Three People Injured in Florida Gun Range Mishap (Jennings arms pistol malfunction?)

[festus]

LAKELAND, Fla. — A Tampa couple and an Irish tourist were shot at a Lakeland gun range after a handgun accidentally fired.
Link Removed
Polk County sheriff's deputies say it's not entirely clear how many times Michael and Sherri Thourot's 9mm accidentally went off Saturday, or what caused the handgun to fire. The pistol was a Jennings make.

The man in an adjacent stall, 29-year-old Gary Flynn, of Ireland, was most seriously injured. He underwent surgery after being hit in the shoulder and throat, and was listed in stable condition.

Michael Thourot was shot in the left hand, and Sherri Thourot was hit in the left arm. Both were also listed in stable condition.

 

[JJFlash]

So, let me get this right, no one's holding this pistol ? It's what, lying on the counter, and suddenly just starts spraying bullets?!! Well, all I gotta say is, apparently the antis are right - these things are evil.

 

[HK4U]

Those are not exactly what I would call quality firearms but still this sounds a little hard to believe. Keep us posted festus if you get any updates.

 

[Brainchild]

So, let me get this right, no one's holding this pistol ? It's what, lying on the counter, and suddenly just starts spraying bullets?!! Well, all I gotta say is, apparently the antis are right - these things are evil.

Actually,you're right...except for the anti's being right...and the evil part.I know these two people very well and I was told exactly what happened. The mag was loaded and inserted, the slide was released. when the pistol was placed one the table POINTED DOWNRANGE, without the trigger being touched it went off repeatedly spinning around firing one round after another. There are other reports of the Jennings nine having this type of malfunction.
Firearm Recalls and Safety Warnings 2- FirearmsID.com

 

[Red Hat]

What is it with Fl and shooting range mishaps? Jennings arms was part of the Ring-of-Fire group, Bryco Arms, back in the 80's. They made sub-quality firearms and are illegal to sell in some states. Even though they are of very poor quality having one just go off by itself is suspicious. Maybe 'Ghost Hunters' need to check out that range...

 

[JJFlash]

Actually,you're right...except for the anti's being right...and the evil part.I know these two people very well and I was told exactly what happened. The mag was loaded and inserted, the slide was released. when the pistol was placed one the table POINTED DOWNRANGE, without the trigger being touched it went off repeatedly spinning around firing one round after another. There are other reports of the Jennings nine having this type of malfunction.
Firearm Recalls and Safety Warnings 2- FirearmsID.com

Whoa...I've never heard of anything like this before and stand chastised for my sarcasm.

 

[tcox4freedom]

Didn't I read somewhere that:

"You should Always keep your gun pointed in a safe direction; never point your gun at anything you don't intend to destroy"

is one of the gun safety rules?

I just wonder why the shooter had to shoot through the next stall in order to hit the target. Man, that gun range must have been poorly designed!

OH! Wait a minute; I think I get it. The shooter must NOT have been following the gun "safety" rules.

 

[DougG]

Didn't I read somewhere that:

"You should Always keep your gun pointed in a safe direction; never point your gun at anything you don't intend to destroy"

is one of the gun safety rules?

I just wonder why the shooter had to shoot through the next stall in order to hit the target. Man, that gun range must have been poorly designed!

OH! Wait a minute; I think I get it. The shooter must NOT have been following the gun "safety" rules.

Read the orgional and all other posts; the gun was pointed down range and went off by its self.

 

[festus]

here is what the recall actually says...it can happen...

BRYCO ARMS
Model Jennings Nine,
9mm LUGER caliber Semiautomatic Pistol

WARNING: These pistols may create an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION and a POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY by firing without pulling the trigger.

During the testing of a Bryco Arms, Jennings Nine pistol by a forensic firearms examiner it was noted that it would fire upon release of the thumb safety and spontaneously fire in a FULL AUTO MODE on an inconsistent bases. When loaded with the manual thumb safety in the “safe” position, if the trigger of the submitted firearm has been pulled stiffly a few times, the firearm will discharge when the thumb safety is moved to the “fire” position.

Disassembly of the pistol revealed some wear/damage to the sear which allows slight downward movement when the trigger is pulled. It appears due to the wear/damage the sear/striker engagement is reduced allowing the striker to override the sear after the thumb safety is released.

MANUALLY UNLOADING THIS PISTOL MAY BE VERY DANGEROUS SINCE IT COULD DISCHARGE DURING THIS PROCEDURE.

Source:

AFTE Journal, Spring 2001; Volume 33, Number 2:145-147
Illinois State Police Laboratory, Springfield - Notice, December 7, 2000

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Scarecrow]

ummm... it was a jennings... now there's your problem..

I hope and pray for a quick recovery to all who were hit.. also hope that the owner will buy a higher quality firearm.

 

[lukem]

What is it with Fl and shooting range mishaps?

I was thinking the same thing. I wish I could just get my own land to go shooting on by myself! One day...

 

[tcox4freedom]

Read the orgional and all other posts; the gun was pointed down range and went off by its self.

Ok, I'm confused again.

If the gun was pointed "downrange", HOW did the bullet go through the booth wall and hit the guy in the next stall?


According to the post, the gun was not being used at the time of the ND, correct?

Isn't another "gun safety" rule to unload your gun and keep the action open when it is NOT being used? (As an RSO, that's one of our ranges safety rules.)

SO:

How could the gun discharge ALL by itself if it was unloaded and the action opened?


In summary, Jennings may be a crappy firearm.

BUT!!!

If the shooter had followed the two "SAFETY" rules above:
1. "keeping the gun pointed downrange
AND
2. keep the gun unloaded it IF it was not in use at the time",

I just can't see HOW this accident could have happened; no matter how crappy a Jennings firearm happens to be. This article seems to be just another "Guns are evil" story.

Anyway, I hope the people will be ok. I also think the blame should rest on the person who was in charge of the gun.

(By any definition, this was a "Negligent" discharge of a firearm.)

 

[HK4U]

Safety rules

1. keep the gun pointed downrange

2. keep the gun unloaded
3. Don't use a Jennings.:sarcastic:

 

[BamaBoy]

I was thinking the same thing. I wish I could just get my own land to go shooting on by myself! One day...

My cousin lives a few miles up the road from me, on 250 acres. He has a working cannon that he fires once in a while. I told him that in New Jersey, that would be frowned upon. Still, he goes to a range to shoot.

 

[rugerfan.64]

I've taken apart a Jennings or two,,,,IMHO they make fair to middlin trot line weights. Hope the "victims" all recover asap.

 

[Scarecrow]

I was thinking the same thing. I wish I could just get my own land to go shooting on by myself! One day...

My cousin lives a few miles up the road from me, on 250 acres. He has a working cannon that he fires once in a while. I told him that in New Jersey, that would be frowned upon. Still, he goes to a range to shoot.

250 acres... now there's a nice dream that will hopefully come true.

 

[MADnMO]

Ok, I'm confused again.

If the gun was pointed "downrange", HOW did the bullet go through the booth wall and hit the guy in the next stall?

According to the post, the gun was not being used at the time of the ND, correct?

Isn't another "gun safety" rule to unload your gun and keep the action open when it is NOT being used? (As an RSO, that's one of our ranges safety rules.)

SO:

How could the gun discharge ALL by itself if it was unloaded and the action opened?

In summary, Jennings may be a crappy firearm.

BUT!!!

If the shooter had followed the two "SAFETY" rules above:
1. "keeping the gun pointed downrange
AND
2. keep the gun unloaded it IF it was not in use at the time",

I just can't see HOW this accident could have happened; no matter how crappy a Jennings firearm happens to be. This article seems to be just another "Guns are evil" story.

Anyway, I hope the people will be ok. I also think the blame should rest on the person who was in charge of the gun.

(By any definition, this was a "Negligent" discharge of a firearm.)

I am not disagreeing with any point you have made but I would just like to make the following comment.

I have 13 year old twins sons, one of which is not strong enough to always rack the slide on some of my handguns. Because of this I will load the gun, rack the slide and lay the gun down with it pointing down range for him to pick up and shoot.

 

[billwot]

Ok, I'm confused again.

If the gun was pointed "downrange", HOW did the bullet go through the booth wall and hit the guy in the next stall?


According to the post, the gun was not being used at the time of the ND, correct?

Isn't another "gun safety" rule to unload your gun and keep the action open when it is NOT being used? (As an RSO, that's one of our ranges safety rules.)

SO:

How could the gun discharge ALL by itself if it was unloaded and the action opened?


In summary, Jennings may be a crappy firearm.

BUT!!!

If the shooter had followed the two "SAFETY" rules above:
1. "keeping the gun pointed downrange
AND
2. keep the gun unloaded it IF it was not in use at the time",

I just can't see HOW this accident could have happened; no matter how crappy a Jennings firearm happens to be. This article seems to be just another "Guns are evil" story.

Anyway, I hope the people will be ok. I also think the blame should rest on the person who was in charge of the gun.

(By any definition, this was a "Negligent" discharge of a firearm.)

Read post #4 and #9.

bill

 

[Glock Fan]

I am not disagreeing with any point you have made but I would just like to make the following comment.

I have 13 year old twins sons, one of which is not strong enough to always rack the slide on some of my handguns. Because of this I will load the gun, rack the slide and lay the gun down with it pointing down range for him to pick up and shoot.

Another "safer" option would be training him to shoot a revolver.



gf

 

[MADnMO]

Another "safer" option would be training him to shoot a revolver.

gf

True. However I don't own any revolvers and it is only a matter of time before he can do it consistently.

Besides most of my handguns are Glocks and they don't go off by themselves. :biggrin: