Technical questions re. firearm in Trayvon Martin case.

[RandySF]

I've never handled a real pistol in my life and there is something about the confrontation the night Trayvon Martin was killed that bothers me. Zimmerman claims self-defense, but he was able to pull the gun out of his holster, turn off the safety aim and shoot Martin in the chest. How easy is it to accomplish during a struggle? How much time does Zimmerman, who was never a soldier or law enforcement officer, need in order to complete these action? If the safety was already off, wouldn't the gun discharge accidentally during the fight?

[Gman]

1. For one thing, he probably had the safety off

brfore he ever got into it with Martin. I know of no evidence that says he did that except overall, with his history and what seems like his psychology, he had the safety off. Maybe he even did it while talking to 9/11 when he was out of breath.

[NYC_SKP]

2. He might even have had a round chambered, the gun ready to fire, and even had it in hand...

Being all Ninja-like (in his head)...

[Gman]

5. When he hung up with 9-11 and had both hands free

And could use both hands to chamber it???

[Jumping John]

3. There is no manual safety on the Zimmerman gun - a cheap Kel Tec semi-autiomatic

The kel-tec PF- 9 safety

google that ^^

[kudzu22]

4. Most people carry in a ready-to-fire state

Most firearms carried for self-defense are carried with a round chambered. Some carry with the safety on but most don't. Zim was probably carrying in an inside-the-waistband holster that covers the trigger. It's unlikely anything would make it go off other than pulling the trigger. At the range we're talking about it's likely less than one second to draw and fire.

[JDPriestly]

6. That's really scary.

[Hoyt]

7. Multiply Zimmerman by 15000000. That's a conservative estimate of the number walking around

In public with a gun, just like Zimmerman.

It is disturbing we allow this in public. It's disturbing that people actually think it's proper to carry their guns in public.

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. So is that FIFTEEN MILLION law abiding citizens, or FIFTEEN MILLION criminals?

What's the number of weapons related crimes committed by people who've never been convicted of anything more than a traffic offense, and carry weapons?

[Hoyt]

9. There is nothing moral-abiding about carrying a gun in public like Zimmerman.

[jmowreader]

10. It's very easy, especially if you're touching your opponent

As said upthread, most guys walking around with guns for self-defense have them ready to fire. All he would have needed to do is to pull out the gun, raise it to the correct height and pull the trigger--no aiming involved because the guy is right there.