Disaster Milwaukee Police Afraid of Handguns Randomly Firing: Report - Remember: the first rule of firearms safety is to have fun

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Milwaukee police said they were so afraid of their department-issued handguns randomly firing, they wouldn't bring them home near their family​

Natalie Musumeci
Apr 11, 2023, 3:03 PM





A Sig Sauer P320 handgun. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

• Milwaukee police were worried about their SIG Sauer P320 handguns randomly firing.
• "They don't want it around their family," a police union head told The Washington Post.
• A Washington Post/The Trace investigation found dozens of reports of the handguns firing without a trigger pull.

Officers with Wisconsin's Milwaukee Police Department were reportedly so worried about their SIG Sauer P320 handguns randomly firing that they wouldn't bring the weapon home.

"Our officers are fearful of the gun," Milwaukee Police Association officers union head Andrew Wagner told The Washington Post as part of an investigation published on Tuesday.

"They're not taking it home. They don't want it around their family," Wagner said of the department-issued semi-automatic pistol.

An eight-month investigation by The Washington Post and The Trace found that more than 100 people claim that their P320 pistols fired when they did not pull the trigger in incidents dating back to 2016, according to the report.

The investigation also found that at least 80 people were wounded in those shootings.

A representative for New Hampshire-based gun manufacturer SIG Sauer did not immediately respond to requests for comment by Insider on Tuesday.

In a statement to The Washington Post, the gunmaker denied that the P320 was able to fire without someone pulling the trigger.

In December, Milwaukee police began replacing the SIG Sauer pistols with Glock firearms, local outlet Fox6 reported.

"They're really happy that they are not going to have to worry about endangering the community or themselves when they are carrying these firearms they currently have," Wagner said at the time.

 

[White Devil]

It has more to do with how much cheaper they are to produce, I'm pretty sure.

You'll find that many Millenial/Gen Z shooters have been indoctrinated to treat anything made with metal or has a hammer as "fudd" guns now. The conspiracy brain I have thinks it's purposefully been done to get consumers to want a cheaper gun. (unless it comes to AR's, then everything needs to be "Gucci")

That being said, I own a P365 XL and like it a lot. I just wish I could find a P228 without having to resort to fucking Gunbroker.

It comes down to economics. There's nothing wrong with metal guns, tactical Tupperware is just cheaper to make. I do agree that firearms lost a bit of soul in moving to polymer but as others have said, kinks with strikers have been worked out for years. All my DA/SAs have a certain feel and personality to them whereas I find all my plastic guns feel the same except for whatever doodads I might have on one.

 

[MembersSchoolPizza]

There's nothing wrong with metal guns, tactical Tupperware is just cheaper to make.

I prefer a steel frame, but the weight reduction is nice for a gun you carry all day, every day. I know aluminum frames are a thing, but they're even more expensive. And still, fully loaded, with a laser sight and Hogue grips, my Shield .45 is only two ounces heavier than a Kimber CDP2 empty, and that's an aluminum frame gun that's roughly the same size, and has the same load and capacity.

 

[Romulus augustulus]

I prefer a steel frame, but the weight reduction is nice for a gun you carry all day, every day. I know aluminum frames are a thing, but they're even more expensive. And still, fully loaded, with a laser sight and Hogue grips, my Shield .45 is only two ounces heavier than a Kimber CDP2 empty, and that's an aluminum frame gun that's roughly the same size, and has the same load and capacity.

?? most DA/SA guns are aluminum framed. P220 series, Beretta 92, the CZ DA/SA's are (except CZ75 and 75 compact). they are no more expensive than steel.

 

[quackrock]

You'd never have this issue with a Sig 226 because you could just decock it and the first shot would be a double action pull that you COULD do accidentally but it's extremely unlikely and there would be literally no way the gun could just "go off" because the hammer is down.

It almost never happens, but external hammers can theoretically catch on clothing/something else and fall forward with enough momentum to set off the primer. Same deal as if your hand were to slip while manually de-cocking a revolver. If the safety is engaged on a modern gun you're fine, but if you carry a DA/SA safety-off in the hammer-down position it's a remote possibility. I imagine a half-cock position and careful design of the hammer would help mitigate this somewhat.

Disclaimer: I haven't tested this, just read anecdotes.

 

[TowinKarz]

I don't even know why they would mention that. Anyone who doesn't clear their weapon before cleaning it just deserves whatever happens to them.

Especially if you've got one where pulling the trigger is part of the takedown process....

I have no words for people who read the manual, get to that step, and don't consider, "Wait a sec, what if there's a round in here when I do that?" - and I'm almost certain said manual has "unload and clear gun" as step number ONE anyway.

 

[Dragged Into Sunlight]

Do they absolutely need to have a round in the chamber when at home? Takes next to no time to rack the slide.

Also yes, get a Glock. Or a Beretta. Or a CZ. Or a Walther. Or even a S&W M&P. Fucking hell, so many options better than Sig.

If you're not confident enough to have a round chambered while carrying, you shouldn't be carrying

 

[TV's Adam West]

Didn't a company have an issue with like 300 of their pistols having a hair trigger that went unnoticed?

 

[quackrock]

Timely Forgotten Weapons video:

 

[Post Reply]

I wonder if MPD is trying to establish some plausible deniability for the next time they visit Patrick S. Tomlinson's half-house?

 

[Shroom King]

I am not a cop, but, everything a handgun can do a shotgun can do better. I don't know why shotguns are not used more by police to subdue criminals.

 

[Glock 19 Gen 5]

I am not a cop, but, everything a handgun can do a shotgun can do better. I don't know why shotguns are not used more by police to subdue criminals.

Because the AR15 exists and we aren't in the 1980s anymore

 

[quackrock]

I am not a cop, but, everything a handgun can do a shotgun can do better. I don't know why shotguns are not used more by police to subdue criminals.

Police used to carry shotguns in the squad car, but these days they've mostly been replaced with AR-style carbines. More accurate, more ammo, less collateral damage from BB spread.