logo
Semi-automatic pistol banned from WA police training group for safety reasons

Semi-automatic pistol banned from WA police training group for safety reasons

Yahoo27-02-2025
This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com
The Washington organization designed to 'establish standards and provide training to criminal justice professionals' has banned the use of a semi-automatic pistol because of safety issues.
The SIG Sauer P320 is a modular pistol that the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) said can fire without pulling the trigger.
'A recruit's firearm discharged while drawing, without their finger on the trigger, injuring an instructor and another recruit,' David Quinlan, WSCJTC communications manager, told MyNorthwest. 'Given similar national incidents, WSCJTC took precautionary action on October 17, 2024, pausing the use of the firearm until a workgroup and the academy conducted a full investigation.'
Police and the military use various versions of the P320.
Based on the findings, Executive Director Monica Alexander and the leadership team made the decision to prohibit the Sig Sauer P320 for WSCJTC training.
'This prohibition will remain in effect, and WSCJTC will continue to support agencies impacted by the decision,' Quinlan said.
More from MyNorthwest: Round 2: Washington lawmakers reignite gun permit fight after failing last year
Incidents with P320 semi-automatic pistol growing
Incidents with the P320 have been growing. WSCJTC had launched a work group investigation, reviewing on-site inspections of the recruit's firearm, historical cases of misfires, legal cases, and military and law enforcement reports, Quinlan said.
The Bellevue Police Department, Burlington Police Department, and Kitsap County Sheriff's Office use P320s.
More from MyNorthwest: Seattle Police arrest 'screaming' man with long gun at apartment building in Bitter Lake
Replacement costs significant
The cost of replacing them can be significant because it requires new weapons, supplies and training.
One law enforcement official described the P320 'Like setting a ticking time bomb wherever it's sitting waiting for it to go off.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

An Air Force command halted its use of Sig Sauer's M18 handgun following an airman's death
An Air Force command halted its use of Sig Sauer's M18 handgun following an airman's death

Business Insider

timean hour ago

  • Business Insider

An Air Force command halted its use of Sig Sauer's M18 handgun following an airman's death

The Air Force command that oversees America's arsenal of long-range nuclear-capable bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles has decided to stop providing troops with Sig Sauer M18 pistols following a recent fatality. In a statement shared with Business Insider, AFGSC spokesperson Charles "Moose" Hoffman confirmed the pause, adding that the decision was made after the death of a Security Forces airman at the base on Sunday morning. Air Force Security Forces personnel are a military form of law enforcement and often work in base protection. "Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety and security of our personnel, the pause will remain in place pending the completion of comprehensive investigations by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the AFGSC Safety office," Hoffman wrote, adding that airmen will now carry their rifles only for the time being. "While the investigations are underway, AFGSC is collaborating with the Air Force Security Forces Center and Headquarters Air Force Security Forces to conduct a thorough review of the M18 and develop appropriate corrective measures," the statement said. Hoffman said that "Security Forces Combat Arms Airmen at all AFGSC bases will conduct 100% inspections of the M18 handguns to identify any immediate safety concerns." The Air Force did not specify whether a negligent discharge with the pistol caused the airman's death, saying only that the incident is under investigation and that "the discharge has not been categorized yet." Sig Sauer did not respond to BI's request for comment on the recent Air Force decision. The M18 and M17 are military-specific variants of the P320 platform, which is also sold on the civilian market. The airman's death and AFGSC's decision to halt the use of the M18 come amid a history of reported safety issues associated with the P320-series weapons and their firing system. The handgun has been the subject of complaints and lawsuits in recent years. Michigan State Police, for instance, reported problems with the pistol in 2024 after one was fired while still holstered by a police officer, according to the military news outlet The War Zone. An FBI report detailing the incident said that in July 2024, the police officer's "department issued Sig Sauer M182 fired uncommanded," while holstered. "According to the MSP motor officer's statement and the statements of others present, at no time was the trigger pressed intentionally or inadvertently," the report stated, explaining that "the MSP motor officer had objects in his hands at the time." It said he was holding his keys. TWZ reported that incidents involving 'uncommanded' discharges have been associated with the P320 and its variants before. A recent lawsuit against the manufacturer was filed by a widow who alleged that her husband died last year after his P320 fired uncommanded. A 2023 joint investigation by The Washington Post and The Trace uncovered 100 similar incidents and found 80 people who said they were wounded by their gun's uncommanded discharge. Other government and law enforcement agencies have sought to ban the weapon, but legal proceedings against Sig Sauer are poised to become more challenging for plaintiffs. The New Hampshire-based firearms company has successfully sought increased legal protections from the state's lawmakers amid the lawsuits filed in response to safety concerns, according to New Hampshire Public Radio.

New Hampshire's new law protecting gunmakers faces first test in court over Sig Sauer lawsuit
New Hampshire's new law protecting gunmakers faces first test in court over Sig Sauer lawsuit

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

New Hampshire's new law protecting gunmakers faces first test in court over Sig Sauer lawsuit

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A new state law in New Hampshire that makes it harder to take gunmaker Sig Sauer to court is getting its first test before a judge on Monday. The 2-month-old law was created by the Republican-led Legislature in response to mounting lawsuits faced by the Newington-based manufacturer over its popular P320 pistol. The lawsuits say that the gun can go off without the trigger being pulled, an allegation Sig Sauer denies. Sig Sauer, which employs over 2,000 people in New Hampshire, said the gun is safe and the problem is user error. Several large, multi-plaintiff cases filed since 2022 in New Hampshire's federal court representing nearly 80 people accuse Sig Sauer of defective product design, marketing, and negligence, in addition to lawsuits filed in other states. Many of the plaintiffs are current and former law enforcement officers who say they were wounded by the gun. They say the P320 design requires an external mechanical safety, a feature that is optional. The most recent New Hampshire case, representing 22 plaintiffs in 16 states, was filed in March. It's the focus of Monday's hearing. The new law on product liability claims against Sig Sauer and other gun manufacturers covers the 'absence or presence' of the external safety and several other optional features. Claims can still be filed over manufacturing defects. Attorneys for Sig Sauer argue it should apply to the March case, even though the law didn't exist at the time. 'New Hampshire has a clearly articulated position against such claims being cognizable in this state,' they argue in court documents for breaking up the cases and transferring them to court districts where the plaintiffs live. Lawyers from a Philadelphia-based firm representing the plaintiffs, disagree, saying the law 'has zero implication' on the case and only applies to future lawsuits. New Hampshire was the chosen location because federal rules allow lawsuits against a company in its home state, the plaintiff's attorneys say. Those lawsuits have been assigned to one federal judge in Concord. Sig Sauer is trying to decentralize the case, they say. Sig Sauer has prevailed in some cases. It has appealed two recent multimillion-dollar verdicts against it, in Pennsylvania and Georgia. A judge recently allowed the Pennsylvania verdict to stand, but vacated $10 million in punitive damages awarded to the plaintiff. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Solve the daily Crossword

New Hampshire's new law protecting gunmakers faces first test in court over Sig Sauer lawsuit
New Hampshire's new law protecting gunmakers faces first test in court over Sig Sauer lawsuit

San Francisco Chronicle​

time2 days ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

New Hampshire's new law protecting gunmakers faces first test in court over Sig Sauer lawsuit

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A new state law in New Hampshire that makes it harder to take gunmaker Sig Sauer to court is getting its first test before a judge on Monday. The 2-month-old law was created by the Republican-led Legislature in response to mounting lawsuits faced by the Newington-based manufacturer over its popular P320 pistol. The lawsuits say that the gun can go off without the trigger being pulled, an allegation Sig Sauer denies. Sig Sauer, which employs over 2,000 people in New Hampshire, said the gun is safe and the problem is user error. Several large, multi-plaintiff cases filed since 2022 in New Hampshire's federal court representing nearly 80 people accuse Sig Sauer of defective product design, marketing, and negligence, in addition to lawsuits filed in other states. Many of the plaintiffs are current and former law enforcement officers who say they were wounded by the gun. They say the P320 design requires an external mechanical safety, a feature that is optional. The most recent New Hampshire case, representing 22 plaintiffs in 16 states, was filed in March. It's the focus of Monday's hearing. The new law on product liability claims against Sig Sauer and other gun manufacturers covers the 'absence or presence' of the external safety and several other optional features. Claims can still be filed over manufacturing defects. Attorneys for Sig Sauer argue it should apply to the March case, even though the law didn't exist at the time. 'New Hampshire has a clearly articulated position against such claims being cognizable in this state,' they argue in court documents for breaking up the cases and transferring them to court districts where the plaintiffs live. Lawyers from a Philadelphia-based firm representing the plaintiffs, disagree, saying the law 'has zero implication' on the case and only applies to future lawsuits. New Hampshire was the chosen location because federal rules allow lawsuits against a company in its home state, the plaintiff's attorneys say. Those lawsuits have been assigned to one federal judge in Concord. Sig Sauer is trying to decentralize the case, they say. Sig Sauer has prevailed in some cases. It has appealed two recent multimillion-dollar verdicts against it, in Pennsylvania and Georgia. A judge recently allowed the Pennsylvania verdict to stand, but vacated $10 million in punitive damages awarded to the plaintiff.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store