The Taurus Judge has its share of fans as Taurus’s sales figures surely demonstrate. It also has a group of very dedicated detractors. But say what you will about the shot shell shooting revolver, it also seems to be fairly good at identifying people who probably shouldn’t handle any type of gun. Outside Nashville on Wednesday, The Judge reviewed all the evidence, considered the arguments presented and rendered its painful verdict…
Justin Newberry was tooling down I-24 when he hit the brakes, causing his Judge to slide out from under the driver’s seat. Casually tossing your gun under the seat of your car doesn’t really maximize accessibility when you really need it. But in this case, the gun was a little too accessible, rattling around Justin’s feet. And other than composing an email, what’s more fun than handling a gun at 70 mph when you’re behind the wheel? You probably know where this is going.
When Newberry reached down to pick it up he grabbed it by the trigger at which time “The Judge” went off. The round, which was a 410 slug, went into right thigh, exited, and continued on until it hit him in the left leg just above the ankle. He was able to safely pull the car into the median area about mile marker 6 and call 911 for help.
It’s kinda hard to figure how he got the gun off the floor, all the way up to lap height and then managed to squeeze the heavy trigger enough to blow holes through a thigh and an ankle. But let’s not quibble with details.
Luckily for Justin, the slug didn’t hit an artery and he was helicoptered to a local hospital where he’ll be taking advantage of a bed pan for the foreseeable future. He’ll also have some questions to answer while he’s convalescing.
Police who answered the call also discovered marijuana and drug paraphernalia, as well as a variety of identification documents from different locations in the country, Knoll said.
There are plenty of ways to safely secure a gun in a car. And if quick access isn’t a concern – as it apparently wasn’t for Newberry – there’s always the glove box. But Justin will probably have some time, courtesy of the state of Tennessee, to ponder all that along with how he’ll celebrate his hard-won status as TTAG’s irresponsible gun owner of the day.
[h/t Patrick Brown for the link]
From the trajectory they describe it sounds to me like he successfully picked the gun up and then tried to shove it either into his pocket or the console with his finger on the trigger.
What always strikes me about these stories is how many opportunities the people involved had to avoid a problem. In this case:
1) He could have left the gun home, since it sounds like he had no reason to be carrying
2) failing that, he could have properly secured it in the car
3) failing that, he could have pulled over, stopped the car and then picked it up
4) failing that, he could have kept the muzzle pointed in a safe direction
5) and failing all that he could have kept his stupid finger off the trigger
He had to do five things wrong, in a row, to shoot himself. He would only have had to do one thing right to avoid it.
I know this idiot personally. We kicked him out of the Army… and yes, it was because he in fact, is a tool bag.
Well, I’m glad somebody finally decided to do some realistic ballistics testing on the Judge. Sounds like tissue penetration is not an issue with .410 slug.
+1
i have been considering a s&w Govenor (i prefer to buy american when i can)good to know the potential ventilation abilities of 410.
“When Newberry reached down to pick it up he grabbed it by the trigger at which time
“The Judge” went offhe fired the gun.”Fixed.
+1
Well, I’m just glad he was able to self medicate until help arrived.
“Dave’s not here man,.. but this gun just shot me in the legs. No, man. I told you, Dave’s not here. Could you send out a chopper…and maybe a tourniquet and some tacos?”
Drugs and guns don’t mix well together, and now he’ll lose all his guns forever and end up in jail.
why would you carry drugs and guns at the same time? its like oil and water, they don’t really mix well when traveling.
I can be hard to impress that on the people who most often combine the two.
“He would not be just a nothin’ his head all full of stuffin’
His legs all full of pain.
He would dance and be merry, life would be a ding-a-derry,
If he only had a brain.”
Sorry, Newberry, but you’re not in Kansas.
Ah what a wanker. Bummer he didnt aim a wee bit higher. To sdog the governor is fun. Clay shooting with it is more fun