The P320’s design philosophy centers on internal safety mechanisms rather than external safeguards. While military versions of the weapon include thumb safeties, the law enforcement variant issued to Slatowski relied solely on two internal systems: a spring-loaded sear mechanism and a safety lock that can be disengaged with as little as 1/13th of an inch of trigger movement—approximately the thickness of a quarter.
The Legal Strategy and Expert Testimony Battle
Slatowski’s legal team, led by attorney Robert Zimmerman of Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky, assembled a formidable array of expert witnesses to challenge Sig Sauer’s design choices. The case featured testimony from Dr. James Tertin, a gunsmith who characterized the P320 as “unique among single-action pistols and uniquely dangerous,” and Dr. William Vigilante Jr., a firearms instructor with expertise in ergonomics.
The experts argued that alternative safety designs, particularly a “tabbed trigger” system that requires deliberate, centered finger placement, could have prevented the accidental discharge. This mini-trigger attachment functions similarly to an external safety, forcing shooters to engage the trigger mechanism intentionally.
