Snohomish man shoots self in buttock

[Judi Lynn]

Snohomish man shoots self in buttock
Print By Dee Riggs
World staff writer

PESHASTIN — A Snohomish man accidentally shot himself in his left buttock Saturday when he put a handgun in his back pocket.

Darrel Elam, 52, was preparing to go hiking on Blewett Pass and had moved his 40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun from its holster to his back pocket to see if that position would be more comfortable for walking, said Jerry Moore, chief of administration for the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.

The gun discharged and shot down his left buttock and left leg, coming to rest just above his knee.

Elam was treated at Central Washington Hospital and released, a hospital spokeswoman said. The incident happened on Blewett Pass about 12 miles from Peshastin.

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/aug/30/snohomish-man-shoots-self-in-buttock/

[Ian David]

1. Really, is it too expensive to buy a holster? n/t

[ManiacJoe]

15. The article says he had a holster.

[slackmaster]

20. Yes, but did the police find crack between his buttocks when they searched him?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. Forrest Gump sez: stoopid iz az stoopid doez

At least when Forrest got shot in the butt-TAWKS, it was from the VC and not an incredibly stupid self-inflicted injury.

[FSogol]

3. I guess that buttock will think twice before messing with Mr. Elam next time.

:shrug:

[LiberalLoner]

4. Wasn't the weapon on "safe"? Or maybe by putting it in his pocket

it caused the weapon to click to not on safe? I admit I know nothing, absolutely nothing, about handguns.

I was trained on an M16A1 in Basic Training and that was the first and last weapon I ever fired. I came to have great respect for the weapon and gun safety in general and was taught how important it is to always keep the weapon on "safe" unless in the act of firing.

It's hard for me to understand why some people who have accidents with weapons, don't observe that rule about always keeping the weapon on "safe." Maybe there is something about handguns that makes it harder to make sure the weapon is on "safe"?

Edited to add: Oops I forgot, I also fired a machine gun and a LAW. Forgot about those.

[Euromutt]

13. The article says a .40-cal Smith & Wesson; I would guess it's an M&P without a manual safety

The M&P is much like a Glock in that it's striker-fired, with only internal safeties (I have two, the full-size and compact versions). Basically, it won't go off unless you pull the trigger, but if you pull the trigger, it will go off. I figure what happened is that Mr. Elam allowed his finger to wander inside the trigger guard and as he shoved the weapon downwards, the edge of his pocket pushed his finger up against the trigger. Or possible the trigger got caught on a button.

Striker-fired pistols are mechanically perfectly safe, but they're unforgiving of user error. And one user error is definitely trying to put one anywhere but in a holster that covers the trigger guard.

[LiberalLoner]

18. Oh, okay, thanks! That makes sense then. Well with those weapons then

people ought to be really extra careful I think. I mean it just seems crazy to walk around with it stuffed in a pocket if it's so easy to fire accidentally.

[PavePusher]

19. They are no easier to fire "accidentally" than any other hand-gun...

no was the pocket the issue.

Carelessness and violation of at least two of the four rules of safe handling was the problem.

[damntexdem]

5. No, as a matter of fact, back pocket didn't prove more comfortable than did the holster.

Not only was it not more comfortable for walking, it was especially less comfortable for sitting down.

;-)

I guess there IS a reason for holsters, after all.

[shadowrider]

6. It should read, "Idiot pulls trigger while putting in back pocket"

Modern guns just don't "discharge" on a whim. Me on the other hand, wait, that's another story.

[LiberalLoner]

7. LOL you are so bad, Shadowrider! n/t

[shadowrider]

9. Heh n/t

[Euromutt]

17. Well, the headline does say "man shoots self"

It's clear who the agent in this matter was.

[onehandle]

8. He's probably not so 'Snohomish' anymore. nt

[jberryhill]

10. If it had been the front pocket, the "man" part would be in trouble /nt

[struggle4progress]

11. If only his buttock had been armed, it would have been able to defend itself

Then again, if his buttocks had arms, I guess he might have accidentally shot himself in the head, putting his gun in his back pants pocket

[SteveM]

21. Both my buttocks are armed; weaponry banned after WW-I.

[slackmaster]

12. Unrec for posting "current events" topic without anything to tie it to the purpose of this forum

:hi:

[spin]

14. Holsters have advantages ...

use them!

He could have obtained a pocket holster and used it.

I wish the article would have mentioned where he was carrying his holstered weapon prior to moving it to his back pocket. I've never found a holstered gun on my belt or in a shoulder holster or belly band uncomfortable while walking.

I wonder if he was using Thunderwear. Some shooters I know have said that this method of concealment was very uncomfortable. Other people I have talked to have had no problems with this method of carry. I suspect much depends on the individual and the size of his/her belly.


http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.thunderwear.com/&usg=__Fl8IhGeM2RFefiWJA2j_KtTgUyA=&h=218&w=152&sz=11&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=NoRTxDnWt2Pq9M:&tbnh=122&tbnw=84&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthunderwear%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox%26hs%3DqAF%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dcom.yahoo:en-US:official%26biw%3D1176%26bih%3D530%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=986&vpy=125&dur=378&hovh=151&hovw=105&tx=122&ty=73&ei=pending&oei=XH99TJriCcT38Ab509D4BQ&esq=6&page=1&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0



It's always wise to try out a holster before you decide to use it on a regular or long term basis. Almost every regular shooter who has a concealed carry permit has a box full of holsters that he thought would work but found he disliked.

[proteus_lives]

16. Ban buttocks. It's the only way we'll be safe.