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this post was submitted on 11 Mar 2025
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I was very skeptical about this story playing out as told. When looking for a more complete article, this exact story is published from 2019 from multiple sources.
While I don't think it is a requirement all guns sold in the US need to pass the SAAMI Drop Test, I can't imagine anything being sold that wouldn't pass it, especially a revolver where the design likely hasn't changed in 100 years. The drop test covers drops at various angles from 4 feet high, higher than a person sitting and taking off a shoe. Revolvers also need to have the hammer pulled back before firing or have extremely long and heavy trigger pulls.
I'm calling both fake news and if this story did happen, I can't see it being anything but a negligent discharge from someone assuming it wasn't loaded or just being a fool putting a finger where it didn't belong.
https://www.sportsmansguide.com/customerservice/productsafetyrecalls
two handguns on that list in the past two years, one in 2023 which can discharge if dropped. the other if decocked. the world is full of poorly designed machines.
The Ruger was a bit of a surprise. The Taurus was not. They have a pretty bad history for this. Both are striker fired semi autos, which are more mechanically complex than a revolver. The only revolver recall I saw this millennium was for a Rossi, which is also owned by Taurus. If there wasn't a plant in Georgia, I'd think they'd have been banned from import by now from the massive PT series recall.
Also "article of clothing" isn't the best holster option, and likely increases the odds of injuring one's self much more than even the worst pistol to make it out the factory door.
I could be wrong of course, but if I had to put money on either him shooting himself and making a corny excuse vs even the cheapest gun on the market going off from a 2 foot fall, I'd feel very confident putting my money on his index finger. The gun in a shoe and then forgetting about the gun in the shoe don't paint this guy as the safest character.
Preamble: My parents divorced when I was young, my dad died a few years later, and I never really got to know him. Plus I have childhood trauma and ADHD, so I don’t remember a lot of my childhood. My parents weren’t great people, and life was pretty rough and tumble growing up.
When I was in my early teens, I found a newspaper clipping from before I was born in some scrapbook or memory box. It was a short little crime blotter story that indicated my dad had accidentally shot himself in the face, because he had mistaken a snub-nose pistol for a lighter while drunk.
I do remember that he had a big scar on his face, but I sort of assumed it was because he liked to get in fistfights for fun.
My mom, a serial liar, confirmed the story, and it’s what I and another one of my sisters have believed for decades.
I mentioned the event in passing to my oldest sister a few months ago and she balked, and immediately began laughing. After she composed herself, she explained that she was home when it happened. The real story is that my dad had ripped someone off in a drug deal, and they did a poor job of trying to kill him. The whole drunk/lighter thing was to avoid additional questions by the police.
So, you know. Gun in a thrown shoe. Sure.
I love these tyoes of family secrets! 😂
Probably not too many ways to create a narrative where you look intelligent for getting shot randomly.