“Church shooting” in Tennessee
An 81-year-old in Tellico Plains, Tennessee had a negligent discharge with his concealed weapon while he and his wife were in church. Someone asked the parishioners who was carrying a weapon, and he said that he always carries his .380 semi-automatic pistol. He cleared the weapon and passed it around, the reloaded it when he got it back;
“Somebody else walked up and said, ‘Can I see it?’” Parks said. “He pulled it back out and said, ‘With this loaded indicator, I can tell that it’s not loaded.’”
He accidentally pulled the trigger, firing one round, according to ABC News.
The bullet struck the gun owner in his hand, then hit his 80-year-old wife, Parks said. The bullet entered the left side of her abdomen and came out on the right side.
It then hit her forearm, came out, hit a wall, ricocheted and landed by her wheelchair, the police chief described.
The husband and wife were flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. No one else was injured.
“This was an accident. It was not intentional,” Parks told the media. “It just slipped his mind that he recharged the weapon.”
He said the man was carrying the gun legally and no charges will be filed.
That never would have happened to me, because I wouldn’t have owned up to having a gun in the first place, regardless of the audience. That defeats the purpose of a concealed weapon, doesn’t it?
Thanks to Top Kone for the link.
Category: Guns
Concealed means secret…
Period…
In theory.
I run across a lot of folks that have CCp’s. Some seem squared away; some are clowns.
Some like to brag and show their weapon; some are quiet.
And then again I might want some of those dudes in the fight; other with CCP’s…Hell No!
And on the other side I know folks that carry but do not have a CCP. And all of the above applies as well.
Its a mixed bag.
If you pulled out a weapon or bragged about it and then a fight started chances are you would be the target as you are armed.
I have a problem with semi’s unless you’re going to put in the range time. I’ve had guns most of my 76 years but am not confident with charging and clearing my semi because I don’t go to the range enough. I probably ought to stick with a revolver. Or go to the range.
.380 doing that much damage? Pretty unusual.
Given the ages of the people involved, it would be as difficult penetrating wet toilet paper.
The penetration on a 380 is decent. It’s far more than most people realize. In fact over penetration can be a problem, as shown in this instance. Particularly with round nose ball.
That said, how much “damage” it will do is somewhat lower. So you obtain a penetration wound without significant tissue damage. Bullet placement is key. And in heated moment of a shoot out that can be problematic.
I CCW a PPKs in 380 and I shoot it a lot.
Depending on expansion with a normal .380 is problematic, I’d as soon carry solids and hope for better penetration. If you are into guns and want to learn something about penetration, https://www.theboxotruth.com/
is a good place to waste HOURS.
Thanks David, that’s a very interesting site at first let ok. I’ll check it.
Wow, a decent gun site I didn’t know about? I must be getting old and slow!
There are some high speed low drag rounds out there now specifically intended for self defense that make the .380 a lot meaner than with ball ammo. Hornady Critical Defense is one.
That’s impressive penetration for a .380! Had to be ball ammo, right?
WAR STORY ALERT: What was the first thing any of us were taught in basic or boot in the weapons phase? ALWAYS, say again, ALWAYS, treat any firearm as if it is loaded. I’ve lost track of the number of times I have checked for “daylight” twice. When I get too old to remember that, I will stop handling firearms.
Me: Dad, is that gun loaded?
Dad: Boy, all guns are always loaded. Treat em that way.
My family gets tired of hearing me say that.
My safety talk when teaching anyone who has not handled or shot a firearm before to shoot always starts “Every firearm is loaded, never point it at anything you are not going to shoot”
Word.
Amen.
I have held CCP since 1995 and even though Texas has become an open carry state the only place I open carry is at the range. I would rather surprise a thug than be the focus of his attention. I am 73 and retired military but spend a lot of time on the range. I normally carry a Ruger LCP but depending on the occasion may conceal my full size 1911. And no I don’t play show and tell. That is 99% of the problem with accidental discharge.
I see decals in vehicle windows that state “Always Armed”, or “Proud weapon owner”, or “I Pack”. Sorta like poser bling to me. I don’t tell that I carry, nor do I care to have others know that I carry. Those in my area, may assume that I do, but very few of them actually know.
Having those NRA/Always armed window decals are an invitation for a break in on ones car. The Port Saint Lucie PD, Fl. (Yes Florida) were doing PSA’S asking people not to leave weapons in their cars due to the large amount of car break ins. CCW holders most likely carry into the stores that they shop in BUT, the ones that do not have CCW’S cannot carry concealed so they most likely leave their weapons in their cars.
Load indicator?
What’s that for other than to confirm the procedure you should have gone through in the first place.
Loaded chamber indicators are pretty great. It removes the need to do a press check when you chamber. I’m surprised they haven’t made their way to rifles yet considering how useful the feature is.
Impressive- he violated all of Col. Cooper’s Rules at once.
At least he and his wife lived to learn from his mistake. It probably won’t happen twice!
Add this to the long list of ND stories that start with someone saying: “Nice gun! Can i see it?”
Nope. Just… nope.
I agree with Jonn. Unless it is a police officer asking me, the answer to the question if I have a gun on me is always no.
His conceal permit should be revoked for a bit. That is ridiculous behavior and pure criminal negligence on his part. He’s lucky he didn’t kill someone. What an idiot.
There are people who have had a negligent discharge, and there are people who are going to have a negligent discharge.
-always- point the boomstick at a boom-catcher.
-always-
This is the firearms version of an 80 yearold driving ON the off ramp in the wrong direction.
Don’t pass your friggen weapon around. Ever….
Seriously. Won’t eliminate all accidental discharges, but that and paying attention to where the barrel is pointed would reduce the number.