Posted on 10/01/2006 1:31:18 PM PDT by kiriath_jearim
Great pic.
That jumped out at me, too. I can't think of any law enforcement agency in Florida that issues revolvers as their duty sidearms. Maybe in some very small town police departments, but the St. John's County Sheriff's Dept. is not one of those. I'm sure a lot of officers carry revolvers as back-up, last resort pieces, but those are probably going to be snubby .38s or .357 Magnums.
I think you're right. Reporters are ignorant, lazy and illiterate fools, and never more so than when writing about aviation or guns.
Not only is the gun in his ear, it looks like his finger's on the trigger.
I've seen some dumbass stuff at the range, but that one takes the prize.
Bears repeating,... alcohol and powder don't mix.
Yes, the more I think about it, the more likely that it was a SAA. It is doubtful that any rational adult would pull the trigger on a d.a. revolver while pointing it at someone, but these days people seem mystified at the function of s.a. revolvers, and are usually surprised at the "hair trigger," which most novices rarely consider experiencing with a cocked d.a. in casual circumstances, but experienced shooters know is how even a d.a. is likely to be used in the field, time permitting.
Motion picture and television's exclusive representation of the Old West folks using only Colt style SAA revolvers is interesting too. One NEVER sees a Schofield top-break or a d.a. Lightning, for examples. The Schofield was Buffalo Bill's favorite, in .44 Russian. I think William Bonney favored the Lightning, when he could steal one! Also interesting is the represented preponderance of 4 5/8" barrels, while I believe that 7 1/2" was the norm. It is still the better choice for those who will or can not practice much, and still want to hit targets farther away than card table, fist fightin' distance. Most original photos show 7 1/2" Colts. 10" was also somewhat popular.
So, unless the reporter typed .45 instead of .44, indicating a .44 Magnum or Special, and probably then a double action, I think that we have deduced it was a Single Action Army, and how a series of errors may have taken place, ending in tragedy.
But excuse me now. The outside dogs are barking, so it's time to grab the ol' Colt and go to investigate the ruckus. It is good for an adult to be familiar with all sorts of mechanical instruments, since in this life and as usual changing world, "you never know what y' may get," old, new, borrowed, blue...or rusted!
I've seen people just meander out in front of the firing line like those things are just spitting smoke.
Amazing photo, though, isn't it?
Perhaps it was a semi, and the author doen't know firearms?
Still, stupid, very stupid, and terminal.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.