Dropped gun fires at Silverdale store; no injuries
SILVERDALE, Wash. (AP) - A gun went off inside a Kitsap County store after a man dropped it, but no one was injured.
The Kitsap Sun reports that a 58-year-old Poulsbo man told deputies he had removed the .38-caliber, two-shot Derringer pistol from a holster on his belt before he entered the Cost Plus World Market in Silverdale on Saturday afternoon.
He put the gun in a coat pocket, but when he was in the middle of the store, he bent over - and the pistol fell out and discharged.
Sheriff's spokesman Scott Wilson says there were about 35 customers and workers inside, and staff used the public address system to tell everyone to evacuate.
By the time deputies arrived, mall security relying on witness descriptions had found the man in the Barnes & Noble bookstore next door.
The bullet damaged the leg of a day bed and lodged in a stack of nesting rope baskets.
The gun owner, who had a valid concealed weapon permit, was not arrested, but deputies forwarded the case to the prosecutor's office for consideration of reckless endangerment charges.
The Kitsap Sun reports that a 58-year-old Poulsbo man told deputies he had removed the .38-caliber, two-shot Derringer pistol from a holster on his belt before he entered the Cost Plus World Market in Silverdale on Saturday afternoon.
He put the gun in a coat pocket, but when he was in the middle of the store, he bent over - and the pistol fell out and discharged.
Sheriff's spokesman Scott Wilson says there were about 35 customers and workers inside, and staff used the public address system to tell everyone to evacuate.
By the time deputies arrived, mall security relying on witness descriptions had found the man in the Barnes & Noble bookstore next door.
The bullet damaged the leg of a day bed and lodged in a stack of nesting rope baskets.
The gun owner, who had a valid concealed weapon permit, was not arrested, but deputies forwarded the case to the prosecutor's office for consideration of reckless endangerment charges.
Everybody makes mental mistakes. Absolutely Everybody! Take a look at the cops that have left their guns in their cars and something has happened. They have LOTS of training, but they're HUMAN. It's a statistical probability function that's non-zero, so if you don't REALLY NEED to carry it. Don't.
Reckless Endangerment? What was reckless? He wasn't firing in the air. He wasn't waving it around. We'll see if any law was broken. There appears no intent to do anything unsafe as far as I can tell, but maybe there's a law against sloppy gun handling. There sure aught to be one for sloppy driving. We just need more laws.
@MajorSkeptic Reckless endangerment doesn't necessarily have intent. He created an unsafe situation by not handling his weapon correctly and presumably not using the safety. Luckily no one was hurt and he only caused minor damage at the store. I think those are things that people who are reasonably "for guns" and "for gun control" can and should be able to agree on.
 @MajorSkeptic Obviously the decision to take the gun out of it's holster where it was safe, and put it in his pocket could be considered a reckless decision. Definition of reckless: utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action; without caution; careless (usually followed by of ): to be reckless of danger.
 @MajorSkeptic Criminal negligence? He certainly was negligent. Not sure if the wording of the law fits, however. We do NOT need more laws. We just need to apply the ones we have already as they should be, instead of letting people off with deals or reduced sentences.
Oh I feel so much safer already. So the guy's gun goes off - and he just walks out whistling Dixie. Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.
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Well I took it from holster and put it in my pocket because...well because apparently I'm an idiot that doesn't know the first thing about gun safety and shouldn't have a CCP.
This has happened numerous times... had a friend in a restaurant shot in the arm due to some idiot dropping his gun and having it fire.... another of the many reasons why carrying in public places is simply stupid. We have allowed the paranoid and stupid set policy on this.
 @ytboarder Numerous times? I find that fairly hard to believe. I have never experienced it, not have I ever heard of someone I know experiencing it. Also most if not all guns these days have firing pin or striker shims to protect the gun from being fired without a trigger pull. I know there have been some issues in the recent past with recalls on such a feature though.
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If carrying in public places is stupid, tell that to the people who have been saved by either carrying themselves, or someone else carrying like in the video @DarkParty posted. Are their lives not worth it?
 @Gadsden It's happened twice in Silverdale within the last 8 or 9 months. Maybe Silverdale just has more than their fair share of careless gun owners.
Hmm, crickets?
 @Rick4001CS I'm pugnacious?  I guess when you run out of arguments, attack the other side works for you. Be that as it may, if you want to prove me wrong, go right ahead. You'll have a hard time proving that Silverdale is full of unemployed meth heads. It was named as one of the top ten liveable cities in the United States according to Money magazine. Here's a link to all the facts you can use about Silverdale. It has lower than average unemployment rates, higher than average yearly income, higher than average property values and so on. Now, why don't you prove to me that it's crawling with unemployed meth heads?
http://www.city-data.com/city/Silverdale-Washington.html
 @justmyopinion Since you are being so pugnacious I will up you one: prove it isn't true.
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Silverdale and that entire area other side of the bridge has been in the news a lot these last few years. Way more trouble out there than the population density would suggest.
 @Rick4001CS I'm not sure where you got those "facts". Silverdale is mainly a middle class shopping area filled with military and government workers employed by the Navy at facilities like Bangor, Keyport, NAVBASE Kitsap, and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & IMF. I guess you can make up whatever "facts" you want, it still doesn't make them true.
Silverdale has a lot of unemployed meth heads too from what I hear. Go figure.
 @ytboarder http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGFZDhCjvj0
 @DarkParty  @ytboarder 'This is the "true" American way from the start.' ... Yeah, spread enough hot lead around and hope that the bad guys get more of it than the innocent bystanders.
I remember when this happened. Wasn't too long ago. The old guy actually looked to do quite well in my opinion. He seemed trained to some extent. Old guy had balls thats for sure. And who knows, he may have saved every life inside that cafe, including his own. WTG old guy.
 @JLS1950  @ytboarder The only injuries sustained were to the bad guys.
"Protection"
if more people were carrying guns, this wouldn't have happened. That store needs armed guards. Let kids pack guns. MORE GUNS MORE GUNS MORE GUNS. that's the answer.. to those who are brainwashed by the NRA.
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we as a society are too stupid to own guns and we as a society do nothing when idiots owns guns. This guy will get a slap on the wrist and not lose his right to carry. Shame.
 @calapete You may be to stupid to own a gun... I'm not.
you sure make a lot of Assumptions and generalizations a for a story where not a single person was harmed. We as a society are indeed full of idiots. Filled to the brim with them.
Revoke his permit. Â He discharged his weapon in a public place, then walked away.Â
 @kinison I agree with you. At least require him to take a NRA certified safety course before reinstating his concealed carry permit, lol. I have been involved in an accidental discharge (was standing next to a guy who thought he was dry firing a weapon. Fortunately we were at the range and he was pointing the firearm down range at a target when it discharged). Hell we both thought the weapon was dry. Anyway, it was a shocking experience. I mean literally we both went into a mild state of WTF shock. I'm guessing this guy got shocked, panicked and did a quiet flee. Like I said elsewhere, investigate.
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I would like to know exactly what weapon he had on him. Why anyone would carry a two shot derringer of any make and style is beyond me.Â
@Rick4001CS @kinison -- Nope, No training to let him get away with this.
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He was an idiot, and you can't "teach the stupidity out of someone".
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Anyone who takes a gun out of a holster where it is safe and extremely unlikely to fall out so that he can carry it in his pocket is a stupid idiot.
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He's lucky that his own stupidity didn't kill someone (Just ask that dad back east who just a month or so ago 'dropped' his gun getting into his truck after visiting a gun shop and shot / killed his 6 year old kid...)
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Remove his right to concealed carry -permanently.
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And Rick - your example of an idiot 'dry firing' a loaded firearm - that's just as stupid. That guy clearly has no concept of 'always' verify a weapon is NOT loaded each time you touch it (even when someone else has already insured it was cleared). He's damm lucky that it happened with the weapon pointed down range. THAT kind of guy is the one that gets someone shot when cleaning his firearm and then claims "I didn't know it was loaded"....
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 @Rick4001CS  What happens when an air traffic controller makes a mistake that causes death? They don't do that kind of work ever again. If you cannot do everything within your power to make sure that an accident never takes place while you have a gun in your possession--you shouldn't have one. As far as all the mandatory training talk--are you given a license to drive if you don't pass either of the TWO required tests to prove you know how to drive? NO, you are not. Granted, there are idiots who drive without a license proving they are trained properly--but when they are caught the laws say they will suffer punishment. (That's another story for another day) But those laws are on the books. If as many seem to think we have sufficient laws to protect us--explain to me why 'law-abiding' citizens are a part of the statistics which indicate so many 'accidents' with guns.  If you don't want more laws, or requirements which make it harder to own a gun--gun owners, those who feel we need the 'right' to own guns, write your legislators, push them to enforce those laws. Let's see if that can actually work--if it does, great. If not, then we KNOW we have to come up with other ideas.
@Rick4001CS ...Other than riducule him until he realizes carrying a gun is not for him (and to make myself feel better)....nothing.
I believe this case is being forwarded to a prosecutor. As it should be. What more would you do?
@Rick4001CS ...Everyone makes mistakes..few make them of this magnitude. Fewer still make them of this magnitude and live or do NOT harm others, (I do not think it was a mistake as much as complete and utter disregard for the safety of others). If the least that happened is this guy is shamed so much he wakes the hell up (and he loses his permit) ..then he got off easy for his "mistake".
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN. have you never made a mistake? Ever???Â
 @Rick4001CS Why do you assume this man has not taken an NRA certified safety course? Maybe he has and maybe he hasn't. The point is, you can train someone all day long, but that doesn't mean he's going to follow that training. How many chances should he get? If and when this happens again, do we send him to another training class? I vote that once he makes this serious of an error in judgement, he is no longer allowed to carry a gun. NO second chances. This error was too serious to gloss over.
 @Rick4001CS And some people have a gun thing that goes way beyond reason and commonsense. If we had a rate of 'accidental' executions of innocent people of 600 in a year, do you think we would still have still have capital punishment? I doubt it. So why do we have to put up with 600 people dying accidentally because of some irresponsible gun owners? If the laws are on the books like so many are saying, and we don't need new ones--why are the responsible gun owners not pushing that agenda? You would think they would want to protect their righst by making sure those who aren't law-abiding citizens are punished.  I still don't understand the rationality behind not requiring gun owners to take a mandatory safety course before ever putting a gun in their possession. I still don't understand why ANYONE who owns a gun which is used by someone else to commit a crime, or commit an 'accidental' shooting shoudn't be punished seriously. If you can't keep your own weapons out of the hands of those who are are immature, unstable, a criminal, then as far as I'm concerned you are responsible for any resulting injury or death. Simple and clean--why are we fighting over commonsense?
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 @justmyopinion sure I admit its a possibility. Why wouldn't I ? I fail to see how this point you are making has any......point?
 @Rick4001CS Changing the subject doesn't change the facts. You don't know if this man has taken an NRA safety course and you're not willing to admit that it's a possibility.
BS. Investigate this case before making your wild eyed assumptions.Â
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People accidentally kill themselves or other people every single day of the year: motor vehicles 42 thousand, poisoning 39 thousand, Falls 25 thousand, Fires 2,700, Choking 2,500. PS: Drowning 2,000, Accidental shootings 600
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http://listosaur.com/miscellaneous/top-5-causes-of-accidental-death-in-the-united-states.html
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Some of you people have a gun hate thing going on under the sheets that just way beyond reason. Way beyond.....
derp ahm a-goin tuh Cost Plus, where's mah gunn?
 @SwampThing I know right! Bad guys only come out at night and in shady places. There is NO reason to carry in places like this!
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/sarcasm
 @Gadsden  @SwampThing Once again, the "tolerance" of the left for other cultures besides their own is on display for all to see.
When guns are sold to idiots, only idots will own guns.
 @nutz2u have you ever been an idiot or done something insanely stupid? point made.
@Rick4001CS @nutz2u -- with guns the "maim or kill" potential is pretty damm high at all times. While nearly anything else that Joe Average touches or 'does something insanely stupid with' is not. Anyone who fails to treat guns with the level of respect required does indeed fit this comment made by nutz2u.
Intelligent thoughtful trained well meaning people accidentally kill themselves or others. Stuff happens. Get over yourself. The best any human being can try to do is "be careful"...... To error is HUMAN. Look at how many people kill themselves or others with cars.
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http://listosaur.com/miscellaneous/top-5-causes-of-accidental-death-in-the-united-states.html
run with it libs.. its all you got.
@scootdog5Â you could have been standing next to him ??? then what would you say? Ouch ???
 @clem77 I would have said WTF was that?
 @Rick4001CS My local Safeway was robbed by force not long ago. Walmart in University Place was a store no one thought would be the place of a cold blooded murder of an armed guard. Threats can happen anywhere, anytime.
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At least you carry though, again, not attacking, just trying to give you things to think about. If you change nothing, that's still okay.
 @Gadsden When I am out for my daily walk through the neighborhood, or at the local Safeway or Fred Meyers, its no/low threat=empty chamber. Downtown Tacoma or Seattle its locked and loaded.
 @Rick4001CS How you carrying your firearm is your business but there are situations that may require immediate discharge of your firearm in lawful defense of your life. Situations where you may not have the time to chamber a round. Secondly, what if you don't have the other hand available to chamber that round?Â
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Not attacking your way of carry, just putting some things to think about out there.
Its a risk I calculate every time I go to the range, or carry in public (always empty chamber. If I don't have time to rack a round and think about whats happening then I am no good to anyone discharging a weapon).
@Rick4001CS @clem77 - that is unless you or scootdog got shot in the leg or in the 'twig and berries' by the shot. You'd be saying alot more than that.....
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