North Carolina Highway Patrol selects .357 M&P as their new duty sidearm

[John_Wayne777]

http://www.reuters.com/article/press...09+PRN20090908

PRINGFIELD, Mass., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Wesson Holding
Corporation (Nasdaq: SWHC), parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., the
legendary 157-year old company in the global business of safety, security,
protection and sport, announced today that the North Carolina Highway Patrol
has chosen to equip all of its officers with Smith & Wesson Military & Police
(M&P) Series pistols and with M&P Series tactical rifles. The M&P357 pistols
and M&P15 tactical rifles will be issued respectively as the primary duty
firearms and standard issue patrol rifles.

M&P357 Polymer Pistols
The North Carolina Highway Patrol has purchased 2,000 Smith & Wesson M&P357
polymer pistols chambered in .357SIG. The new duty sidearm will replace
non-Smith & Wesson pistols that were previously issued by the department. The
M&P pistol's reliability, ambidextrous operating controls and three
interchangeable palm swell grip sizes were noted by officials within the
agency as key reasons for the selection of the new duty sidearm. The North
Carolina Highway Patrol added that the polymer pistol's accuracy, reliability
during testing and ability to disassemble the firearm without pressing the
trigger were all primary factors in their decision-making process.

Colonel Randy Glover, Commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol,
said, "The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is confident that the M&P357
will prove to be a reliable service weapon for our officers."

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Apparently they are going to issue M&P rifles as well.

For the life of me I can't remember what their current duty weapon is...perhaps some kind soul will refresh my memory.