Saturday, March 28, 2015

Shooting blankety-blanks?


Courtesy of a link at Maddened Fowl, we learn that no less than five Americans have shot themselves in the unmentionables over the past few years.

Personally, I'm sure there have been more than five cases.  Ever since the advent of the Glock pistol with its 'safe action' system, followed by a host of imitators as soon as its patent protection ran out, I've been aware of the potential for accidental discharges from firearms so equipped.  Without an external safety, there's nothing stopping the trigger from being depressed accidentally if something gets into the trigger guard.  Those of us who carry pistols in our pockets on occasion know that danger very well.  Most of us compensate by using a pocket holster that covers the trigger, or a firearm with a long double-action trigger pull that can't be easily discharged (e.g. a Smith & Wesson J-frame revolver).  However, many who haven't thought things through don't take such precautions.

During my service as a prison chaplain, I can recall at least three inmates who were nicknamed 'Stumpy' for reasons that should be obvious in the light of the above.  All three carried Glock pistols in their waistbands or their pockets without the added security of a decent holster.  All three suffered the consequences (literally).  The teasing to which they were subjected by their fellow inmates must have made their term of incarceration immeasurably more unpleasant . . . not to mention their (lack of) prospects (in the sexual sense at least, and most likely in others as well) when they were discharged.

Please, dear readers, if you pocket- or waistband-carry a firearm, make sure you use a holster that covers the trigger?  Pretty please?  I'd rather have your interest peaked, not sadly foreshortened.

Peter

6 comments:

  1. I've always considered firearm safety mechanisms to be, if anything, a liability; 'durr, the safety's on, I can just drop it in my pocket'.

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  2. Yeah, gives a whole new meaning to foreshortening... :-) But at least they won't be breeding!

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  3. That's one way to win a Darwin Award while still remaining alive.

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  4. Think of it as evolution in action….

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  5. One accidental discharge to end all the rest...

    Antibubba

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  6. I would also recommend a holder that covers the safety. Thus keeping it from switching to "not safe" during normal pocket movments.

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