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Man inadvertently shoots self in grocery store parking lot and dies

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CitizenClark:

--- Quote from: NENick on November 15, 2011, 09:34:36 AM ---I know of a few people who carry in their waistband without a holster. Does anyone here carry without a holster?

I am always concerned about being “that guy” who shot himself, so I take plenty of precautions.

In regards to this story: How in the hell did this guy manage this?

--- End quote ---

I very occasionally "Mexican carry," but I would never do so with a striker-fired pistol like a Glock that didn't have some external safety (like the XD's grip safety, for example). Mexican carry poses less of a safety issue with traditional double-action pistols, although it is pretty obvious that the use of a holster makes for a more secure firearm.

This story is an awful reminder of the fact that a wound to your legs (or pelvis) can kill. The femoral artery is a major thoroughfare in the human circulatory system, and if it gets nicked or severed fatal exsanguination can occur is an extremely short time.

When I was younger, I worked at Boy Scout camp and we used to cruise around the camp in extremely beat up work trucks. One time we were doing some maintenance work near the health lodge (where the paramedics stay while camp is going on), and upon completion of whatever task we were taking care of, we all jumped back into the truck to head on to the next stop. A kid we had nicknamed "Crawfish" jumped into the back of the truck and caught his knee on a shard of ragged sheet metal. He hit it just right and nicked his femoral artery about two inches above the knee. Luckily there were half a dozen eagle scouts within ten feet of him, and after we saw that blood arcing out of his leg we quickly applied direct pressure to the wound, elevated his leg, and manually compressed his femoral artery against his femur to slow the bleeding. He had to go have surgery at the hospital, but had no lasting ill effects and resumed work on the waterfront as soon as his stitches were out.

(This incident, probably more than anything else, is why I always carry a blow-out kit with hemostatic agents [QuikClot] with me when I am going to be out in the woods or otherwise far from medical care providers.)

sjwsti:
Obviously carrying in a properly fitted holster should be a no brainer, not only from a safety standpoint but also a retention issue. Having your gun fall out of your pants isnt cool.

Also carrying a semi-auto pistol without a round chambered is just as foolish. You are assuming a lot carrying like this. You assume you will have the time, space and most likely two hands to work with.

This comes up a lot in the classes I teach. Once I ask a student to demonstrate how they will chamber a round one handed while simultaneously defending themselves with the other it is usually silence and a blank stare.

There certainly are ways to do that but your pistol has to be set up properly to allow it. And the more violent the attack the more difficult it will be to chamber a round, one or two handed. You are adding a huge step to the presentation of your gun. The more steps you add the more chances you have to screw it up. Simpler is always better.

We worked this out years ago in FOF drills. I walked away from training that day, with no doubt at all, that carrying without a round chambered simply wasnt an option. Most will rationalize this because it makes them "feel" safe. But is it really safer?  I say the only person that is "safe" will be the bad guy.

If your gun is mechanically unsafe with a cartridge chambered, you shouldnt be carrying it.

- Shawn

Chris Z:
Damn unsafe Glocks   :-)

bkoenig:
Or you could just carry a wheel gun so EVERY chamber is loaded  ;D

I prefer an autoloader when I can carry one, but you rarely hear about someone "accidentally" shooting themselves with a revolver.  Maybe that's because not as many people carry them, or maybe it's because of the heavier trigger pull.  I tend to carry my little .38 more than any other gun just because it's so light, and I think for a lot of novices a revolver might be a better pick.

bullit:
"Damn unsafe Glocks   :-)"

I know....my collection gave birth to another one yesteday.......like rats....

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