Attorney fires gun in office

Hickory Daily Record ^ | June 19, 2002 | KIM GILLILAND

[LibKill]

The DA was poorly trained.

I have been loading and unloading semi-automatic pistols for 30 years and have never had one go off unexpectedly.

Of course, I always look in the chamber (the extractor could fail).

And I don't play with them. They ain't toys.

[RightWhale]

if you're a lot better with a speed loader

That SA 45 Colt loads as fast as I can work with holding 6 bullets in one hand and trying to work the cylinder and the hammer and the shell ejector with the other. My times aren't much good even though I don't hardly ever miss a shot. Easy to see the advantage of carrying two pistols like Wild Bill. Or six pistols like Blackbeard the Pirate, but his brand of coffee isn't for most people.

[B4Ranch]

If you are attacked by someone and must use one arm to defend yourself while drawing your pistol, in effect you have pulled out a club. Haven't you?

[B4Ranch]

Interesting! I wonder if my 1970's S&W Chief Special can do the same thing.

[Hal.009]

I have three 1911 models. The big problem with locked and loaded is the lack of a actual safty when you draw the weapon. If your finger is anywhere near the trigger you risk a premature discharge.

The second problem is there are numerous incidents where the 1911 with a round chambered can discharge when dropped.

Then there is the problem of securing the weapon around children with one in the chamber. The trigger pull is minimal and a 45 has no mercy where the target is concerned.

The 1911 is a great and dependable weapon, but it is a bit heavy for CCW.

By the way, use hollow point ammo. It may seem excessive in a 45 but the hollow point bullet will transfer more energy into the target than the FMJ... just make sure the target isn't your buttocks of leg! lol!

[Henrietta]

Glock? I think my triggers are 10 to 12 pounds, and trigger pull is very long.

[Sir Gawain]

The trigger pull is long, but it's only 5 to 5.5 lbs.

There's a New York spring that gives it a revolver feel, that's about a 12 lb pull.

[1rudeboy]

Any possibility that this weapon was a 8mm, and the writer did a conversion? I find it totally believable that an ADA would carry a Walther PPK, for example.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Reid said the handgun had a mechanical malfunction with the ejector slide

Yeah, he pulled the trigger accidently and the pistol fired. Then due to his surprise he didn't have a good grip on the weapon, causing the weapon not to chamber the next round due to a loss of energy in the slides movement needed to complete the chambering of the next round.

That means he screwed up six ways to Sunday and blamed it on a bad ejector and asked the police to destroy the evidence for him.

[tracer]

Perhaps the DA obtained his pea-shooter from a "fellow LEO" who had a sterile drop gun that he could spare for a friend.

But the truth may never be know, given that the DA openly asked the sheriff to destroy the evidence.....

[in the Arena]

It took me a few minutes to understand that but I think what Reid the liar is trying to say is that the ADA idiot racked the slide thinking that action would eject the chambered cartridge. Then the ADA dunce pulled the trigger...scaring the ADA accident waiting to happen so bad he wants to have his $500 weapon destroyed rather than sent back to the factory for warranty work...

All the BS'ing going on by the ADA and DA...I'm willing to bet the whole incident went down like this..."Hey, look at me...I'm Dirty Harry...BANG !!! Waaaah !!!"

[The KG9 Kid]

"... Just not a chambered weapon with no external safety."

I once felt like you did with my Glock, but never went so far as to not have a round chambered.

When the worry became unbearable, I put my Glock in the safe and got a 1911.

My first generation Glock 17 is available for sale if you'd like one for your other hand. Inquire within.

[William Tell]

RogueIsland said: "In the NRA Basic Pistol course I took, they taught hammer down on empty chamber for revolvers."

One potential advantage to an empty chamber under the hammer is that a round can't "cook off" in a fire. My pre-treason S&W Model 66 stands guard night and day at my home. If the place burned, the round in under the hammer could fire and anything down range could get hurt. I store mine fully loaded, but I think about this now and again.

[Shooter 2.5]

"The big problem with locked and loaded is the lack of a actual safty when you draw the weapon.

I'm left handed and all my 1911's have honest to goodness ambidextrous safeties.

The second problem is there are numerous incidents where the 1911 with a round chambered can discharge when dropped.

Mmmm, nope. Army trials went into extensive testing to check if 1911's would go off if dropped from heights. Now if someone is using aftermarket parts, anything is possible.

The 1911 is a great and dependable weapon, but it is a bit heavy for CCW.

It depends on what model you're carrying. I carry a Springfield Ultra-Compact. There's a great line in the movie, 13th Warrior when the guy complains that his sword is too heavy and another tells him to get stronger. I thought it was good advice.

[TC Rider]

Then carry a ruger or a taurus doulbe action revolver with transfer bar safety . Ready to fire at ANY time.

You may have misunderstood my post.

My summertime carry is a new Taurus Ultralight 38sp Police Model 85 w/concealed hammer. Which of course has a transfer bar and is ready to fire at any time.

My cooler weather carry is a Glock 23 with a drop safety. It has one in the pipe and is ready to fire at any time. (currently living in the top drawer of my dresser, two steps from my bed (BTW, no kids))

Loaded, cocked, Glocks have been tumbled in cement mixers without going off. Yes, the Glock has a somewhat lighter pull than the Taurus, ~12 vs. ~6. The glock does have the safety switch on its trigger to help prevent discharges from 'snagged' triggers.

I have never placed my finger on the trigger without the intention of immediately squeezing it. I have never had a NG.

But, I do not stick it in my waistband, I don't carry in a 'soft' holster, and it stays in a rigid kydex holster that covers the trigger guard.

[PropheticZero]

Reid said the handgun had a mechanical malfunction with the ejector slide.

Uh...whats an "ejector slide", seen and ejector and I've seen a slide.

[steve-b]

What's that from?

"Mirror, Mirror"

[TigerTale]

"Mirror, Mirror"

OK-got it. Thanks.