A new twist in the saga surrounding the popular Sig Sauer P320 handgun emerged this week. Despite strong denials from the company and a battery of tests, there continue to be reports that the firearm may accidentally discharge.
Then, on Monday, word came that U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer issued a written order concerning the weapons. She is overseeing court-ordered reform for the Chicago Police Department.
Chicago PD reported no P320-related accidental injuries
In conjunction with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, Pallmeyer wrote that law enforcement officers who have access to an alternative firearm that “meets appropriate standards should be required immediately to use that alternative weapon.”
Chicago PD already began the process of phasing out the P320 earlier in 2025. The order, requested by the police union and granted by Pallmeyer, noted that officials did “not fully answer” inquiries about continued use of the firearms.
It is the latest turn in the controversy surrounding the P320.
Some believe the handguns are prone to unintentional discharge
The firearm, which is commonly used by the military and police officers, became the target of critics claiming it could discharge without a trigger pull. Reports of incidents mounted, and some involved officers suffering injuries.
Records show that over 1,500 Chicago PD officers were assigned the handgun until the switch to a newer Sig Sauer model rolled out in April. Roughly 780 police officers still carry the P320 on duty in the Windy City.
The urgency behind the order stemmed from union leaders, who told Pallmeyer that it was fortunate that no one had been injured in Chicago by an unintentional discharge.
“If such an injury were to occur, and the injured party discovered that the incident could have been avoided by removing this known hazard and prohibiting officers from carrying the P320 on duty, this will certainly create expensive and unnecessary litigation for the city,” the union declared.
Sig Sauer offers a “voluntary upgrade program” to equip the P320 with an “enhanced, upgraded trigger and slide.”
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