Air Force Pauses M18 Pistol Use After Airman's Death Amid Safety Concerns

Air Force Global Strike Command's M18 Pistol Suspension

• 🚨 The Air Force Global Strike Command has suspended the use of the standard-issue Sig Sauer M18 pistol.
• 📌 This decision followed the death of a Security Forces airman at the FE Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming on July 20th.
• ⚠️ The suspension, enacted on July 21st, aims to prevent further incidents while the airman's death is investigated.

History of Concerns with the Sig P320

• 🔍 The M18 pistol is the military version of the Sig P320, a civilian model that has been the subject of numerous lawsuits.
• ⚖️ Allegations claim the P320 can fire without the trigger being pulled, leading to over 100 claims of unintentional discharges since 2016.
• 🏛️ Several law enforcement agencies, including ICE, Chicago PD, and Dallas PD, have previously paused or phased out the P320 due to these concerns.

Conflicting Agency Decisions and Legal Battles

• 📈 Despite controversy, Michigan State Police are adopting the M18 pistol for their troopers, with no explanation provided.
• 🔬 An FBI ballistic report indicated that certain law enforcement motions might disengage the P320's internal safety, but did not confirm it could fire without any contact.
• ⚖️ Sig Sauer is suing Washington State's Police Academy, disputing their ban on the pistol and asserting the weapon is safe when used properly, attributing incidents to user error.
• 🗣️ Firearms attorney David Katz stated that a firearm with a design flaw allowing unintentional discharge without human contact would be unacceptable.