A Semi-Automatic Handgun Recovered From Ground Zero on Display

New York Police Sgt. John D’Allara was one of the first responders at the World Trade Center (WTC) on Sept. 11, 2001. D’Allara was an 18-year department veteran and was assigned to Squad 2 of the Emergency Services Unit. Inside the WTC, D’Allara and his fellow officers worked to rescue and recover the victims of that terror attack. His service sidearm, a 9 mm Smith & Wesson Model 5946 semi-automatic pistol, was found in the rubble alongside the remains of D’Allara’s body. All told, 71 law enforcement officers, 343 members of the New York City Fire Department, and over 2,800 civilians were killed on Sept. 11, 2001. This firearm is currently on loan to the NRA National Firearms Museum from the D’Allara family.

The NRA National Firearms Museum at NRA Headquarters in Fairfax, Va.; the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Mo.; and the Frank Brownell Museum of the Southwest at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, N.M.; all have fine selections of historic arms on display. Admission to each is free, and donations are gratefully accepted. For more information, visit nramuseums.com, phone (703) 267-1600 or email [email protected]. | Photo by Michael Ives