner.

For the record, the company in question was non-consenting to weapons carry.

and company policy aside...it is highly unlikely that the company is the "property owner" in this case. they probably lease their office space like most every other company in the DFW area. so even if the company allowed carry at work, he could still be subject to prosecution based on the fact that he is unlicensed. company permission on property they don't own does not substitute for a CHL, it seems to me...

 

[RNB65]

There's more to this story than what's being told. Guns don't just go off spontaneously while sitting in a jacket pocket. My guess is that he jammed the gun into the pocket with his finger on the trigger and pulled it.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

company permission on property they don't own does not substitute for a CHL, it seems to me...

That depends largely on the wording of the lease. Dig deep enough into a lease and you will likely find language granting the occupant of the property to act in the stead of the landowner in most concerns. Generally, it's not something the police are going to be looking at. The current occupant of the property is most often the party referred to for permission.

Now, if the actual owner of the property disagreed with the current occupant and made that disagreement known, then that avenue might be opened up. Such as your example where the owner says no, but the occupant says ok. Then you get into the mess of subleasing... General rule to live by: If the current occupant says no, the answer is no.

 

[Vonderek]

Both legs and into a bookcase? Sounds like he was also packing FMJ.

 

[romma]

Up here the very least charge he would face would be "Negligent Discharge Of A Firearm". Followed by "Illegal Possession Of a Pistol/Revolver", and Carrying A Pistol Without A Permit.

In Ct You need a permit to bring a pistol anywhere. Oh, Let's not forget the infamous "Reckless Endangerment" that CT is famous for...

He is lucky he shot himself in Texas not Connecticut!

 

[texas bulldog]

clickclickd'oh:

perhaps so...and i won't argue the point. still seems like a real bad idea to me to carry a gun without a permit. and it also seems like a charge of some kind will be unavoidable given that the company apparently does not allow carry.

 

[damien]

I agree. I just wanted to point out that in certain situations, e.g. shopowner in Illinois, no license is necessary. Private property, you know. And this is in Illinois! We actually have a few rights up here. Just a few.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

I'm taking from this that a non permit holder without a holster that was carrying a non-1911 .45 (grip safety would have prevented it) loaded with FMJ managed to pull his jacket right and set it off. So he broke rules 2 and 4, maybe 3 by proxy. This only confirms that most of the time a complete FUBAR is required to shoot yourself or another "by accident" and that people that illegally carry guns are stupid on many different levels. His having a permit would have made this a little better for him. Still lucky guy that he missed his arteries.

 

[Sistema1927]

He said the man must have done something to make the weapon fire.

Thank you, Captain Obvious.