Post by coots on Dec 12, 2011 11:10:02 GMT -5
New York Daily News
NYPD Brass to Cops: Stop Using Kahr K-9 Semi-Automatic Pistol as an Off-Duty Gun
12/12/11 - The NYPD has instructed cops to stop carrying an off-duty gun that has a trigger so light it’s been blamed for a series of accidental discharges, the Daily News has learned.
NYPD spokesman Paul Browne says the Kahr K-9 semi-automatic pistol has led to more than a dozen such shootings — none resulting in a fatality. The shootings have occurred over the last few years, a source said.
The NYPD last Monday ordered that the revocation order be read aloud to cops at each precinct for 10 consecutive roll calls.
Kahr Arms has done business with the NYPD since 1997, and more than 5,000 Kahrs have been sold to city cops, said Frank Harris, a spokesman for the gun firm.
Harris denied that the pistol discharges when it is dropped and blamed any accidental shootings on user error.
He admitted that the NYPD raised concerns about the pistol five years ago.
That’s when new recruits were told not to buy the Kahr, Harris said.
At the time, the NYPD asked Kahr to increase the trigger weight pull — the pressure needed to squeeze off a round — from 7 1/2 pounds to 13 pounds.
The new threshold is a pound more than the pressure needed to fire a Glock, the gun of choice for most NYPD officers.
The increase would make it more difficult to fire the gun, but Kahr said it couldn’t make the change.
“We worked for about three years to try to modify the gun,” Harris said.
“After three years trying to meet their requirements, we just had to give up. But we still maintained the guns still in use. We have a very good relationship with them.
“It was a surprise to me that they made this decision.”
A lighter trigger pull has the advantage of making the gun easier to fire and to shoot more accurately.
Police departments generally require a heavier pull because they want officers to realize the serious nature of opening fire.
Overall, there were 21 accidental discharges last year, only six of which took place during a confrontation with a suspect, according to the NYPD.
In 2009, eight of the 23 accidental shootings involved a confrontation with a suspect.
NYPD Brass to Cops: Stop Using Kahr K-9 Semi-Automatic Pistol as an Off-Duty Gun
12/12/11 - The NYPD has instructed cops to stop carrying an off-duty gun that has a trigger so light it’s been blamed for a series of accidental discharges, the Daily News has learned.
NYPD spokesman Paul Browne says the Kahr K-9 semi-automatic pistol has led to more than a dozen such shootings — none resulting in a fatality. The shootings have occurred over the last few years, a source said.
The NYPD last Monday ordered that the revocation order be read aloud to cops at each precinct for 10 consecutive roll calls.
Kahr Arms has done business with the NYPD since 1997, and more than 5,000 Kahrs have been sold to city cops, said Frank Harris, a spokesman for the gun firm.
Harris denied that the pistol discharges when it is dropped and blamed any accidental shootings on user error.
He admitted that the NYPD raised concerns about the pistol five years ago.
That’s when new recruits were told not to buy the Kahr, Harris said.
At the time, the NYPD asked Kahr to increase the trigger weight pull — the pressure needed to squeeze off a round — from 7 1/2 pounds to 13 pounds.
The new threshold is a pound more than the pressure needed to fire a Glock, the gun of choice for most NYPD officers.
The increase would make it more difficult to fire the gun, but Kahr said it couldn’t make the change.
“We worked for about three years to try to modify the gun,” Harris said.
“After three years trying to meet their requirements, we just had to give up. But we still maintained the guns still in use. We have a very good relationship with them.
“It was a surprise to me that they made this decision.”
A lighter trigger pull has the advantage of making the gun easier to fire and to shoot more accurately.
Police departments generally require a heavier pull because they want officers to realize the serious nature of opening fire.
Overall, there were 21 accidental discharges last year, only six of which took place during a confrontation with a suspect, according to the NYPD.
In 2009, eight of the 23 accidental shootings involved a confrontation with a suspect.
