# That Policeman in Arkansas \[manner of holding a handgun\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 29, 2019, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705 "2019-05-29T13:47:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/1 "2019-05-29T13:47:40Z")
What is with that sideways gangster grip? Is that to prevent a tophat malfunction. (Has anyone here had a tophat malfunction?) Is this some sort of new thing, or is he imitating a McBain movie? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/2 "2019-05-29T13:58:29Z")
Sorry, no idea who or what you’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/3 "2019-05-29T14:02:55Z")
Please forgive me, I thought it was all the rage at the moment. He is a link to Reddit. Oddly I cannot find a good YouTube link. [Link](https://www.reddit.com/r/iamatotalpieceofshit/comments/bu22a5/arkansas_cop_says_black_man_has_a_gun_until_he/) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/4 "2019-05-29T14:07:21Z")
Need more info. I’m in Arkansas and don’t know what you’re referring to. Can’t open reddit. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/5 "2019-05-29T14:14:56Z")
[This story?](https://www.rawstory.com/2019/05/oklahoma-cop-claims-black-man-has-a-gun-until-he-realizes-he-is-being-filmed-he-trying-to-shoot-me/) No idea why he’s holding his firearm like that. Not any training I’m aware of. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/6 "2019-05-29T14:17:21Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > [This story?](https://www.rawstory.com/2019/05/oklahoma-cop-claims-black-man-has-a-gun-until-he-realizes-he-is-being-filmed-he-trying-to-shoot-me/) > > No idea why he’s holding his firearm like that. Not any training I’m aware of. Yes, that one, and thank you. I seem inept this afternoon. Ramadan woozy I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/7 "2019-05-29T14:26:34Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > What is with that sideways gangster grip? Is that to prevent a tophat malfunction. (Has anyone here had a tophat malfunction?) Is this some sort of new thing, or is he imitating a McBain movie? Based on how the cop handled the situation, I vote McBain. Truitt was brilliant, “You’re telling me to shut the car off so you can shoot me.” ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/8 "2019-05-29T14:31:20Z")
I think he’s trying to hold the gun up high, near the flashlight, and angled down through the window, and holding the gun upright at the same time would be awkward. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/9 "2019-05-29T14:33:35Z")
WAG, he is aiming the pistol over the car window which is partially rolled down. That would be a more comfortable way to achieve that angle than straight on. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/10 "2019-05-29T15:18:02Z")
Thread title edited to indicate subject. Please use descriptive thread titles. Also, don’t assume anyone has seen something that you have. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/11 "2019-05-29T15:23:26Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Thread title edited to indicate subject. Please use descriptive thread titles. Also, don’t assume anyone has seen something that you have. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator Sorry. I really messed that up. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/12 "2019-05-29T15:25:17Z")
The other question is what is a “tophat malfunction”? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/13 "2019-05-29T15:28:01Z")
I think he is just holding the pistol and flashlight while he uses the radio. His finger is not inside the trigger guard. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/14 "2019-05-29T15:58:19Z")
The officer is holding his weapon with a [side grip](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side_grip). It is not great method for effectively firing a handgun, but has been used primarily in movies so that the actors faces can be more effectively seen by the camera. As such the grip is copied by many gang bangers who replicate what they see in the movies, and apparently by some stupid police officers. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/15 "2019-05-29T16:01:52Z")
Audio isn’t working for me on that link but it’s really telling that the officer looked away. If Truitt had had a gun the officer would have kept his eyes on Truitt. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/16 "2019-05-29T16:11:56Z")
Based upon the video, it does appear that the officer overreacted. From another article, the suspect did have a gun in the car, but he claims it was out of reach. Uncertain if the gun was legal. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/17 "2019-05-29T16:12:25Z")
Never heard of a tophat malfunction. Are you thinking of a stovepipe malfunction where the casing fails to eject fully and gets stuck in the opening on the slide? That grip would only make it more likely to happen.They usually occur with a weak grip allowing the pistol to rock in the hand. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/18 "2019-05-29T16:13:14Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Audio isn’t working for me on that link … The audio is muted by default. There’s a little speaker icon in the lower right to enable the sound. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/19 "2019-05-29T16:14:46Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The other question is what is a “tophat malfunction”? While filming the movie _Top Hat_, [Ginger Rogers had a wardrobe malfunction](https://www.crfashionbook.com/celebrity/a21656038/fred-astaire-ginger-rogers-wardrobe-malfunction/). > [@](#): > > When working on the 1935 movie Top Hat, Rogers insisted on wearing a gown covered with ostrich feathers for a major dance sequence, working with the idea that the embellishments would complement her movements. Unfortunately, she never wore the dress to rehearse, and there wound up being a bit too much movement—to the point that feathers were flying off as she danced. The shedding dress was so distracting to Astaire that he snapped and yelled at Rogers, making her burst into tears. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705/20 "2019-05-29T16:17:31Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Has anyone here had a tophat malfunction? I’ve heard this referred to as a **stovepipe** malfunction. Where the ejected casing doesn’t eject, but stays in the weapon and gets lodged in the ejection port. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-policeman-in-arkansas-manner-of-holding-a-handgun/834705.md?page=2)