{"id":10975,"date":"2014-11-24T13:13:16","date_gmt":"2014-11-24T18:13:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gunpoliticsny.com\/?p=10975"},"modified":"2020-12-22T07:45:16","modified_gmt":"2020-12-22T12:45:16","slug":"finger-off-the-trigger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gunpoliticsny.com\/?p=10975","title":{"rendered":"Finger off the trigger"},"content":{"rendered":"

The accidental shooting<\/a> in a NYC hosing project can be attributed in no small part to poor firearms handling skills<\/a>:<\/p>\n

“…\u00a0\u201cThe strong assumption is that [Liang] had his finger on the trigger\u201d as he and Landau, who did not draw his weapon, conducted a \u201cvertical patrol\u201d of the stairwell, according to a law-enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation. \u00a0\u201cWhen you keep your finger on the trigger, it\u2019s a lot more likely that you will fire accidentally if you are startled or frightened.\u201d … Police Commissioner Bill Bratton<\/a> conceded Friday that rookies shouldn\u2019t be paired up for dangerous housing-project patrols. \u00a0But neither of these issues was as cataclysmic as Liang\u2019s apparent decision to keep his left index finger on the trigger of his 9mm Glock<\/a> as he descended the pitch-black stairwell of one of the city\u2019s most notorious projects, NYPD veterans and critics agree. \u00a0\u201cNo one can tell a cop not to draw his weapon, but the one thing they do tell you is not to put your finger on the trigger unless you are firing. \u00a0Otherwise, if you\u2019re startled, there can be a grasping response,\u201d the source said …”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What makes this less tragic and more infuriating is that it highlights the fact that the NYPD has known for decades<\/a> that many officers lack even the most basic skills to handle firearms safely. \u00a0That’s why they came up with the “New York”<\/a><\/em> and “New York Plus”<\/em> triggers for Glocks 20-something years ago. \u00a0This is something city officials have turned a blind eye to for years. \u00a0Unless, of course, they thought they could get some political mileage out of it. \u00a0Speaking of which<\/a>:<\/p>\n

“… \u201cI don\u2019t believe he should return to law-enforcement capacity,\u201d said Borough President Eric Adams<\/a>, a former cop …”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here’s a video Adams made a few years ago<\/a> while in the State Senate<\/a>. \u00a0Jump to the 4:05 mark. \u00a0He’s got his finger on the trigger while pointing the gun at his chest.<\/p>\n

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