NYPD brass to cops: Stop using Kahr K-9 semi-automatic pistol as an off-duty gun – NY Daily News
Via Student of the Gun.
The NYPD has instructed cops to stop carrying an off-duty gun that has a trigger so light it’s been blamed for a series of accidental discharges, the Daily News has learned.
NYPD spokesman Paul Browne says the Kahr K-9 semi-automatic pistol has led to more than a dozen such shootings — none resulting in a fatality. The shootings have occurred over the last few years, a source said.
via NYPD brass to cops: Stop using Kahr K-9 semi-automatic pistol as an off-duty gun – NY Daily News.
So how light is the trigger pull in the K-9? Less than the 5.5 Lbs from a standard Glock 17? Maybe a 4.5 to 5 Lbs tuned 1911? Maybe Rob Leatham’s 1.5 Lbs for his competition guns?
Nope. NYPD thinks a 7.5 pounds trigger pull is too light. I am not kidding you.
Then again, the NYPD issue Glock’s trigger is a hefty 12 Lbs. That is more than double of the standard Glock and imposed by the ambulance chasers and bean counters of NYC to allegedly avoid negligent discharges.
As somebody once put it less than poetically:” Boomstick does not go bang unless you are finger f***ing the trigger.” My take is what we are seeing here is negligent training in the NYPD who rather than re-train its officers in the four basic rules of Gun Safety, (which would put a huge dent in the budget) went the way of “let’s make this thing really hard to pull and maybe we won’t be sued for much.” What they ended up with is a bunch of people who rely on the heavy trigger pull and keeping the finger on the trigger instead of proper finger discipline (outside the trigger guard.) And when dealing with a weapon with half the trigger pull, they suddenly end up with a round going where it was not supposed to go. God forbid if they ever touch a competition gun as they may spread lead faster than a Dillon mini-gun.
When we all began out journey in the world of shooting, we went through the phase of “Nifty gear makes better shooter” but we outgrew fast when we realized that it is only through good and constant practice that we become good and safe shooters. And yes, there is a place for accessories and stuff, but never as substitute for safety that can only be achieved by brain power.