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Agree with this being a shooter issue rather than a holster issue. I've now carried this holster for approximately 4 years for regular duty, deployment training, and while deployed. I've never had an issue with the release mechanism preventing me from drawing due to obstructions behind the mechanism. Though admittedly, I'm not routinely crawling around in the dirt and gravel. I've also never had an issue with my finger entering the trigger guard even under stress. In my opinion, agencies (and gun toters) need to allow responsibility to fall where it should and allow officers and agents to carry whatever holster they are comfortable and proficient with.
The notation in the attached document about AFOSI banning the holster is only partly correct. Over the past several years, AFOSI firearms instructors at FLETC put out letters banning use of the holster by AFOSI personnel, but they exceeded their authority granted by policy. They could only approve (and therefore ban) holsters procured by AFOSI, not by individual personnel. Individuals could purchase any holster meeting certain retention criterai. Several months ago, FLETC issued a ban based on 2 negligent discharges attributed to the SERPA holster. AFOSI implemented a command-wide temporary ban awaiting the outcome of a safety review being conducted by FLETC. A final determination is still pending.
I don't know anything about the circumstances of the negligent discharges at FLETC. I suspect there is a reasonable probability these occured with personnel who are realtively new to handling firearms and/or drawing and firing under time/stress constraints. While I understand FLETC's position in banning SERPAs within their training environment, I do not understand agencies banning them from use based on what amounts to a very small number of incidents. The thing I would like to know is how many negligent discharges happen at FLETC with holsters other than the SERPA! I'm sure those don't get attributed immediately to the holster.
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