Colorado Heroine May Have Been Legally Prevented from Using Beretta as Security Guard

Vanity | 16 December, 2007 | Marktwain

[marktwain]

Jeanne Assam, the heroine of the New Life Church shooting in Colorado Springs, would likely have been unable to carry the Beretta that she stopped the shooting with if she had been a licensed security guard.

An AP article published on 12 December noted that licensed security guards in Colorado Springs are restricted to the use of revolvers.

As Jeanne Assam was a volunteer parishioner who was performing security guard duties because the church did not want to hire “mercenaries”, she was almost certainly not affected by the regulations, which only apply to government regulated security guards.

Fortunately, her lack of official status with the state and city allowed her to carry a firearm with sufficient firepower to accomplish the necessary task.

Jeannette had to fire 10 rounds to keep her fellow parishoners safe.

[Myrddin]

Tell me more about this upper leg shot.

The femoral artery runs up the inside of the thigh. It carries lots of blood. Open it and you have a high probability of a fast bleed out.

[Myrddin]

Jeanne Assam was definitely focused on the objective.

[Myrddin]

My "carry" for hiking around the mountains south of Pocatello is an S&W 629 4" loaded with PMC 240 gr JHP. The Kramer holster carries it just fine and I can shoot that round accurately even with one hand. I definitely have to keep two hands on the Ruger Super Redhawk .454 Casull 7.5" barrel when loaded with Hornady 300 gr @ 1500 fps. That round slaps your palms like a baseball bat.

I do have a Glock 23C (40 S&W). For rapid fire engagement, it is probably my best firearm for a quick follow up shot. The comp limits the muzzle rise. It cycles best with 165 gr ammo.

[Myrddin]

I'm not surprised. That's an issue I won't ever encounter. I'm only going to be armed as a private citizen with the carry of my choice.

[claudiustg]

It’s shop until you drop.
Shoot until they drop.

Or maybe Christmas has warped my brain.

[claudiustg]

I forgot to say what I’m shooting at the present.

S&W 29 6” 44 Mag: Federal 300gr Hardcast
S&W 686+ 4” 357 Mag: Federal 180gr Hardcast or Federal 125gr SJHP
Glock 31C 357 SIG: Winchester Ranger 125gr
SIG Sauer P239 9mm: Federal HST 124gr

[Myrddin]

All of those rounds look pretty effective for the given firearm. I've limited my 629 to 240 gr rounds as some of my buddies managed to damage their S&W 44 mag revolvers with 300 gr ammo. I leave the heavier rounds to my Ruger revolvers. They are beefy enough to handle the heavy rounds at the expense of a quality S&W trigger. Even the Ruger Super Redhawk .454 Casull is not invincible. I rented one in at the range in Oceanside, CA that had been fired with 300 gr Hornady so often that it ceased to operate correctly. My "plinking" round in that firearm is a 200 gr plated FN over 37 gr of W296. That is very similar to the preferred round in the S&W 460 Magnum. Lots of zip with less hammering of the firearm. I'm in the market for a 5" S&W 460 Mag revolver. I have the 10.5" Hunter version. It's nice, but not terribly conducive to carry in a holster. The 5" 460 will be carried in favor of the 629 in the future.

[Hazcat]

As long as your 629 is a -3 or higher you really shouldn’t have a problem with “shooting it loose”.

[Myrddin]

As long as your 629 is a -3 or higher you really shouldn’t have a problem with “shooting it loose”.

I'll have a look next time I drag it out for a range run. I also have the 6 1/2" PP model. Last time I shot that one, a small fragment zipped through the tip of my left ear. The stinging and sticky feel of blood all over my ear was completely unexpected. I had to open the action one handed to keep the blood off the firearm. Fortunately, my wife was in the lane next to me. She watched my revolver while I headed off to the men's room to deal with the mess. That kind of "oops" is a harsh reminder of the value of good shooting glasses and hearing protection that covers your ears instead of just using ear plugs.

[claudiustg]

I don’t shoot much of the hardcast; they’re for bears, which we have in great numbers around here. My 29 is one of the last of the regular production blued ones a 29-6. I wouldn’t mind having a .454 to shoot, but I probably wouldn’t carry anything larger than the 44.

[claudiustg]

-—Last time I shot that one, a small fragment zipped through the tip of my left ear. -—

I would check the cylinder alignment and lockup on that one. A lot of times fragments are the result of shaving at the forcing cone and the fragments can either blow out the gap or the ports.

[A_Former_Democrat]

Wonder why this incident isn’t more in the news?

It’s only a week old.

Would the coverage be the same (ie, virutally nonexistent) if say, someone had opened fire on a “Gay Pride” parade?

[Myrddin]

I would check the cylinder alignment and lockup on that one. A lot of times fragments are the result of shaving at the forcing cone and the fragments can either blow out the gap or the ports.

I suspect it was material emitted from the port.

Just minutes ago I was searching for a list of acceptable ammo to feed my S&W 460 and I found a recall notice for the Performance Center 460XVR Hunter Magnum. I zipped down to my safe, recorded the serial number and determined that my revolver is one of those recalled. Yikes. Good thing I haven't shot more than one round of .454 through that one. The recall is due to barrel problems. I think that run of revolvers was touted as having German manufactured "rifle" barrels. Apparently there was a problem with the quality of the steel used.

[Hazcat]

the “-” number will be on the face of the cylinder (Where you load). My son has a 629-5.

[marktwain]

“Wonder why this incident isn’t more in the news?

It’s only a week old.”

A private citizen, a woman with a ccw permit saves dozens of lives because she has her own, privately owned handgun with a possible “assault weapon” magazine, and credits God with guiding her.

What could liberals possibly find objectionable about that?

[Hazcat]

A private citizen, a woman with a ccw permit saves dozens of lives because she has her own, privately owned handgun with a possible “assault weapon” magazine, and credits God with guiding her. What could liberals possibly find objectionable about that?

One of the funniest (and at the same time saddest) posts I've read in a long time.

[Steamburg]

Ammo shortage is a logistics issue that should be resolved before the firefight. However, you fight with what you have not what you want.

[absolootezer0]

or just 1 from a 629. :)

[CowboyConservative]

there are programs out there available to professionals and private citizens like my self that create as close to real life s situation as possible and the most important objective is to control yourself in a high stress situation, how to combat the stress in order to remain focused on what is going on around you. Another area that has helped me is my background in martial arts because that also teaches you to remain in control and focused.
Now in all honesty I have never been forced to fire at anyone and I thank God for that. One thing I would stress to my students was the best weapon you have is mounted just above your neck! When you can control that is when you move to the tools

[Scotsman will be Free]

What I find interesting is that the church felt it necessary to have security in the first place. I’m glad they did. Is that church located in a high crime area or did they receive threats, perhaps from the now dead shooter?