I had the pleasure (really) of shooting in the Area 7 Championship at Harvard, MA on Saturday and incurred my first match DQ in five years. I was shooting a Glock 34 in Production and was in a free fire zone moving towards paper and steel targets. I was told to stop after my reload and taking a couple of steps. When I questioned why I was stopped, unloaded and cleared my gun, I was told I was being DQ'd for having my finger in the triggerguard. I asked if I had it in during the reload, was told "no", but I had taken a couple of steps with my finger in the triggerguard. I disagreed that my finger was actually within the triggerguard (small hands and short fingers). I discussed the DQ with the Match Director and was told that he probably would not have called it as such, but must take the word of the RO over the shooter, as a RO myself in both USPSA and IDPA I fully understand this.
When I reviewed the rule, I realized that I have never heard it called on any competitor in a free fire zone as targets abound, and have certainly not ever heard of anyone being DQ's for failing to re-engage a safety while moving (not an issue in this case). Movement is defined in the rules as taking one step in any direction.
Movement
8.5.1 Except when the competitor is actually aiming or shooting at targets,
all movement (see Appendix A3) must be accomplished with the fingers
visibly outside the trigger guard and the safety should be engaged.
The handgun must be pointed in a safe direction.
I genuinely accepted the DQ without much drama, but I am now questioning whether it really was a good call or not. In any event I will take the DQ as instruction that I should be more careful in the future.
Any thoughts?