Texas City: accidental shooting

[seamusTX]

From the Galveston County Daily News, this date:

A Texas City man who was reaching for his pistol accidentally shot himself in the hand during the weekend, police said.

The unidentified man’s wife also was injured when the gun fired.

The couple had just left a Texas City restaurant on Palmer Highway about 7 p.m. Saturday when the man reached under the seat of his car to remove his handgun. While handling the gun, it fired and struck the man’s left ring finger.

His wife had two small wounds on her leg as a result of the gun going off, police said.

The couple drove to Mainland Medical Center where they were treated and released.

While the man did not have a concealed handgun license, he won’t be charged because police said state laws allow someone to carry a pistol in the vehicle as long as it is concealed, Sgt. Joe Stanton said.

- Jim

[boomstick]

Sounds like he needed an under-seat portable safe to store the handgun in..

[Keith B]

Sounds more like he needs to go to a NRA Basic Pistol Course and receive training on safe handling techniques on loaded firearms. Maybe that way he would learn to keep his finger off the trigger.

Glad it was minor injuries to both. Could have been MUCH worse.

[seamusTX]

This incident underscores the need for safe storage. Even a cheap holster probably would have averted it.

I wonder why he was handing the weapon in the parking lot.

I am also pleasantly surprised that the cops get the MPA right. At least you know you're good to go in Texas City.

- Jim

[bdickens]

From the Galveston County Daily News, this date:

A Texas City man who was reaching for his pistol negligently shot himself in the hand during the weekend, police said.

The unidentified man’s wife also was injured when the gun was negligently fired.

The couple had just left a Texas City restaurant on Palmer Highway about 7 p.m. Saturday when the man reached under the seat of his car to remove his handgun. While playing with the gun, he put his finger on the trigger and squeezed, shooting himself in the left ring finger.

His wife had two small wounds on her leg as a result of his negligence, police said.

The couple drove to Mainland Medical Center where they were treated and released.

While the man did not have a concealed handgun license, he won’t be charged because police said state laws allow someone to carry a pistol in the vehicle as long as it is concealed, Sgt. Joe Stanton said

- Jim

There, fixed it. Can I get a job as an editor at Galveston County Daily News?

[seamusTX]

You'd have to ask them: 800-561-3611.

- Jim

[ELB]

...While playing with the gun, he put his finger on the trigger and squeezed, shooting himself in the left ring finger...

- Jim

There, fixed it. Can I get a job as an editor at Galveston County Daily News?

Actually, you put in "facts" you don't actually know. He could have just as easily (and more likely IMO) been dragging it out from under the seat by the muzzle (still dumb) and caught the trigger on something under the seat. So no job for you.

by seamusTX » Jan 12th, '10, 09:53

...

I wonder why he was handing the weapon in the parking lot.

...
- Jim

Just a guess, but I suspect he keeps it on the seat or somewhere he can grab it while he's driving around, but puts it under the seat when he leaves the car.

[chabouk]

I wonder why he was handing the weapon in the parking lot.

My best guess: he was moving it to on-body carry, which is also legal under MPA.

[seamusTX]

Could be. Unwise IMHO, as this incident shows.

The emergency-room bill will cost a lot more than a CHL.

- Jim

[bdickens]

...While playing with the gun, he put his finger on the trigger and squeezed, shooting himself in the left ring finger...

- Jim

There, fixed it. Can I get a job as an editor at Galveston County Daily News?

Actually, you put in "facts" you don't actually know. He could have just as easily (and more likely IMO) been dragging it out from under the seat by the muzzle (still dumb) and caught the trigger on something under the seat. So no job for you.

So, then I can at least be a "reporter."

[mikeintexas]

What do facts have to do with news reporting? I thought it was about getting my slant on the story, not the facts...

[ELB]

So, then I can at least be a "reporter."

What do facts have to do with news reporting? I thought it was about getting my slant on the story, not the facts...

unfortunately much truth in this... you're hired...

[seamusTX]

This kind of story is usually taken verbatim from a police report. I don't see any bias in it. I posted it because I was surprised that the police correctly mentioned the MPA. Usually they put in something like, "it's not illegal, but we don't recommend it."

The writer of this story is pretty conservative. I don't know anything about the officer.

- Jim

[mikeintexas]

I'm not driving the bus over you Jim. It's just kind of hard to trust some media outlets.

[seamusTX]

Nobody is always right or completely unbiased. Trust but verify, as Ronald Reagan said (at least I think he did).

- Jim