The Downside of Carrying Striker Fire and/or Appendix

The host of this YouTube channel had an unintentional discharge when drawing a handgun from an appendix holster. Looking at the holster, it appears that the pistol was only partially drawn when it discharged. He has no idea how it happened. In the comments, he indicates that it was a.40 S&W Glock 23 and an FDO Industries IWB Kydex Holster. He also indicates that the "[s]hot happened on the draw, not the reholster," and "[a]ll internals including the trigger are stock. Only mods to the firearm were a rear sight replacement and front mounted flashlight." It seems to me that one of the common factors to many of these accidents is a holster designed for a weapon mounted light. 

The host also comments:

    Probably will not carry appendix again. Probably will also not carry loaded again, unless the pistol has a safety or is a double action. I do think these would have helped prevent this.

    I don't know if I'll conceal carry striker fired again.

Yes. This probably would not have happened with a DA/SA pistol. 

 VIDEO: "I lost a testicle to an accidental discharge."
North Wind Aerial (14 min.)

Brandon Herrera: A New Darwin Award Video

This one features more stupid behavior around guns including several idiots that actually off themselves.  

 VIDEO: "The Worst Internet Gun Fails #21 - The Darwin Awards"
Brandon Herrera (29 min.)

And speaking of stupid behavior with firearms, check out the news story below about a police officer who shot another officer while they were horsing around with loaded duty weapons:

 VIDEO: "Police officer shoots fellow cop in absurd ‘horseplay’ incident"
KTLA 5 (3 min.)

VIDEO: Female Venezuelan Police Officer Showing Off Sidearm Shoots Woman

A short video showing a female police officer ("officer 1") talking with another woman outside a metro station in Caracas. For some reason--probably to show off her sidearm--officer 1 removes her pistol from her holster and promptly shoots the woman opposite her. Officer 1 then trots over to another female officer ("officer 2") to, I would guess, explain what happened. Officer 1 and 2 then seat the victim, while officer 2 goes off to look for a phone? Or a male officer to help? It is unclear. But they weren't providing any first aid or calling an ambulance. The description of the video states:

 A 22-year-old woman was seriously injured after a police officer's gun accidentally discharged during a conversation outside a metro station in Caracas. The two women were having a friendly conversation when the gun went off and injured the civilian's abdomen. Authorities said the shooting appears to have been accidental and have opened an internal investigation.

 VIDEO: "Female Officer Accidentally Shoots Woman in Stomach While Handling Gun at Caracas Metro" - New York Post (1 min.)

Who Let The Dogs Out?

A couple stories from earlier this week of the same incident where a dog shot a woman with a shotgun:

• "Dog Accidentally Shoots Woman In Nebraska"--Financian. 
• "Dog fires off multiple gunshots, hits driver near Nebraska gas station: cops"--New York Post.

The New York Post article relates:

    The pooch, its owner and a passenger pulled into Short Stop, a baseball-themed gas station and convenience store, in Scottsbluff just before noon — when the owner popped into the store. 

    The curious canine quickly started to rifle around in the back seat and came across a shotgun. Somehow, the pooch popped off several shots straight through the passenger side door, according to police reports obtained by KNOP.

    The truck’s passenger who had lingered near the truck while waiting for the driver, watched in apparent bewilderment as the dog opened fire. 

    One shot soared across the gas station and reportedly struck a woman waiting at a nearby traffic light.

    Scottsbluff police were originally told that someone had fired a BB gun, but realized the severity of situation when they found the shellshocked dog and a smoking shotgun.

    The lone victim was shot in the arm and hospitalized with a non-life-threatening injury, the outlet reported. 

The other article relates:

    According to police, the dog moved across the truck and accidentally triggered the firearm, causing it to fire through the passenger-side door.

    At that exact moment, a woman waiting at a nearby red light had her arm resting outside her car window. One shotgun pellet struck her upper arm, and she was taken to Regional West Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

    Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and reminded residents that transporting a loaded shotgun inside a vehicle is illegal in Nebraska.

The article from the Post seems to have exaggerated the situation, making it sound like several shots were fired whereas it was probably just the single shot described in the second article. Fortunately no one was seriously injured. But leaving a cocked weapon with a loaded chamber in the back of the vehicle is irresponsible, in my opinion. I've seen articles of similar incidents in the past where dogs have stepped on or dragged a shotgun or rifle causing it to discharge with tragic results. Although the article is silent on this point, it does not seem that the shotgun was in a case or scabbard of any sort, either, which might have prevented the incident.