Still learning handgun safety

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DeepSouth

DeepSouth

Random Guy
Joined
Jan 14, 2009
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4,845
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Heart of Dixie (Ala)
First off I want to start by telling you that I know of a guy that lives about a mile from me and he is paralyzed because he sat in someone else’s car, felt something poke him in the back and when he reached for the unknown object his finger tip pushed a trigger that sent a bullet into his spine. He nearly died, and from what I understand he lost what was looking like promising football scholarships. His whole life changed instead.

I pocket carry a good bit, normally either a PM45 or a LCP in a Desantis Superfly. Today it’s warm in the south so I put my thin baggy summer pants on, they have big pockets. I slipped the holstered PM45 in the pocket as normal, get on with my day, I happen to be off today. So I was doing a little work I’ve been meaning to get to. I finally stop for lunch and watch mor television than I normally do. I get up, go pull a few more fence posts head back in the house and only at this point do I see a problem when I look at the chair just to look down a loaded barrel.

If it’s wasn’t for that real life story about the paralyzed kid I probably would have brushed this off as nothing, instead it shook me to my core.


I’m thinking I need to reevaluate my equipment and my habits, this simply can’t happen. I can’t believe I didn’t notice my gun was gone for the hour or so I was working. I’d hate to need my gun and not have it, I’d hate to lose it somewhere, and especially I’d hate for my kid to sit on it and end up getting shot. Looking back their were signs this was coming (gun slipping partially out of holster) I just didn’t pay any attention.




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Finding it yourself, the way you found it, was undoubtedly the best outcome after the worst part happened. It coulda went from bad to worse pretty easily as you know, but fortunately it stopped at bad and you learned a hard lesson a lot easier than the fellow you described.

Carrying comfortably is important to a lot of folks. So comfy, they don't even know it's there...(or not there in your case) I like the little bit of rubbing I get from my carry rig. It's minimal, but enough to know it's there without having to grab-check.
 
"Safety", whether about firearms, power tools, electricity, water, whatever, is "training" that NEVER ends.
The important thing is to SURVIVE your mistakes without serious injury and incorporate that new and modified knowledge into greater care in the future.
Table saw did this. Fortunately, it was a 40-tooth carbide finishing blade that was still very new and NOT a 24-tooth "ripping" blade. :eek:

Left thumb 1a.jpg This is what it looked like 3 days afterwards.
 
It's a good lesson. Remember, that your entire carry rig, including the holster and belt (if you belt carry) or the holster and pocket (if you pocket carry) are part of the safety system. This is especially true of guns that depend on the holster to protect the trigger.

The holster needs to be made for the gun so it fits securely and the gun doesn't fall out easily. The holster needs to fit the belt/pocket so that there is no need for adjustments to keep it in position. I remember reading somewhere that one person felt that performing a somersault with a carry rig was a good way to find out if it was holding the gun securely enough. I haven't ever resorted to that level of testing, but I have been known to put a gun in a holster and hold it upside down to see if the holster will retain it.

Glad that this incident turned out well, that you are using it as a learning experience, and that you are sharing it so others can learn from it too.
 
Good catch and good reminder for everyone. Safe carry requires 100% of our faculties 100% of the time. I don't loose carry, though I have on rare occasion in the past. Now I primarily carry a P365 in a very secure Concealment Express kydex IWB that grips it firmly until I decide I need it.
 
Something similar happened to me about 5 years ago. I was out in the field next to the house with the dog. At the time I had these kind of baggy shorts and would carry a holstered pt738 in the back pocket. About an hour after coming back in the house I was getting ready to head out again and realized my gun and holster was no longer in my pocket. I looked everywhere...it had not occurred to me that it may have hopped out of my back pocket while running around with the dog. But sure enough, out in the field, about 50 yards from the house, there it was in the grass. And this wasn't a field out in the country...this was a corner lot in a residential neighborhood. The blood drained from my face when I saw it and realized the implications of what could of happened. In any event, nothing did happen apart from probably taking a year off my life from the heart palpitations...and those baggy shorts went straight in the trash. In fact, I only wear one style of shorts these days. Have multiple pairs in every color they offer, but all pretty much the same shorts. Haven't had a problem since
 
When I started back into concealed carry after almost two decades, my available gun/holster-options were limited. To try it out at first, I used an unchambered Jennings J22 in a pocket holster around the house for a few days. On around the third or fourth day, it slipped out in a recliner chair. This was from a pair of jeans with looser pockets than most of my jeans have.

I switched to a bigger gun that rode more snugly in the pocket until I made the change to belt carry. Still, I carry a second gun (Kel-Tec P32) in a pocket holster, and the jeans and holster hold firm. To me, "baggy" and "pocket-carry" are exclusive to each other.
 
People carry guns because they perceive a risk. Many fail to fully comprehend the risk of carrying one. I hear a lot of stories like this. I have one myself. I hear few about the defensive use of firearms (outside of the obvious source). It makes me wonder, which risk is greater? Being unarmed when you may need it or causing an accident by losing your gun? Which is more likely? The level of awareness is super-high if you're going to carry. In fact I find it exhaustingly high.

This isn't meant to be anti- or pro- any position. I have an LTC and carry...at times. Just something I've been thinking about.
 
Good for you for having the courage to tell your story(and about the gent who is paralyzed..that's awful). As they said in military aviation, the 'rules' are written in blood.
I carry IWB and once didn't get the holster clip all the way over my belt..bent over and the gun and holster fell on the floor..got a new belt...I am a fairly new returnee to the gun world, have only had a CCWP for 3 years but learn something new almost everyday.
 
I'm glad it worked out safely for you.

I suppose it makes me wonder about all the folks that carry very small guns who often comment "it's so small and light, I forget I'm even carrying it", rather than folks that are carrying a larger gun that is often described as a "boat anchor". Chances are good, you'd notice the "boat anchor" isn't still on you.
 
walnut1704 said:
People carry guns because they perceive a risk. Many fail to fully comprehend the risk of carrying one. I hear a lot of stories like this. I have one myself. I hear few about the defensive use of firearms (outside of the obvious source). It makes me wonder, which risk is greater? Being unarmed when you may need it or causing an accident by losing your gun? Which is more likely? The level of awareness is super-high if you're going to carry. In fact I find it exhaustingly high.

This isn't meant to be anti- or pro- any position. I have an LTC and carry...at times. Just something I've been thinking about.
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Nailed It!

As a firearms instructor I emphasize this in the first 5 minutes of training!

"Carrying a firearm is an awesome responsibility! You are responsible for every round that leaves your firearm. Do not carry a firearm unless you are willing and able to assume this responsibility! If you make the decision to carry a firearm you must understand the use of deadly force laws of your jurisdiction and be willing to take the life of another person. And understand that your life will be forever changed if you make this decision."

Smiles,
 
A similar event is one of the myriad reasons I stopped pocket carrying. Mine, the whole gun had slipped out, holstered, but I had a child in the house (still an infant at the time) and I didn't notice right away.

Solid Kydex with good retention IWB for me now. I don't want to "forget I'm carrying" with a holster/gun setup and literally forget if the gun is properly stowed again.

I'll take a minor discomfort for constant awareness of my firearm.
 
walnut1704 said:
People carry guns because they perceive a risk. Many fail to fully comprehend the risk of carrying one. I hear a lot of stories like this. I have one myself. I hear few about the defensive use of firearms (outside of the obvious source). It makes me wonder, which risk is greater? Being unarmed when you may need it or causing an accident by losing your gun? Which is more likely? The level of awareness is super-high if you're going to carry. In fact I find it exhaustingly high.

This isn't meant to be anti- or pro- any position. I have an LTC and carry...at times. Just something I've been thinking about.
Click to expand...

That of course is the calculation we each have to make. Me, I'd rather have it and not need it and find my daily routine, tweaked over the years, very safe in terms of handling and safety, even with two kinds crawling over me most of the day ("professional" Mr Mom).
 
I have never lost a gun out of my pocket (so far). But I walked into a restroom of a mall about 3 years ago and saw a Glock 19 magazine laying behind the toilet. I took it to the information desk for the mall. When I told them what I had found, they told me that they didn’t accept anything weapons related for the lost and found and asked me if I would dispose of it for them. So my buddy got a free glock mag.
 
Dragon breath said:
I have never lost a gun out of my pocket (so far). But I walked into a restroom of a mall about 3 years ago and saw a Glock 19 magazine laying behind the toilet. I took it to the information desk for the mall. When I told them what I had found, they told me that they didn’t accept anything weapons related for the lost and found and asked me if I would dispose of it for them. So my buddy got a free glock mag.
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My son managed an upscale restaurant for years. He would find at least two firearms in bathrooms every year. About half were left by cops.

No cop bashing here I'm a retired LEO! Smiles,
 
I switch between pocket carry and IWB with a High Noon Mr. Softy.
I can’t carry at work so disarming everyday when I get to work is why I most frequently pocket carry. This incident has me considering dumping pocket carry almost all together, it’d just be a pita at the bare minimum I’ll be investing in some new, more secure, pocket holsters until then I’ll stick with the mr. softy. It still surprises me this happened with my PM45, that’s a lot of gun to pocket carry, not like a LCP.

Its easy to become complacent and flat out forget how dangerous a gun, especially a handgun, really is.
 
One of the reasons I like single clip kydex. Very easy to clip on and off if you have to disarm for work, or even at be end of the day. Plenty of great options out there, I'm partial to the Vedder light tuck, very easy on/off, great retention (though I do find the retention screws works loose so I locktite them myself) and a great draw.
 
I have a good friend in Colorado who was out shooting a 357 revolver, when he attempted to reholster, the revolver fired sending a bullet into his lower leg. He had his right leg amputated at the knee. A horrible thing to happen. He was drinking as well which likely contributed to this tragedy. In the following years he won lots of drinks at his favorite watering hole betting guys that he could stab his lower leg with his pocket knife. I miss him as I moved away.
 
I often carry a 1911, either in Government or Light Weight Commander or CCO versions. I always use a belt holster, usually a Galco FLETCH or Combat Master OWB, or a 3" Defender in an IWB holster. I like 100% security and, even more important, 100% safety 100% of the time. BTW, if you re-holster with your hand off the grip safety on a 1911 and your finger outside the trigger guard, you will avoid NDs 100% of the time.
 
Pat Riot said:
The good thing is you see the problem before it becomes a problem......
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Well, no he didn't! I haven't read all of the posts but I will give my two cents.

The OP created a dangerous situation because he didn't know the status of his gun, period. I've been shooting and hunting for nearly 50 years now and I made it a rule to always be conscious of the status of my weapon. This is how I was taught as a child and this is how I have practiced all of my life.

Consequently, I often have an issue with how the Gun Rules are denoted because there is no real consensus and often the first rule will be stated as "Never point a gun at anything that you are not willing to destroy". That is a very poor rule and wording as it stands; because it doesn't encourage people to actually know the status of their weapon. It simply encourages people not to point it at something they wouldn't want to consciously destroy.

The most important gun safety rule as I practice and as it should be universally denoted IMHO is simply "Always know where your gun is pointing". If you teach and practice this then you will always be aware of the status of your gun. The next most important rule is to "Always know your target and what is beyond it". Even if you suffered an accidental discharge as long as you always abide by those two rules you will cause no harm. The other gun rules are important also but there is a clear first rule, followed by a second rule.

Here is a prime example. When I was attempting to settle on a ccw gun at one point I purchased a true pocket pistol (Diamondback DB380). The first time I sat in a chair with the pistol in my pocket I immediately realized the pistol was actually pointing at the person directly across from me. When standing the gun points downward (vertically). When seated a pocket pistol will then be pointing horizontally. I guarantee there is a large percentage of people who carry in this fashion, including competent shooters, who probably are not conscious of this. They don't realize it because they didn't teach themselves to always be aware of the status of their gun. I conceal carry quite a bit, especially when I am out with my family and I am always conscious of the status of my gun. I always know where it is pointed and I make a habit of putting my hand on it on occasion to insure it is properly seated in the holster. This is what I'd encourage others to do.

At least the OP is now aware of the potential issue he discovered. In addition, I am not trying to scorn the OP but these things can and should be avoided.

Ralph
 
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I pocket carry a P3AT every day for the last 15 years. Even when I have another gun on me it stays in my pocket too. It’s mainly for around the house. In all those years I have never had it come out of my pocket.

I do always check that my wallet, knife, keys, and gun are on me when I get up from sitting, usually when in public. Just a habit I guess. Also, I would guess the baggy pants aren’t ideal for pocket carry and retention.
 
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