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Off-duty cop's pistol accidentally fires at gun show, injuring retired officer
TwinCities.com ^ | 22 February, 2009 | Nick Ferraro

Posted on 02/25/2009 6:55:13 PM PST by marktwain

A retired St. Paul police officer was wounded Saturday when a pistol belonging to an off-duty Minneapolis police officer accidentally discharged at a gun show.

Both men were working security at the Minneapolis Gun Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center when the accident happened about 1:15 p.m., said Minneapolis police spokesman Sgt. Jesse Garcia.

The semi-automatic pistol went off when the holster got caught on a chair that the Minneapolis officer was either leaning back on or getting off of, Garcia said.

One bullet hit the floor and fragmented pieces struck the retired officer in the leg and hand, Garcia said. He was treated for a small wound and released Saturday.

A bullet fragment also grazed the Minneapolis police officer's pant leg. The officer, who has been on the force for more than 20 years, was not injured.

Garcia called the incident a "freak accident."

"You could probably sit in the chair 10,000 times and it will never happen again," he said.

The retired officer was working for a private security firm hired by the gun show, while the off-duty officer was hired by the convention center, Garcia said. Both men were near a check-in table that was set up to make sure guns were inoperable, he said.

Minneapolis police will do an internal investigation, which will include an examination of the gun and holster, Garcia said. But because the incident is considered an accident, the department will not consider any discipline, he added.

Minneapolis officers keep the safety switch off when carrying guns in a holster, Garcia said.

"When you need it, you need it," he said. "Every split second counts."

Most people inside the convention center were unaware of the incident, Garcia said.

"There was a cheerleader show and a dog show going on there, too, and it was business as usual afterward," he said. "I'm sure 90 percent of those there didn't even know it happened."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: banglist; donutwatch; gunshow; leo; officer; oops; shot
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A real "man bites dog" story about a freak unintentional dischage. The headline seems to make the gun show at fault. Note that the injury was relatively minor.
1 posted on 02/25/2009 6:55:14 PM PST by marktwain
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To: marktwain

Just a little bullet wound. Nothing to see here. Move along.


2 posted on 02/25/2009 6:56:06 PM PST by worst-case scenario (Striving to reach the light)
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To: marktwain

wonder if it was one of the recently recalled smith and wessons...


3 posted on 02/25/2009 6:58:42 PM PST by Cailleach
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To: marktwain
Minneapolis officers keep the safety switch off when carrying guns in a holster, Garcia said.

That's not much of a freak unintentional discharge if they don't use the safety. That goes straight into pure negligence.

4 posted on 02/25/2009 7:00:32 PM PST by Shooter 2.5 (NRA - TSRA- IDPA)
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To: marktwain
"Minneapolis officers keep the safety switch off when carrying guns in a holster, Garcia said.

"When you need it, you need it," he said. "Every split second counts." "

Photobucket

Abbott, where's the safety switch on my Glock?"

5 posted on 02/25/2009 7:02:57 PM PST by Cobra64
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To: marktwain

So, let’s see here, police are the only ones who are supposed to be able to control their guns? I mean I am sorry for the guy who got shot, and glad he didn’t get killed, but hey, let’s make it real clear. Guns ARE dangerous. Dangerous to whom is an “it depends.” Dangerous to those who take them for granted. And dangerous to tyrants. That second part alone makes them worth the risk of unintentional injury (or intentional injury too for that matter). Every day it seems to me more and more that the Liberty Tree needs watering.


6 posted on 02/25/2009 7:04:16 PM PST by RKV (He who has the guns makes the rules)
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To: marktwain
the Minneapolis officer was either leaning back on or getting off

OK...

7 posted on 02/25/2009 7:04:25 PM PST by earlJam
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To: Shooter 2.5

Precisely.


8 posted on 02/25/2009 7:05:10 PM PST by RKV (He who has the guns makes the rules)
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To: marktwain
Minneapolis officers keep the safety switch off when carrying guns in a holster, Garcia said.

Note to self: Avoid Minneapolis at all costs, the cops carry condition 0.

A 1911 style has the grip safety and shouldn't go off, so I assume this was a Glock variant.

I carry with one in the pipe, full mag, and SAFETY on. On a 1911, I can take the safety off as I clear the holster and not lose a millisecond. And lean back in a chair and not shoot anyone.

/johnny

9 posted on 02/25/2009 7:09:51 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (God Bless us all, each, and every one.)
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To: marktwain

10 posted on 02/25/2009 7:13:07 PM PST by iowamark
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To: marktwain

Count on this story to have been totally mangled by the reporter.


11 posted on 02/25/2009 7:14:25 PM PST by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: iowamark

Nice way of saying it was a Barney Fife moment, huh?


12 posted on 02/25/2009 7:15:21 PM PST by txnativegop (God Bless America! (NRA-Endowment))
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To: JRandomFreeper

Probably a Glock variant. I love my Glock but let’s face it a lot of folks probably shouldn’t carry one since they want to carry it with a round chambered like they are heading to the O.K. Correl.


13 posted on 02/25/2009 7:23:03 PM PST by Smogger (It's the WOT Stupid)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Not a Glock, since there’s no safety “switch”.

And the gun fired because the trigger was squeezed. My bet is he had it out for whatever reason, went to holster it with his finger on the trigger instead of indexed down the barrel, and as he shoved it into his holster his finger caught and fired the gun.


14 posted on 02/25/2009 7:24:24 PM PST by BobbyT
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To: txnativegop
Nice way of saying it was a Barney Fife moment, huh?

Photobucket

15 posted on 02/25/2009 7:25:08 PM PST by Cobra64
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To: Cobra64
A retired St. Paul police officer was wounded Saturday when a pistol belonging to an off-duty Minneapolis police officer accidentally discharged at a gun show.

Note the subtle but very important liberal anti-gun bias. The sentence reads "... pistol ... accidentally discharged ..." What, the pistol didn't mean to discharge? Foolish pistol.

The sentence should properly read "... was accidentally discharged..." to indicate the truth that somebody was behind the accidental discharge. The pistol was just minding it's own business.

16 posted on 02/25/2009 7:26:15 PM PST by kittycatonline.com
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To: BobbyT

Yeah. Well I was assuming that the the author doesn’t know what he is talking about. The Glock has a safety that’s supposed to prevent something getting caught in the trigger guard, a drop safety. Oh.. and the one between your ears ;-)


17 posted on 02/25/2009 7:29:34 PM PST by Smogger (It's the WOT Stupid)
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To: marktwain

First ever discharge at a MWCA show.....


18 posted on 02/25/2009 7:32:35 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo (This Ain't No Party....This Ain't No Disco..)
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To: BobbyT
We're talking about a story from the Lame Stream Media. You know, the guys that talk about semi-automatic revolvers, 40mm and 22mm pistols instead of .40cal and .22cal....... And safety 'switches'.

Even with the idiot reporter, and some facts lacking... there is no such thing as an 'accidental discharge'. There are negligent discharges, and purposeful discharges.

/johnny

19 posted on 02/25/2009 7:34:40 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (God Bless us all, each, and every one.)
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To: earlJam

Yeah. The gun was out of the holster. Either coming out or going in.

BS coverup, as usual.....


20 posted on 02/25/2009 7:34:53 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo (This Ain't No Party....This Ain't No Disco..)
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