Woman drops gun while using public bathroom, accidentally shoots woman in next stall

[Hugabear]

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jul/09/bullet-dropped-gun-hits-woman-bathroom-stall/

<snip>
A Tampa woman was shot in the leg this afternoon while sitting on the toilet in a hotel bathroom. Police said the woman in the next stall accidentally let her handgun slip out of her waist holster, and the weapon discharged when it hit the ground.

The bullet hit 53-year-old Janifer Bliss of Tampa in the lower left leg. She was taken to Tampa General Hospital with what police described as minor injuries.

The gun belonged to Debra Monce, 56, of Land O'Lakes. She has a concealed weapons permit for the small-caliber handgun, but the case has been referred to the State Attorney's Office for review.
<snip>

[aikoaiko]

1. unlikely but possible.

probable negligent trigger pull.

[paulsby]

8. i agree

the examples of modern firearms that can fire merely by being dropped are a rarity. probably user error, much like the fabled audi acceleration incidents that plagued us in the 80's

[imdjh]

10. That was terrifying, those Audi's were on a rampage. nt

[baldguy]

2. If only Ms Bliss had been carrying, she could've defended herself.

[imdjh]

9. If she had been wearing heels, like a lady, it might not have happened. nt

[TPaine7]

3. Modern weapons have feature to prevent discharge due to dropping.

I would have no problem with a requirement that CCW weapons have such features.

[imdjh]

7. Nothing worse than someone else's discharge in a public restroom. nt

[Robb]

12. Beat me to it. nt

[proteus_lives]

21. Ha!

:rofl:

[rocktivity]

4. At least it was IN a holster

A guy did the same thing a while back, except that he just had the gun stuck in his waistband--extra dumb when you consider that he was a cop. And let's not forget Plaxico Burress, who shot himself--and possibly his football career--when his gun fell from his waistband. It doesn't sound like a well-made gun, though.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[imdjh]

6. Are we sure about that? I mean, it dropped when she squatted. nt

[paulsby]

11. i'd take the woman's story

with a huge grain of salt. very few modern firearms are going to discharge if dropped. also note that if she had a SECURITY holster, iow one with a retention strap, this can't happen.

[rocktivity]

13. This is my favorite thing about DU

Any of us can be an informed expert on a moment's notice!

As I said, I give her credit for having a proper holster, but it sounds like she was careless about having it secured.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[RamboLiberal]

28. She didn't have a proper holster

With a proper holster you can hold it upside down and shake it and the gun won't fall out. And you don't need a retention strap unless you're carrying some cheap ass holster made of cloth or a holster not made for that firearm. The retention strap is more for preventing someone else from grabbing your gun.

If you're going to conceal or open carry on the belt, inside the waistband or pocket invest in a good leather or plastic holster made by a reputable holster firm made specifically for your model of firearm.

My bet is this woman had a cheap ass cloth holster.

A lot of gun buyers never inform themselves by doing research some gun magazines or on the internet or going to a good class and just end up buying the cheapest holster they find at the gun or sporting goods store.

[imdjh]

5. That's terrible. Let's take away everyone's rights for their own good.

One klutz justifies it.

[rurallib]

14. Now not only do I have to worry about Larry Craig in the next

stall of a public toilet, I have to worry about accidental discharges.

[doc03]

15. Shortly after the concealed carry went into

effect in Ohio someone dropped a handgun in a local K mart and it discharged luckily the bullet never hit anyone.

[X_Digger]

16. She likely made a grab for it as it was falling..

.. pulling the trigger.

[slackmaster]

17. That's very likely what happened

My dad taught me when I was a young boy NEVER to try to catch a dropped knife or gun.

[SteveM]

18. They don't call 'em thunder boxes for nothing...

A variation on this theme occurred in Austin, Texas late last year when a sheriff's deputy "left" his gun by the throne where it was found by a subsequent user. He not only dropped it (the gun), but didn't notice it.

Sheesh, maybe folks should go back to revolvers.

[TheWraith]

19. Revolvers aren't really that much safer than semi-autos...

Unless you're doing something dangerous with the semi-auto, like keeping it chambered, cocked, and the safety off. Of course most revolvers don't even have a manual safety, so it's not really that much safer even then. To have a negligent discharge with either one, you have to break some rules.

[Statistical]

20. "something dangerous with the semi-auto, like keeping it chambered, cocked, and safety off"

Huh?

That is dangerous?

Cocked?
Not all weapons are cocked anymore. Striker fired weapons for example having no traditional cocking feature.

Safety off?
A large portion of weapons today have no "manual safety" but rather rely on internal safety mechanism to ensure the weapon doesn't fire unless you pull the trigger.
Many LEO have firearms with no manual safety.

Chambered?
A firearm with no ammo is a lightweight cumbersome club.

Now if you were talking about a 1911 with hammer back and safety off that is another issue due to the fact that a failure of the hammer could cause the weapon to fire.

I carried a Springfield XD for 4 years with round in chamber everyday and I don't consider it dangerous. The weapon was designed specifically to be used that way. The Springfield XD has no manual safety. I keep weapon in holster and the only way to fire it is to pull the trigger which is impossible to do while holstered.

I recently switched to Rugler LCP but similar design applies.

[TheWraith]

24. You're talking about gradations of safety.

Yes, I was specifically thinking of something akin to a 1911 or similar design. Thus, a fully ready to fire pistol, even if it can be regarded as "safe" against accidental discharged, is less so than one that is safetied, or not chambered, or uncocked, or all of the above. However, like I said, even a fully armed semi-auto pistol isn't much less safe than a loaded revolver.

[SteveM]

25. I'm thinking of the "action bars" on most modern revolvers...

Since my Ruger has one, I could take a hammer to the hammer (with a loaded chamber) and still not have it discharge. I believe all modern-manufactured revolvers have something akin to this; even old 1950s Ruger single actions can be retrofitted with one for free. I have no hesitation about carrying a fully-loaded Ruger, and I think the same applies for other makes.

[virginia mountainman]

22. On a related note..

It can be a PITA to go to the can, when out, with a concealed handgun.

I actually, keep a mental list of all the "known" places, be it restaurants, gas stations etc.. that have a more "traditional" bathroom layout. Think, small room, with a locking door, with a sink, and a single toilet.

Even being very careful, going to the can, while armed can be a tricky proposition, especially the need to keep the gun concealed from view.

[Endangered Specie]

23. I call BULLSHIT, guns do not just 'go off' when dropped.

Most likely she had her meat hook on the bang switch and sugar coated the story to the police.

[Pavulon]

26. Yep, every handgun i have ever seen

was designed where it could be smashed to inoperability before it fired. I would like to see exactly what weapon this was and then make a final call. I know there are some $99 dollar shit weapons out there but still doubt hitting the deck will cause a weapon to fire.

[ManiacJoe]

27. See posts 16 and 17 for a more likely explanation.

[RamboLiberal]

29. If you are going to carry a gun on your waist or pocket

Then invest in a good holster made for your model of handgun. A good holster will retain the handgun even if you turn it upside down and shake it. If you can't afford anything but a cheap holster not made for your handgun then get one with a good retention strap and snap.

If your holster doesn't pass the rentention test and you find your gun coming out of it when you sit down, go to the john, etc take it back for a refund.

And if you find you have to take your gun out when going to the john, then get a paddle holster or a IWB that you can take off without unholstering the gun.

The first failure(other than a stupid gunowner) in this instance was probably a bad holster.

[jeepnstein]

30. Two sea stories...

I know a guy who shot himself in the butt with a .45, on duty, making a restroom stop. The firearm in question was a Colt Series 70 Combat Commander. Yes, they will go off without pulling the trigger. If anyone wants me to bore them with the details I'll explain why 70's will do that. That's why everyone carries Series 80's now. I believe he was using an older holster that was not a "retention" model. Much hilarity ensued when someone called in and said there was an officer down with shots fired at this restaurant. He was and is still known by his nickname earned that night, "Butt".

Several years ago I accidentally kicked my Smith and Wesson J frame down a flight of stairs. I was drawing it from an ankle holster and getting ready to place it in a lock box in a county jail. I tipped over and kicked the weapon while trying to regain my balance. One of the guys standing there with me was terrified that I was going to make a grab for it. We were taught to just let them fall because making a grab greatly increases the risk of an accidental discharge. The weapon bounced down the stairs but did not fire.

A safe and proper carry weapon won't just magically go "boom" on it's own. I'm betting the shooter in the news story made a grab for it on the way down.