Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

News and events in the media and political arena relating to firearms.

Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by Bourt » 15 Jan 2015, 7:26 am

A former US police officer who is unable to work after shooting off his finger while inspecting a handgun is suing the store that handed him a loaded weapon.

The incident, which ended Kentucky police officer Darrell Smith's career, occurred in March last year at Barren Outdoors when Mr Smith was looking at a .380 calibre gun, TV station WBKO reports.

CCTV footage of the incident shows the uniformed officer handling the weapon, cocking it and seconds later blasting off his finger.

Mr Smith agreed to retire from the force after losing the digit but did not receive workers' compensation because the injury was not work related.

Last week the ex-cop filed a lawsuit to pay for his medical expenses and lost earnings.

The lawsuit argues that Mr Smith exercised "reasonable care and due diligence for his own physical well-being" while handling the weapon; which he believed was unloaded.

Mr Smith's lawyer Alan Simpson said his client is "permanently disfigured".

"He went through a lot of pain and suffering. He's gone through several surgeries. He's got a lot of medical bills that have to be paid. It ended his career and he's going to have a lot of lost income," he said.

Barren Outdoors co-owner Todd Logsdon said "it should be easy for the court to reach a conclusion about the liability" because "the whole incident is on video".


Watch the video of how he's handling it :roll: :arrow: Here
User avatar
Bourt
Sergeant
Sergeant
 
Posts: 559
Queensland

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by KWhorenet » 15 Jan 2015, 8:07 am

Oh gees, totally not his fault :lol:

First rule, treat every firearm as loaded?
User avatar
KWhorenet
Sergeant
Sergeant
 
Posts: 679
-

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by Chronos » 15 Jan 2015, 8:15 am

KWhorenet wrote:Oh gees, totally not his fault haha
first rule, treat every firearm as loaded?



Yep, rule 1. Also the rules about keeping your finger off the trigger and not pointing the firearm at anything you don't want to destroy come to mind. :lol:

That said if the court finds them negligent he'll win.

Chronos
User avatar
Chronos
Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
 
Posts: 2082
New South Wales

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by sbd3927 » 15 Jan 2015, 9:03 am

He should equally sue the Police Force for failing to train him properly. "Agreed to retire" I wonder if that had something to do with browsing firearms in uniform, while supposed to be on the job.

The store has screwed up badly, clearly negligent. However, you would also reasonable expect an officer in uniform to know how to handle a firearm. They can counter sue him for endangerment, he wasn't keeping it pointed in a safe direction either, halfway between the two employees behind the counter. Good thing it was in front of the rifles, not the ammunition.

First thing I do browsing at LGS is open the bolt and check the chamber. It's a no brainer and essential handling. I borrowed a .22 last year, and the owner had accidentally stored it with a chambered round.
Anschutz 1515-1516 22WMR
Steyr Prohunter 308win, Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16x50
User avatar
sbd3927
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 164
Victoria

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by Grated » 15 Jan 2015, 12:13 pm

Has his finger just about stuck in the muzzle the whole time :|

-10 points for safe handling.
Thin out their numbers, Ned!

Mmm, thin out their numbers!
User avatar
Grated
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 113
South Australia

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by Bark » 15 Jan 2015, 12:14 pm

It's America. You win for spilling hot coffee on yourself, let alone being handed a loaded firearm.
User avatar
Bark
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 219
Victoria

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by Deco » 15 Jan 2015, 12:15 pm

Idiots on both side of the counter.

Stating the obvious but...

Why was it loaded in store? and no kidding about nearly having his finger stuck in the muzzle. Get your f***ing hand out of the way.
Browning X-Bolt Hunter in .270 Winchester
User avatar
Deco
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 113
South Australia

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by cooker » 15 Jan 2015, 12:18 pm

Looks like a tip rather than a finger.

Dunno what that has to do with "ending his career" though. Sounds like taking the opportunity to get early retirement at someone elses expense IMO.
User avatar
cooker
Private
Private
 
Posts: 78
New Zealand

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by portph » 15 Jan 2015, 2:12 pm

sbd3927 wrote:"Agreed to retire" I wonder if that had something to do with browsing firearms in uniform, while supposed to be on the job.


Maybe demonstrating he was an idiot while in uniform.
Tikka T3 Lite in 300 Win Mag
Tikka T3 Hunter in 243 Winchester
User avatar
portph
Private
Private
 
Posts: 58
Queensland

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by 1886 » 15 Jan 2015, 2:54 pm

Yes the cop should have checked before "looking" at it.

But handing anyone a loaded firearm to "check it out" in a shop is just nuts and not something any shop would normally do, so it was obvioulsy a massive screw up by the shop and thus they are 110% at fault.

It could have been a normal kid, mum, dad etc and the seller himself and the other dudes in the shop were so lucky it wasn't pointing at them at the time.

Even the seller didn't rack it and check before handing it over, which he also should have done so what's his defence !!!!

"We load them to see if they check but I forgot to watch him"

There is absolutely no defence they could plea.
Last edited by 1886 on 15 Jan 2015, 5:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1886
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 126
Western Australia

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by Sam45 » 15 Jan 2015, 4:39 pm

Oh i watched that, i was like OMG...are you serious :lol: Treat every gun as loaded.... Scratches head....
Sam45
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 294
Queensland

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by tom604 » 15 Jan 2015, 8:18 pm

there's something wrong with that video,,,just can't put my finger on it? :twisted: :twisted:
User avatar
tom604
Warrant Officer C2
Warrant Officer C2
 
Posts: 1053
South Australia

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by brand » 16 Jan 2015, 9:04 am

1886 wrote:"We load them to see if they check but I forgot to watch him"

There is absolutely no defence they could plea.


The gun store said that? That's just f***ing stupid.

Don't check it's safe, no no. Give them a loaded gun and watch to see if they're going to have an accident because they don't know better... Brilliant idea.
User avatar
brand
Private
Private
 
Posts: 51
Victoria

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by teedo » 16 Jan 2015, 9:05 am

tom604 wrote:there's something wrong with that video,,,just can't put my finger on it? :twisted: :twisted:


Next time you go hunting walk around with your rifle cocked and finger on the muzzle.

It'll come to you...... At about 3,000fps :lol:
User avatar
teedo
Private
Private
 
Posts: 57
Queensland

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by banoob » 16 Jan 2015, 9:26 am

face_palm.jpg
face_palm.jpg (28.81 KiB) Viewed 5479 times
Ruger Magnum Hunter 300 Win Mag
Meopta 6-18x50
User avatar
banoob
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 41
New South Wales

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by tom604 » 16 Jan 2015, 11:05 am

teedo wrote:
tom604 wrote:there's something wrong with that video,,,just can't put my finger on it? :twisted: :twisted:


Next time you go hunting walk around with your rifle cocked and finger on the muzzle.

It'll come to you...... At about 3,000fps :lol:



bit more than that but close :lol: :lol:
User avatar
tom604
Warrant Officer C2
Warrant Officer C2
 
Posts: 1053
South Australia

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by shazz » 16 Jan 2015, 3:19 pm

My favourite's the shooting instructor (An american cop if I remember video right) who's half way through saying "right now I'm the only one in this room qualified to handle this" *BOOOOOOOM* and puts a round into the ceiling :lol:

This guy must have done his safety course there :lol:
User avatar
shazz
Private
Private
 
Posts: 79
Western Australia

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by pajamatime » 18 Jan 2015, 1:33 am

Not enough edumacation I tell yah...I always tell the Americans they need a tun more compulsory training.
The Prudent see the evil and hide but the Naive keep going and are punished for it
pajamatime
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 393
Queensland

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by Sender » 18 Jan 2015, 1:41 pm

pajamatime wrote:Not enough edumacation I tell yah...I always tell the Americans they need a tun more compulsory training.


Compulsory is a 4 letter word over there though.

Could be a 2 minute mandatory training course and they've say it infringes their rights.
User avatar
Sender
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 216
South Australia

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by Eduardo » 22 Jan 2015, 4:25 am

Guy just hit the lotto. Stupid of the gun shop to hand him a loaded gun but who takes a gun, points it at some part of their body and pulls the trigger?
A volatile mixture of implacable OCD and vexatiuous ADD.
User avatar
Eduardo
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 178
United States of America

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by jackles » 22 Jan 2015, 3:22 pm

Looks like 'finger nail' more than finger from his reaction.

Shakes it off a bit.

Will still get a massive payout being the US.
32-20 Winchester 9422
.22LR Remington Model 5
.308 Remington 700
Coming soon... 17HMR
User avatar
jackles
Private
Private
 
Posts: 56
Queensland

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by Westy » 22 Jan 2015, 6:35 pm

cooker wrote:Looks like a tip rather than a finger.

Dunno what that has to do with "ending his career" though. Sounds like taking the opportunity to get early retirement at someone elses expense IMO.


He wasn't able to point people out in the line up anymore so his carrier was over!!!!

Or was it he couldn't put the finger on crime anymore

Or he couldn't finger his suspect

Please someone stop me!!!!!! :silent: :crazy: :wtf: :problem:
I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everyone off is a piece of cake.
User avatar
Westy
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1276
Queensland

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by Blackened » 23 Jan 2015, 6:56 pm

Westy wrote:Please someone stop me!!!!!! :silent: :crazy: :wtf: :problem:


2 week ban?

Cool, I'll put it through now.
User avatar
Blackened
Moderator
 
New South Wales

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by Usurper » 23 Jan 2015, 6:56 pm

"Nah I don't work. I've got my finger money"
.308 CZ 550 American
.222 Tikka Varmint
.357 Mag Marlin 1894
User avatar
Usurper
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 167
Queensland

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by Westy » 23 Jan 2015, 7:07 pm

Blackened wrote:2 week ban?

Cool, I'll put it through now.


Here's to you Blackened :drinks: :drinks: :drinks:
Attachments
post-1328-0-00066100-1353415630.jpg
post-1328-0-00066100-1353415630.jpg (11.84 KiB) Viewed 4898 times
I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everyone off is a piece of cake.
User avatar
Westy
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1276
Queensland

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by Blackened » 26 Jan 2015, 1:11 pm

That's a complete misrepresentation!

I don't have glasses...
User avatar
Blackened
Moderator
 
New South Wales

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by Westy » 26 Jan 2015, 8:46 pm

But obviously you have a sense of humour!!!! LMAO :lol: :lol: :lol:
I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everyone off is a piece of cake.
User avatar
Westy
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1276
Queensland

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by Herdsman » 28 Jan 2015, 9:40 am

Eduardo wrote:Stupid of the gun shop to hand him a loaded gun but who takes a gun, points it at some part of their body and pulls the trigger?


Stupid by everyone involved :problem:
Shepherding bullets down range.

Tikka Hunter Stainless Fluted 300 Win Mag
Tikka Battue Lite .308 Win
Tikka Varmint Stainless .222 Rem
User avatar
Herdsman
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 312
Victoria

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by sbd3927 » 14 Jun 2015, 2:06 pm

Old thread but thought of it immediately,

the store should have been selling one's like this...

db1073-stupid-gun-warning.jpg
db1073-stupid-gun-warning.jpg (28.4 KiB) Viewed 4809 times

http://www.dirtybutton.com/pictures/107 ... n-warning/
Anschutz 1515-1516 22WMR
Steyr Prohunter 308win, Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16x50
User avatar
sbd3927
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 164
Victoria

Re: Cop shoots off finger, suing gun store

Post by KWhorenet » 14 Jun 2015, 3:53 pm

:lol:

Is there one that points to my mouth and says

WARNING: "Sexist PIG like oinks come out of here"
User avatar
KWhorenet
Sergeant
Sergeant
 
Posts: 679
-

Next

Back to top
 
Return to Firearms related media and politics