Gun accidentally goes off in Anderson County school

[Guns R Cool]

The Associated Press

May 12, 2005

A gunshot was fired into the floor in an Anderson County middle school after a student accidentally pulled the trigger of a deputy's holstered gun.

The gun fired Wednesday morning after a student at Lakeside Middle School grabbed it as the deputy told them how hard it was to take a gun from an officer's holster, Sheriff David Crenshaw said.

The student's finger apparently was small enough to get inside the holster and pull the trigger, the sheriff said.

The bullet fired into the floor, and debris cut and scratched two students. But no one was seriously injured, school officials said

Read more at
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050512/APN/505120879&cachetime=3&template=dateline

[quicktarget]

It's unfortunate that the officer was unable to prevent the gun from firing, but accidents do happen. Thankfully no one was seriously injured, but I'd say even the small flesh wounds the students received were worth the overall price of allowing police officers to carry a firearm on school grounds. I would hate to see a school masacre end in a shootout with police officers, but I'd rather trained proffessionals be available to stop such an event than leave an entire school defenceless in such an incident. Also, we probably shouldn't tempt kids to take guns from officers by telling them how difficult it is to take a gun from them. That's a recipe for disaster. I'd hate to see my kids in jail or dead because they were curious enough to actually try to take a weapon from a police officer.

[believer]

what worries me is that the deputy involved was that comfortable placing himself on the same level as the children. I'm sure that did wonders for their sense of respect for authority. Sherriff must call him "barn", bet he keeps his bullet in his pocket from now, on!

[IHL]

Many handguns don't have trigger locks or safety's and even if they did, you wouldn't want it on. The last thing you want to do if you have to pull your gun on a bad guy is screw around with a safety. On the other hand, this guy should have known better than to even let a child get close to his gun.

[14edsullivan]

A lot of guns don't have safteys...especially DAO guns usally have no saftey and a lot of departments have DAO only rules....such as the CPD....but there is a "saftey" ie you must cock the gun with every trigger pull...and that makes the trigger pull heavey like 8+ pounds...but someone tryin to pull it...its goin to gp off....now i dont know what kind of holster that was and what level it was....but regaurdless the cop should have unloaded the gun brfore doin that...

[14edsullivan]

Well if he had a DAO (double action only) gun then there is no way to cock it except pull the trigger...the hammer is cocked only in the trigger pull...its normally in the "uncocked" position

[RightisRightLeftisWrong]

Many handguns don't have trigger locks or safety's and even if they did, you wouldn't want it on. The last thing you want to do if you have to pull your gun on a bad guy is screw around with a safety. On the other hand, this guy should have known better than to even let a child get close to his gun.

exactly IHL I agree the cop should of known better they are just kids.

[rightwingxtremist]

Well, the point is that this was an accident, and certainly no reason to ban all guns from the face of the earth. If liberals were consistent (which they are not), they would have to ban kitchen knives, automobiles, motorcycles, electricity, household cleaners, water, and ladders, each of which kill more people through misuse than guns.

- Nate

[Peace_by_superior _power]

Thankfully no one was seriously injured, but I'd say even the small flesh wounds the students received were worth the overall price of allowing police officers to carry a firearm on school grounds. I would hate to see a school masacre end in a shootout with police officers, but I'd rather trained proffessionals be available to stop such an event than leave an entire school defenceless in such an incident.

Who would the professionals be?? Anyways police arnt crime prevention they are law enforcement so their guns are tools to help give them a pshycological advantage over crimminals and only are meant to be used in a last resort situation.

[Android]

How about unloading? Shit, it aint that hard. I make sure my weapons are empty every time I pick it up. If I'm around kids, then holy crap. It takes a genius I tell ya. Sorry for the late post, just found it and don't know how:)

[Argonath]

When you say "it's hard for a kid to get at", the kid is going to go for it, because it's a challenge for him. He wants to see if he can nab it from the holster. This guy should be punished somehow. Mabye, mabye not, but i think something should be done about it, because this is just rediculus. If a kid can get it, what's to stop a real bad guy from gatting it?

[Oi_Ve]

I like how people call criminals bad guys. It's kinda funny cause everytime I hear that term I think of some nefarious-yet-ridiculously-dressed villian from a comic book. The idea of The Pide Piper of Havoc (or some other silly name) stealing a policeman's gun is just funny to me.

[FKLBRLS]

Man this is kinda funny. This is the kind of thing I would expect to see on Reno 911. The cop should quit the force and become an actor. I would have been laughing my ass off if I was there. Even if I was the principal I would have slightly chuckled before I ordered Deputy Oops-A-Lot to leave. Still, the cop should at least have a week of suspension without pay for being so stupid. Not really a huge punishment, just something big enough for him to sit in the corner with the dunce cap and think about what he did. In no way should this event be used to promote the banning of guns. Guns, when misused, are hazardous. Pillows, when misused, are hazardous (you could smother someone). Fire, when misused, is hazardous. Soda cans, when misused, are hazardous. Rings, when misused, are hazardous. Chains, when misused, are hazardous. Should I continue or do we have the idea.

[Android]

I think he should have to go to gun safety school. :icon_wink

[14edsullivan]

How about unloading? Shit, it aint that hard. I make sure my weapons are empty every time I pick it up. If I'm around kids, then holy crap. It takes a genius I tell ya. Sorry for the late post, just found it and don't know how:)

AH YES, what a wonderful solution lets unload a POLICE OFFICER'S gun, that will make things sooooooooooooooooooooooo safer for all the kinds in the school. :icon_roll

[Android]

AH YES, what a wonderful solution lets unload a POLICE OFFICER'S gun, that will make things sooooooooooooooooooooooo safer for all the kinds in the school. :icon_roll
I mean that he should have un loaded it when he went into the school. Not meaning to have it unloaded ALL the time. Jeesh.

[14edsullivan]

I mean that he should have un loaded it when he went into the school. Not meaning to have it unloaded ALL the time. Jeesh.

Thats what im freaking out about, that police officer was in the school as a protection measure, and what good is a police officer as a stationed officer in the school, or even a officer just visiting the school, if he is unarmed, what good can he possibly do if a columbine like event breaks out, or anything like that, a mad teacher, thats what hes there for, so what good is he if his bullets are left in the car?

Ed

[Android]

Thats what im freaking out about, that police officer was in the school as a protection measure, and what good is a police officer as a stationed officer in the school, or even a officer just visiting the school, if he is unarmed, what good can he possibly do if a columbine like event breaks out, or anything like that, a mad teacher, thats what hes there for, so what good is he if his bullets are left in the car?

Ed
Ed, I'm sorry, sometimes I'm a little dense. I wasn't paying enough attention to the originally statements. I did not realize he was stationed there as a protection measure. In other words I automatically thought it was just a moron, some little kids and his loaded gun. Kind of like this: "Good morning class, today we have officer Barney Fife with us. He will be showing us his loaded weapon." "Who would like to try to remove officer Fifes weapon from his holster?"
Now that I read up on the matter I do see it was a freak accident and that I acted like the Liberals I make fun of. I'm now standing quietly in the corner, ashamed. :mad: