Pocket Carry Results in Negligent Discharge
 

Cocked gun goes off as Pontiac man reaches into his pocket

Too bad the article doesn't say what type of handgun he had. Good thing he had a CPL, but he may be liable to lose his CPL, his kid, or both. :shakehead:

Based on the info it seems fair to surmise that he was not using a proper pocket holster, and he most definitely did not exercise proper trigger finger discipline.

I would be interested to learn what handgun was in his pocket.

If the article is accurate, it was revealing to learn that “he forgot the gun was cocked when he reached into his pocket”.
RJ

I'd like to know the same, but whatever flavor he shouldn't have had his finger on the trigger.

If it was actually cocked, I'm suspecting a revolver because most pocket-sized semi-autos seem to be hammerless.

If you are stupid you can shoot yourself in a lot of places when you draw or holster a firearm. Pocket carry is only one of them. That doesn't mean that pocket carry is inherently unsafe... only that some people are stupid; irrespective of where they carry.

Pocket carry with a proper holster is just plain stupid.

If one is to carry without a holster in a pocket and the gun is not a revolver, then that is one of those times I favor an unchambered C3 weapon.

Please explain. I pocket carry with proper holsters.

A holster that covers the trigger and not having a cocked revolver would be the answer. Tough way to learn a lesson.

I pocket carry every day DAO in a deep holster.

Pretty sure he meant "without". :whistling:

I wonder if it was a Glock or some other pistol without a safety?

if the guy accidentally managed a 10-13lb trigger pull on a revolver, he is a real goof. I dont read too much into the use of the word "cocked".. as most reporter just mean "its loaded"

That should have been "without"

Sig and Colt make SA '1911' style pocket .380s. Might be one of them.

Deaf

Doubt it. My wife's Sig P238 380 ACP has a safety if you carry cocked and locked. You'd have to be very careless to AD that weapon.

Which is why we call it negligent discharge; it's not accidental at all, imho.

It appears there will be no charges, but will he get his gun back? And, he's still not out of hot water with Child Protective Services yet. Still no specifics about the gun itself.

Pontiac man with toddler accidentally shoots self; no charges expected

Possibly, but they are relatively rare and expensive enough to weed out most of the candidates for the Darwin awards.

Some other possibilities could be Walther PPK and clones, Makarov, or even the Saturday Night Specials such as Davis .380 or Raven .25 types, or Bryco, Jimenez, Cobra, etc. I'm thinking these are more likely to be carried cocked and locked by a tiny little safety, without a holster, and by someone who is not well trained.

Or the media could be wrong about it actually being cocked, and it could be almost anything, even a Glock or Kel-Tec.

:dunno:

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Good safety tips from the Sheriff, but I'm disappointed that he didn't mention using a proper holster that completely covers the trigger and trigger guard. Of course, if he had, a large number of readers would probably think he meant a holster as one that is "worn on the hip", not a holster intended for pocket carry.

The media wrong?

That's impossible.

When you really think about it, there are few if any "accidental discharges" (AD). Perhaps aiming at a target and you squeeze the trigger too soon could be an AD. Or if the gun is faulty or it's one of those $125.00 new auto loaders and it's cocked, it could go off by its self and where it's pointed makes all the difference in the end result. But virtually every time a gun fires when it wasn't intended to, it's a negligent discharge. These of course include the "I didn't know it was loaded" ND, the "the gun slipped out of my hand" ND, the "I thought the person knew (or they said) they knew all about guns" ND and the list goes on-and-on.

And if the safety comes off in your pocket? A key or such gets inside the trigger guard (and yes a Glock will AD that way to, even a DA revolver if the key is pressed hard enough.)

Deaf

Sucks for him.

Does anyone know what model of gun was abused?