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.

[Rick.Donaldson]

That is certainly with the last century. I guess you’re qualified!

[CowboyConservative]

Dear sir
I truly am sorry about your knee problem I personally have a condition developing with one of my knees that was caused by an injury years ago and I know how that knee feels at times.
Your last statement could not be more true no matter what your weapon of choice practice until its use is second nature. Then you are able to stay focused on the problem at hand and effective in dealing with that problem!
I wish you the very best!

[Badeye]

(chuckle)

[Still Thinking]

Probably stands for Colorado Revised Statutes.

[Still Thinking]

You may want to rethink your choice of powder. And shoot sooner.

[oldenuff2no]

You are right, I misread it.

[marktwain]

“You are right, I misread it.”

Very good. We all get a little ahead of ourselves sometimes.

[MarkL]

That’s OK! One of my favorite things about FR is my ability to post on threads I haven’t bothered reading, or misunderstand so completely that everyone’s certain that I’m a blithering idiot! It’s part of my irresistible charm! :-)

Mark

[RandallFlagg]

Beretta PX-4 Storm

My next purchase.

[marktwain]

From the LA Times:

“The regulation applies only to those who work as paid contract security officers, city spokeswoman Sue Skiffington-Blumberg said.

She said the restriction on semiautomatic weapons did apply to volunteers such as Jeanne Assam, who was working at New Life Church during Sunday’s assault.”

I think this is a Freudian slip. The two sentences contradict each other, so I think they unconsciously left out the *not* in “did (not) apply”

It is rather telling, though. We need to find out for certain.

[CowboyConservative]

I also would like to see a detailed account of what happened.
Make no mistake what she did was the proper thing to do and I would have done the same thing. I do question her choice of weapon (a subject I have discussed in other replies) and also her training that seems to be a little lacking. (also a subject I have covered) Both of the above have an easy fix. Unfortunately many security guards get only basic training and that is not enough it is not enough for anybody who decides to carry a firearm. There is no disrespect towards her as a person or her decision to stop the situation. My concern was with what transpired and the possible danger to innocent bystanders when you need to empty 10 rounds to stop an individual, that alone. Example how many of those rounds hit the target and where did the rest go? She has demonstrated she has what it would take to handle a situation and to that my hat is off to her. It was a tough situation and in the end we never really know how we are going to react until we indeed react. I apologize I had overlooked you comments and that is why the delay with a response

[CowboyConservative]

Dear sir
I would hope if one of the stray rounds hit you, you would still be able to complain

[CowboyConservative]

Very bad rule!

[mamelukesabre]

If you like the model 629, you might like to check this one out. Its similar to the 629 but holds 8 rounds.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&productId=65218&tabselected=tech&isFirearm=Y&parent_category_rn

For my “open carry hiking sidearm”, I have a glock model G29 with the full length 15 round mag. The model 29 is the smaller version 10mm.

For concealed carry I have a 9mm Kahr PM9. Im going to replace it with the new walther PPS as soon as mine comes in. As for recoil, I find the PM9 and the glock G29 have about the same recoil. The PM9 maybe kicks just a tiny bit more. Neither one come close to the berretta 92 for accuracy. At least not in my hands. The berretta has a very good trigger, in my opinion, better than a glock by far. The PM9 has a horrible trigger.

[traviskicks]

"if she had been licensed by the state [as a security guard], she would have been prevented from using the Beretta that she used to stop the crime."



Libertarian ping! To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.

[Nachoman]

Now my friend in all fairness how many gunfights have you won?

None. That's why I don't second guess somebody's performance in a deadly force encounter.

[ex 98C MI Dude]

You speak the truth.

[CowboyConservative]

If you had been standing just a little to the right I would hope you still had a ability to second guess.
You have missed my point here and that is simply she had the wrong firearm and fired to many rounds. Anybody that empties a magazine does not have the proper training and the proper amount of practice to use deadly force in the manner she displayed, in any manner!
She did the right thing but if your children and loved ones were there would you not want her to have the proper training and practice that they would not be in harms way from a stray bullet? Okay all I am saying is use the gun that fits you and practice with that gun!!!!!! Your children and the people who live next to you depend on that.
I aways try to second guess anything that is why the concern. Please be very careful at what you are going to do. You and I both have no idea how we are going to react to a given situation they are all different but myself I will hit and disable a target with the first shot can you say the same? That means I will not put innocent people at harm emptying a clip! There are ways to shoot at a threat without putting innocent people in harms way do you have any idea what they are? I will bet she doesn't either! Now just because I have been lucky enough that I have never had to use those tactics does not mean I don't know them and I have taught them. Every single person who has had to use deadly force takes the time to second guess what happened and how that could be improved or made more safe for the innocent people involved or we would not have the training standards we enjoy today! The days of the saloon shootout are gone!! I do truly hope that if somebody is forced to use deadly force around anybody you "love" they have taken the time to keep those people safe from more than just the criminal!

[Turbopilot]

Could you point me to such a program? In all seriousness, I’m new to both guns and carrying, and I can easily tell that my time shooting targets on the range is not at all the same as if I were in a situation where I needed to use my weapon against an actual threat. I would appreciate any advice you have on how to find training more relevant to real-world situations.

[Myrddin]

My wife had a PM9 for a short time. She traded it for an S&W revolver in 32 Mag. The trigger on the PM9 was terrible as you noted. She could not shoot it well. Even I ended up with only 2" groups at 15 yards. That is terrible compared to the single, ragged hole I can produce with the 686+ with 38SPL. That PM9 is the only firearm we have ever sold or traded from all our many acquisitions.

I like that 627, but I have a 5" S&W 460 on my list ahead of that one. I'm also waiting to hear from S&W on the recall/repair of my 460XVR. I just learned about the recall yesterday. Thanks for the pointer on the 627. The L frame is my favorite size...and one that my wife shoots well.