Flight Attendant Brings Gun To Airport, Police Unload It The Hard Way

[KevDen2005]

Well the flight attendant should have known better than to bring the gun to the airport, but she should certainly fight the charge, that's ridiculous. I feel a little bad for her because she might lose her permit over the incident.

So...

During a somewhat bigger arrest involving a felon with guns two different guns were located in the person's house. One of these guns was a .38, I believe Smith and Wesson and pretty old. I am not a revolver guy so I don't know much about them. The gun was loaded and the hammer was cocked all the way to the rear...as if to use immediately by the suspect. I first made several attempts to open the cylinder to remove the live rounds and not attempt to ride the hammer forward...I don't wanna be a cop that makes the news. However, it was determined (correct me if I'm wrong) that the cylinder would not open with the hammer to the rear. The hammer had to be ridden forward on a loaded chamber to unload the gun.

I'm not claiming this is what happened at PA, I'm just giving an example.

[KevDen2005]

It says the flight attendant was charged, but doesn't say anything about if the cop was disciplined in any way for discharging a firearm in an airport...

I'm sure he will be.

[TFOGGER]

Well the flight attendant should have known better than to bring the gun to the airport, but she should certainly fight the charge, that's ridiculous. I feel a little bad for her because she might lose her permit over the incident.

So...

During a somewhat bigger arrest involving a felon with guns two different guns were located in the person's house. One of these guns was a .38, I believe Smith and Wesson and pretty old. I am not a revolver guy so I don't know much about them. The gun was loaded and the hammer was cocked all the way to the rear...as if to use immediately by the suspect. I first made several attempts to open the cylinder to remove the live rounds and not attempt to ride the hammer forward...I don't wanna be a cop that makes the news. However, it was determined (correct me if I'm wrong) that the cylinder would not open with the hammer to the rear. The hammer had to be ridden forward on a loaded chamber to unload the gun.

I'm not claiming this is what happened at PA, I'm just giving an example.

Quite possible that this is the case. At least it was pointed in a safe(ish) direction when it discharged. Most revolvers i have handled have a half cock position that will allow the cylinder to be opened, but I'm not that familiar with the weapon in question.

[KevDen2005]

Quite possible that this is the case. At least it was pointed in a safe(ish) direction when it discharged. Most revolvers i have handled have a half cock position that will allow the cylinder to be opened, but I'm not that familiar with the weapon in question.

If you were referring to my situation I can tell you that I don't know if the revolver had a half cock position to allow the cylinder to turn. My point was even though I did not want to it was a situation that I believe the only way to unload the weapon was to place a finger on the trigger and ride the hammer forward (either to half cock or all the way). Again, I am open to suggestions if anyone thinks this was wrong or if there is a better way. And yes, I did inform other officers and kept the weapon in the safest place possible.

As for the PA incident, I have no idea what the circumstances of the gun were.

[Ronin13]

I'm sure he will be.

I thought the article said that he was riding a desk until they completed the investigation... I like your example, maybe that's what happened. I haven't handled a lot of wheel guns myself, so if I ever had to deal with one, I'm sure my ignorance on the operations of one would be a cause for me to remain attentive at all times.

[cysoto]

TSA isn't law enforcement, we should be okay

TSA probably found it but, once a firearm is identified in screening, case jurisdiction is passed on to LE.

[cysoto]

Quite possible that this is the case. At least it was pointed in a safe(ish) direction when it discharged. Most revolvers i have handled have a half cock position that will allow the cylinder to be opened, but I'm not that familiar with the weapon in question.

The article mentioned that the officer was assigned to desk duty pending investigation. It also mentions that the firearm is an Airweight revolver, none of which (to the best of my knowledge) have a half-cock notch. If a Smith & Wesson Airweight was indeed the firearm that was negligently discharged, this may only have happened by pulling on the revolver's trigger.

[Teufelhund]

What does the gun need testing for?

That was my first thought too.

A revolver kept in a purse typically doesn't have an exposed hammer.

[HBARleatherneck]

delete

[dwalker460]

Yes I believe all airweights (with the possible exception of a Chiefs Special?) are DAO. The only way to discharge it is to pull the trigger.