Gun goes off in courthouse - El Paso

[quidni]

Main story from elpasotimes.com:

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_10097840

And a brief blurb as followup:

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_10106447

No one seriously injured, no panic, business as usual at the courthouse, and there's no claim that the gun "went off by itself."

[Owens]

...a marshals service deputy fired his weapon once, wounding himself and a U.S. Border Patrol agent...

Ah yes... from only those who are permitted to carry in a courthouse. Reminds me of the video(s): "I am the only one in this room qualified to carry this (BANG)..."

And a Glock too!

[longtooth]

Special Agent Andrea Simmons, a spokeswoman for the FBI. She said agents will help determine how the gun went off.

Although Payan couldn't comment on the type of gun the deputy fired, he said deputies are typically issued Glock 40-caliber handguns. The handguns have the safety on the trigger, according to the Arms Site, a Web site about firearms.


Now this investigation will not take the skills of Perry Mason to figure out.
Safety on trigger of a Ggaa, gaaalll, You know one of them G guns, & he had his booger hook on the safety on the trigger & BANG
Good thing he did not try to put it back on safety.

[pbwalker]

maybe he'll try to sue Glock and the holster maker...

[Fixintu]

Awwww come one guys. It's obvious we are dealing with one of those "EVIL" guns here. You know the kind the MSM is always going on about, the kind with a mind of their own. Remember, GUNS kill people right? I'm sure the FBI is transporting it to the nearest church to have it exorcised immediately.

[old farmer]

Morn'
I have no background with Glocks weopon system. What is different about the Glock vs a Colt 1911? My father's lesson:
(1) no finger on trigger
(2) pointed in a "safe" direction
(3) All Weopons are loaded

[dihappy]

Well, i guess one of the big differences is that with a 1911 locked, theres no way you can pull the trigger :)

A glock, well, see above article :D

[DoubleJ]

If you're not supposed to be shooting something/-one, then why would you even test that theory?
what if the safety on yer 1911 fails? you going to rely on that as your only barrier between quiet and a loud bang?

I believe this is a training opportunity for those involved.

[CompVest]

+1

[Mike from Texas]

+2

[longtooth]

Sorry teachers. I guess I shunna made fun.

[NcongruNt]

If you're not supposed to be shooting something/-one, then why would you even test that theory?
what if the safety on yer 1911 fails? you going to rely on that as your only barrier between quiet and a loud bang?

I believe this is a training opportunity for those involved.

It is good practice to test at least once per range trip or two, to make sure your safeties are functioning properly. By all means, you should be practicing proper safety procedures at all times, including when holstering, but it is prudent to make sure your pistol is mechanically sound, periodically in a safe environment.

It seems that most officer ADs I hear about involve a Gl---- "safe action" pistol, and it's usually during reholstering. Now, a lot of the reason for this may be due to the fact that the Gl--- is a very common duty weapon, but I don't recall any offhand that involved an XD or Sig or HK. While the system is good as far as mechanical safeties for drop protection, I think the naming may contribute to some being lax in their diligence in the safe handling of their duty weapons. Too many booger hooks are apparently being placed on the bang switch.

[Liberty]

Too many booger hooks are apparently being placed on the bang switch.

boogerhooks.
Shirttails,
holster edges.
Seatbelts.

Some guns have smaller safety margins, than others.

[Skiprr]

...And there's no claim that the gun "went off by itself."

Well, there's always the short report that hit wire services on the 4th:

Gun accidentally goes off, hurting 2 in El Paso

EL PASO — A gun accidentally fired in a courthouse Monday, wounding two federal agents when a bullet ricocheted, authorities said.

The injuries to the Border Patrol agent and the deputy U.S. marshal were not life-threatening, Border Patrol spokesman Doug Mosier said.

U.S. Marshal's Service spokesman Jerry Payan said the gun went off in a secured hallway on the courthouse's third floor.

Mosier said it does not appear that the weapon belonged to the Border Patrol agent, and that the officers were wounded by a "ricocheting round."

Now, that's journalism!

[quidni]

...And there's no claim that the gun "went off by itself."

Well, there's always the short report that hit wire services on the 4th:

Gun accidentally goes off, hurting 2 in El Paso

EL PASO — A gun accidentally fired in a courthouse Monday, wounding two federal agents when a bullet ricocheted, authorities said.

The injuries to the Border Patrol agent and the deputy U.S. marshal were not life-threatening, Border Patrol spokesman Doug Mosier said.

U.S. Marshal's Service spokesman Jerry Payan said the gun went off in a secured hallway on the courthouse's third floor.

Mosier said it does not appear that the weapon belonged to the Border Patrol agent, and that the officers were wounded by a "ricocheting round."

Now, that's journalism!

Well, no such claim in the original article I linked, at least.... they did mention that the deputy will bear responsibility for firing his handgun. I'm almost proud of our local reporters, for once.

Gerry Payan, supervisory deputy for the U.S. Marshals Service, said a marshals service deputy fired his weapon once, wounding himself and a U.S. Border Patrol agent about 10:45 a.m. on the third floor of the courthouse.

Payan said the deputy will be held responsible for firing the handgun just as any other law enforcement official would in a similar situation.