Cop Killer Bullets: Has it ever happened?

[eccvets]

every bullet is a potential cop/human killer. Put a FMJ thru anyones head and you can easily kill someone!

DeLeon is out there running his yap about how the CRPA's successful challenge to AB962 has opened the door to challenging long-standing prohibitions on "cop killer bullets". There are several more news stories out there (including, apparently, one showing some green-tip 5.56 as an example of what is 'banned'). I've been following gun-related news closely for a while now, and I certainly can't recall a single incident in which any police officer in the US has had his or her vest penetrated by any type of AP handgun ammunition.

What I want to know is can anybody point to a single case in which this has happened in the United States? I'm not talking about vests being penetrated by rifle ammo, we all know that any centerfire rifle caliber will zip right through soft armor regardless of what the bullet is made from; what I want to know is have any police officers ever been shot by the ammunition that has entered the collective lexicon as 'cop killer'.

Specifically what I'm asking about is your 'typical' handgun calibers, those being 9mm, .45ACP, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .40 S&W, and others, with a hardened projectile made from tungsten or steel. Also of interest would be if any American cops have ever had their vests penetrated by more exotic calibers, like 5.7x28, or even 7.62 Tokarev.

According to an issue of American Rifleman from 1989, no police officer at the time had been shot by this type of ammo, and that was several years after the term had been coined. The thing is, it's not the 1980s anymore, we can much more effectively call the politicians on their BS thanks to the power of the internet. My hypothesis is that the 'cop killer bullet' is nothing more than an urban legend, popularized by movies and TV shows that use it as a plot device but with essentially no basis in reality.

[Uriah02]

Also of interest would be if any American cops have ever had their vests penetrated by more exotic calibers, like 5.7x28, or even 7.62 Tokarev.

5.7 x 28 is not a pistol round it was made for FN P-90 carbine, FN decided to make the FiveSeven to be a set with the P-90 but the FiveSeven seemed to sell better than the P-90.

[Bruce]

Many years ago, KTW bullets (teflon coated) were decried as "cop killer" bullets. Legislation followed and they were outlawed. If memory serves me, only one officer was killed with one, and it was a shot to the head. It wouldn't have made a bit of difference if he were wearing 3 vests.
Bruce

IIRC, the KTW was never marketed due to the "cop-killer" hoopla.

[Ares Armor]

Remember the Bank Shoot out.. not only were some of those rounds AP but it shows the damage that can be done when people are left to do whatever they want. A little give and take is fine for me in gun laws. I can understand where the Medical professionals were coming from. To be honest the medical people are another group that's highly protective of civil rights soo goes to show you. Alot of points on both sides should = a compromise that not only makes both sides happy but provides common sense enforceable rules and regs.

Unfortunate it seems to me that both sides are only digging in their heels and becoming more and more partisan almost like the political system in this country.

I disagree with this. I refuse to give even a little freedom away in exchange for security. I am of the opinion that there should be no compromise and that "shall not be infringed" means exactly that...

[timmyb21]

You can buy M855, it's not pistol AP ammo. Actually, the BATF doesn't even consider it AP ammo at all...

Okay, awesome. (credit card comes out again...)

[Vinz]

DeLeon is out there running his yap about how the CRPA's successful challenge to AB962 has opened the door to challenging long-standing prohibitions on "cop killer bullets". There are several more news stories out there (including, apparently, one showing some green-tip 5.56 as an example of what is 'banned'). I've been following gun-related news closely for a while now, and I certainly can't recall a single incident in which any police officer in the US has had his or her vest penetrated by any type of AP handgun ammunition.

What I want to know is can anybody point to a single case in which this has happened in the United States? I'm not talking about vests being penetrated by rifle ammo, we all know that any centerfire rifle caliber will zip right through soft armor regardless of what the bullet is made from; what I want to know is have any police officers ever been shot by the ammunition that has entered the collective lexicon as 'cop killer'.

Specifically what I'm asking about is your 'typical' handgun calibers, those being 9mm, .45ACP, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .40 S&W, and others, with a hardened projectile made from tungsten or steel. Also of interest would be if any American cops have ever had their vests penetrated by more exotic calibers, like 5.7x28, or even 7.62 Tokarev.

According to an issue of American Rifleman from 1989, no police officer at the time had been shot by this type of ammo, and that was several years after the term had been coined. The thing is, it's not the 1980s anymore, we can much more effectively call the politicians on their BS thanks to the power of the internet. My hypothesis is that the 'cop killer bullet' is nothing more than an urban legend, popularized by movies and TV shows that use it as a plot device but with essentially no basis in reality.

yep, another media fueled fuddle.

[cdtx2001]

Thank god I'm not a cop, "cop killer bullets" won't affect me if I ever get shot with one.

Good thing they don't make "arsehole killer bullets".

[m98]

Thank god I'm not a cop, "cop killer bullets" won't affect me if I ever get shot with one.

Good thing they don't make "arsehole killer bullets".

You just gave me a brillant idea. How about we get a petition to have the ammo manufacturers make a whole line of cop killer ammo and distribute it directly to the black market/ streets/ thugs. That way if the thugs try to shoot innocenent people/kids/ puppies/kittens, nothing would happen because the ammo only kills cops. So for thugs shooting cops other cops can deal directly with the thugs and not 5hrs after a murder of the innocent. It's like vampire medicine is FOR vampires only and wont work on werewolves.

I just solved barb boxr and d frankensteins problem on gun control.

[Kodemonkey]

The FBI data mentioned above should have it's own website. Something a little more organized could have more impact than a thread on a pro guns forum. Id like to see De Leons data so it can be taken apart. If it exists.