A troubling pattern has emerged with SIG SAUER’s popular P320 pistol, casting a shadow over its reputation for safety. According to CBS Austin and reporter Walter Maciborski, two Texas law enforcement officers recently faced life-threatening injuries when their holstered P320 handguns discharged without warning. This has not been an isolated occurrence; similar incidents have been reported nationwide, fueling public concern and calls for action.
Officer Kevin Currington’s Close Call

In May 2024, La Grange Police Officer Kevin Currington nearly lost his life after his SIG SAUER P320 fired unexpectedly while in its holster. As recounted by Maciborski, the gun discharged suddenly, sending a bullet through Currington’s thigh. Footage from the scene captured the chaos as responders struggled to stop the bleeding with makeshift and official tourniquets. Currington, in pain and confusion, confirmed there had been no shooter: “It just went off.” This remark highlighted an unusual and alarming aspect of the incident – no external force or trigger pull was involved.
Another Incident at Marble Falls

Only months later, in September 2024, a similar event unfolded with Marble Falls School Resource Officer Hunter Gally. While reaching into his patrol car, Gally heard a loud pop—his P320 had fired without any physical interaction from him. Maciborski’s reporting includes Gally’s statement that his hands were nowhere near the gun when it discharged. Even a witness confirmed this, and surveillance footage further corroborated that the gun fired uncommanded. The incident is particularly unsettling given Gally’s role in a school setting, raising concerns about the safety of officers and civilians alike.
The Mounting Evidence of a Pattern

Both Currington and Gally’s cases fit within a larger, more alarming trend. CBS Austin revealed that there have been over 80 incidents where the P320 allegedly discharged on its own. Reports from as far back as 2016 echo similar incidents involving holstered P320s going off without user interaction. These accumulating cases have forced many to question the safety of the gun, especially as law enforcement agencies continue to rely on the P320.
SIG SAUER’s Response to the Incidents

Despite these incidents, SIG SAUER has maintained that the P320 is safe and insists that it cannot fire without a trigger pull. In a response to inquiries from CBS Austin, SIG SAUER emphasized that “claims that the P320 is capable of firing without a trigger pull are without merit.” The company pointed out that courts have repeatedly sided with them, dismissing the claims. However, the multiple incidents involving trained officers – and captured on video – challenge this narrative and cast doubt on the company’s statements.
Legal Battles and Recalls: A Call for Accountability

As reported by Maciborski, Attorney Jeff Bagnell, representing the two Texas officers, is pushing for SIG SAUER to either issue a recall or at least provide a warning regarding potential safety risks with the P320. Bagnell referenced SIG’s own patent documents, which mention that vibrations or an impulse could cause internal mechanisms to fail, leading to unintentional discharge. For Bagnell, these internal documents suggest that SIG SAUER is aware of the issue, making a recall seem like a logical next step.
The Cost of Inaction

In light of these incidents, the ongoing debate over the P320’s design flaws intensifies. Our previous report, detailing a lawsuit that cost SIG SAUER $2.3 million, illustrates the potential financial and reputational impact of inaction. In that case, a Georgia man successfully sued the company after his P320 fired unexpectedly, leading to a significant injury. While SIG SAUER is appealing this decision, such incidents add to the mounting legal pressures the company faces.
The Military Contract and Public Trust

A complicating factor is SIG SAUER’s high-profile contract with the U.S. military, which adopted a version of the P320, rebranded as the M17 and M18, as their standard sidearm. This military version, however, includes additional safety features not present in the civilian model. The discrepancy between the versions has fueled further calls for a redesign or recall of the civilian P320. Given the U.S. military’s endorsement, many civilian users may assume that the P320 meets the same safety standards, which some argue is misleading.
Officer Currington’s Plea for Change

For Officer Currington, who is still recovering, the risk posed by the P320 remains painfully real. He has publicly pleaded with SIG SAUER to fix the gun to prevent further tragedies. “Fix the gun so this doesn’t happen to anybody else,” he said. His testimony is a powerful reminder of the human cost behind each incident and reflects the urgency felt by those affected.
Safety Concerns in a School Setting

For Officer Gally, the implications of an uncommanded discharge are particularly worrisome. As a school resource officer, he interacts closely with children daily. He expressed his fears openly, noting that students often stand close to his holstered gun. “Kids give me hugs all the time…at eye level with that gun in its holster. That could have gone off right then and there,” Gally remarked. This fear underscores the gravity of the issue, especially in environments where accidental discharge could lead to unimaginable outcomes.
Wider Impact on Law Enforcement

The incidents in Texas hint at a broader issue that could affect law enforcement agencies across the country. Some departments have started pulling the P320 from circulation, as Marble Falls did within hours of Gally’s misfire. But La Grange, where Officer Currington serves, continues to use the P320, exposing officers to what critics see as an unacceptable risk. The growing number of cases nationwide raises a critical question about the reliability of the P320 for law enforcement and civilian users alike.
A Controversial Future for the P320

As more cases come to light, the P320 faces an uncertain future. While SIG SAUER stands by the gun’s safety, mounting lawsuits, unsettling incidents, and calls for a recall place increasing pressure on the company. If SIG SAUER continues to defend the P320 as a safe and reliable weapon without addressing these recurring issues, they risk further erosion of public trust.
Fascinating Yet Concerning: The Complexity of Modern Firearms

What makes this situation particularly interesting is how it highlights the complex trade-offs in firearm design. SIG SAUER has designed a highly innovative pistol, praised for its simplicity and functionality, yet its reported issues reveal a potential downside to modern handgun engineering. As firearms become more sophisticated, the consequences of even minor flaws become magnified. These cases serve as a reminder of how critical rigorous safety testing is in an industry where the stakes are life and death.

A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa writes about homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Whether it’s canning vegetables or setting up a rainwater harvesting system, Lisa’s goal is to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.