Recently disabled and need some advise for pistol

[Mendot]

In September 2010, I broke my right ring finger. After healing, I am no longer able to bend my finger at the last joint. When I grip a pistol, my ring finger sticks straight out preventing my left hand from wrapping around my right hand. The only way to remedy the situation is to hold the pistol by cocking my right wrist inward. I cannot shoot accurately anymore because the trigger is now on the first joint of my finger. In addition, I am unable to rapid fire my pistol because the position hurts my wrist; No longer being able to handle the recoil from that position.
If I was able to attach a pistol grip to the front of my pistol, the situation would be manageable and I feel confident that I would actually be able to properly defend myself if need be. Personally, I feel that my second amendment rights are now infringed because of this restriction and my new disability.
I live in Clovis, CA. Is the law pertaining to front pistol grips a California or a Federal law? Are there provisions is the law exempting persons with disabilities from firearm accessory restrictions? I do not want to break any laws, but at the same time I want to be able to exercise my right to defend myself and my property.
I would appreciate any advise on which direction I should take to rectify this situation.

[Rob454]

Why don't you just teach yourself to shoot left handed. I had to teach myself to shoot right handed cause i was a leftie. Well really still am. Should see me try to shoot a bolt action designed for a right hand. Im too cheap to go buy a left handed rifle.

i think a front pistol grip would be awkward to say the least. Can you even attach a pistol grip on your pistol? I think the front pistol grip is more for rifles/shotguns with certain configurations not for pistols. Have you gone to Phys therapy? Did you try to do the position where your left hand is on the bottom of the gun supporting your shooter hand rather than wrapping around the front of your right hand?

[ojisan]

Installing a vertical front grip on an handgun moves the gun into the Federal "Any Other Weapon" category.
This requires an AOW Tax Stamp (permit) to be in your hands before you put anything together.
AOW info here:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=82693

I'm right handed, but years ago I broke my right wrist pretty bad.
My wrist still bugs me to this day.
Sometimes shooting anything larger than a .22LR will make my wrist hurt so much I cannot use my right hand for a week or more.
So, I have learned to do lots of tasks left handed, including shooting with fair proficiency.
I also have a few .22LR handguns for when I'm hurting. ; )

[Hopalong]

I wouldn't give up on my hand so soon.

Do some physical therapy, your range of motion will more than likely come back with time.

I've had three surgeries on my right hand, one was a joint replacement at the base of the thumb.

Took about a year and a half to get back to normal.

If the tip of your ring finger is causing all this trouble, and you don't want to rehab it.

I'd have it cut off, you don't need it.

I'm serious.

[Veggie]

Please don't cut the tip of your finger off. LOL

[voiceofreason]

I would definitely work on shooting with your left as your gun hand. You can always use/add the other stuff later. But for now, practice with your left by itself as well as two handed with the left as the gun hand.

Everything else from there.

Reloads, carry, etc.

Get to buy a new holster and mag carrier!

[otalps]

I wouldn't give up on my hand so soon.

Do some physical therapy, your range of motion will more than likely come back with time.

I've had three surgeries on my right hand, one was a joint replacement at the base of the thumb.

Took about a year and a half to get back to normal.

If the tip of your ring finger is causing all this trouble, and you don't want to rehab it.

I'd have it cut off, you don't need it.

I'm serious.

Do this. Therapy seriously works well on fingers.

[traptrix]

Get a shotgun.

[stix213]

Please don't cut the tip of your finger off. LOL

At least not at home

[CSDGuy]

Most of the grip strength needed to hold a pistol securely comes from the 2nd (middle) finger anyway. Since the fingertip sticks out, you might consider modifying a two handed grip to interlock your fingertip with the other fingers of your non-dominant hand. It'll certainly be an odd feeling at first... but it should be fairly stable.

Oh, and learn to shoot weak-hand.

[Mendot]

Thank you for your suggestions

Lol I thought about chopping off the damn fingertip many times (its just in the way now)
It was a terrible break and I have no cartilage between the last two bones on my finger. The doctor said there is no therapy that can help that situation. I will never regain motion in the joint. I had surgery and have full medical documentation for this.

"ojisan", I am unfamiliar with the term AOL... I read the link you gave but it was still a little unclear. Is this saying I just need to get a permit for the forward grip? Will they issue one to me in California? How much will it cost if you know?

I did indeed learn to shoot left handed. So far I spent about 3 months practicing my left handed shooting almost every day. I went through about 2000 rounds of 9mm and 750 rounds of 45 auto. With my left hand, from standing position, I'm very proficient from both single and double handed positions. The problem is when I actually try to practice real tactical shooting with any movement or with my reaction targets I cannot use my left effectively enough to feel confident. If I was trying to actually defend myself using deadly force, I would not want to stand right in front of someone brandishing a rifle or pistol while I take aim left handed with my pistol. What if there are multiple people? This is a serous issue for me. I own a large farm and frequently have to approach people. In the past 2 months alone I have had 6 encounters with groups of people stealing my property. Last Saturday night, I had to run off 4 meth addicts with a trailer full of my scap metal at 1 AM. I thought there was only one guy and then three more came around the side of a building. It scared the hell out of me. With the economy the way it is things where I am at are getting much much worse. Many of the people I have to approach are on drugs and most don't speak English: always during the night and they are never alone. Imagine yourself in these situation, its the real deal. I am not talking about shooting at a gun range, competition, hunting, or for fun; this is solely for my own self defense purposes... I used to feel very confident dealing with any situation by myself. The closest law enforcement is at least 15 minutes away. I used to be very proficient at tactical shooting with my right hand. Its not so now with my left. I am really, really uncoordinated with the left side of my body for some reason.

I went to Nevada and shot with a front pistol grip on a pistol and it changed everything for me. I know its really not practical for most people, but for me its great because I was able to return to the form I had before my accident. My finger was a non-issue. It made all the difference. I absolutely hate approaching people with a rifle or shotgun; needlessly escalating the situation. I had to do that a couple times and it always makes things very tense and unpredictable. I've never had a problem talking my way through these situations... because I am supremely confident with my sidearm, I show no fear. I would prefer a much more subtle or concealed approach.

Maybe this situation is impossible to rectify, but I would actually like to know what my rights are in regard to the law dealing with firearm accessory restrictions and the 2nd Amendment of the constitution of the United States. I do not want to modify my weapon or change its functioning in any way. I am simply desiring to add a common accessory that allows me to overcome a physical disability. Do I have any rights in this situation? Are there any provisions in gun law dealing with disabilities? Is there any precedence in law?

If I have any case at all, I would be willing to go to Federal Court in Fresno to file a lawsuit.

No one else is with me in the field when I deal with these people. The encounter the other night disturbed me very much. Its hard to describe the feeling when I am all alone in these situations. All I can say is that I am much less safe than I used to be if my only option is to use my off hand as my primary. I am a good citizen and don't want to have to break any laws to defend myself effectively.

[Hopalong]

Have you seen a hand surgeon specialist?

I mean a guy who just does hands.

I had no cartilage at the base of my thumb, and they built me a new joint.

Bottom line, and you said it yourself (it's just in the way now)

If you really believe you are "disabled" because of this

And removing it would fix your disability

Well, there's your answer.

[AJAX22]

You can also try laying your index finger along the side of the frame and pulling the trigger with your middle finger..

I wouldn't reccomend this for revolvers or large cal pistols, but it can be ok for smaller stuff.

[scarville]

You could look into having custom stocks/grips made.

[bjl333]

I think you have to ask the Doc to put you through some kind of rehab for the finger. You will not be able to get use to the way it is and it is a danger to yourself. I don't wanna see you hurt that finger again. See what the Doc has to say!!