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Friday, February 11, 2022

The perils of pocket carry

LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN) – A woman was airlifted to a hospital after she accidentally shot herself at a park in Lebanon on Saturday evening. 

Lebanon police officers responded to Don Fox Park for an incident that involved a woman and the accidental discharge of a weapon.

*****

I'm not a big fan of carrying a gun in a coat pocket but in full disclosure, I've done it periodically with revolvers pretty much all my adult life, usually in the winter when I'm wearing a coat so bulky that I can't get to the gun on my belt in a reasonable amount of time.
Her self inflicted gunshot wound could've been avoided if she kept her damned finger off the trigger regardless if her gun was a revolver or an automatic, but if she was carrying a revolver with a hammer, an extra precaution would be to grasp the handle with your thumb on the backside of the hammer pushing forward to keep it from self cocking. You need to be doing that anyway to keep the spur from getting hung up in the lining of the pocket.
But this story really begs the question: Why was she pulling the gun out at a park anyway?


14 comments:

  1. Negligent discharge, not accidental discharge!

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  2. i will never carry a handgun without an exposed hammer for just that reason. i wanted a Glock until i owned one. couldn't get rid of it fast enough, traded it and some money for a 92 beretta and never looked back.

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    1. Same same. I don't care for DAO on either revolvers or autos.

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    2. What did you not like about your glock? I'm not a firearms expert and that is what I usually carry (G17). Is there something I should know about this gun or about CC in general?

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    3. Pocket carry NDs are most likely when drawing or reholstering the weapon.

      Most striker-fired pistols are partially cocked when a round is chambered. The trigger safety can be easily disengaged unless one is very careful.

      DAO revolvers are less susceptible due to their longer and heavier trigger pulls. Those with concealed or bobbed hammers, and low-profile sights are less likely to foul during transitions to and from the holster.

      A suitable holster is highly recommended.
      Pocket type and position should be considered as well. Your BUG might fit in the front pocket of your jeans but may be very difficult to remove...

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  3. I pocket carry frequently, but always have a pocket holster for it.

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    Replies
    1. Same here, usually a LCR (.357) in a pocket holster, the work I do just makes most other holsters a major PIA.

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  4. When I was young, one of the local storekeepers carried a .22 caliber revolver in his pants pocket. He arrived at the store one morning, and pulled out his keys not realizing that one of the keys had snagged the trigger. This resulted in him shooting himself in the foot. He limped inside and called for help. The doctor in the emergency room recommended that he switch to a .38 caliber revolver. The .22 stopped in his foot and had remnants of his shoe and sock embedded with it. The doctor surmised that a .38 would have gone all the way through and left a much cleaner hole.

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    Replies
    1. That's why I a) have my revolver in a pocket holster and b) don't ever put anything else in that pocket (even when I'm not carrying, habits matter).

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  5. I’ve carried a DAO M & P 340 in my front pants pocket for so long most of the finish is worn off all the edges. Keep it in a Galco pocket holster. Other than practicing at the range, it comes out of my pocket as a unit, gun in holster. It fits in my coat pockets also, I make sure before I buy a new coat. Nothing else goes in the carry pocket, ever. Anything larger than the 340 goes in a holster on my belt, even my old Model 19 with a 2 and a half inch barrel. You can always wear a vest. Eod1sg Ret

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  6. she should have left it in the box. I mean no woman wants her gun snatched. Gotta watch that accidental discharge before over penetration. Hairy situation there, something smells fishy. Maybe a trench gun next time ?

    someone had to do it ..

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  7. I had a co-worker who literally shot himself in the foot at a Shoney's back in the 80's. It was a .22 but I don't know other details. The guy was just dumb anyway.

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  8. Know a guy that's carried a Keltec 32 in a pocket holster for decades, works in NPE (non-permissive environments).

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  9. Highly recommend mikas pocket holster. Check his website custom made by hand for your specific gun. Been carrying a j frame for 6 yrs and the holster is as good as new.

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