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Re: Guns stored in a Car

Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 8:57 pm
by apostate
AndyC wrote:Anyone who leaves one lying around unsecured (hidden or not) where anyone else could stumble across it and pull the trigger can only blame themselves if something bad happens.
If someone picks up a firearm and pulls the trigger, I believe that person bears primary responsibility for what happens next.

There are exceptions, of course, such as a very young child or someone with severe mental disease or defect. In that case, culpability would seem to be with their parent, guardian, or whoever is responsible for making sure they don't play with matches or jump off tall buildings.

Re: Guns stored in a Car

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 7:14 am
by b322da
AndyC wrote:...So, let's not nit-pick and split hairs and try to pull apart what was a brief (and pretty reasonable) emphasis on personal responsibility - there may be a weird situation that it doesn't cover, sure, but that would likely be 1 chance in 100,000 to my mind. I stand by what I said.
I find it difficult to believe, Andy, that there can be any differences of opinion on this, among a group of men and women who hold themselves out as being among the most responsible of gun-owners.

Having said that I must also pick a little-bitty nit myself. In my opinion your "reasonable man test" fits all situations, with no exceptions. One can quibble over gillions of particular circumstances, and whether or not the steps taken in those circumstances with respect to the security of one's weapons was reasonable under those circumstances, but I stand by my earlier suggestion that, regardless of the circumstances, and regardless of the responsibility shown by the gun-owner, the ultimate question for the jury remains the same -- in 100,000 out of 100,000 cases.

And in the case of CHL-holders we are faced with that same question ourselves most likely every single day. Let us all hope that we are never second-guessed after a tragedy, but if that should unfortunately happen, we owe it to ourselves, and to the lives of others, that we are always confident, in advance, that we made the right decision.

Elmo

Re: Guns stored in a Car

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 4:05 pm
by Ameer
WildBill wrote:I was wondering if you could be prosecuted or held liable if a child got a gun out of your car and shot a person. Would it matter if the car was in your driveway or if it was unlocked?
Save a life. Lock your doors.

Re: Guns stored in a Car

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 6:16 pm
by b322da
I was kidding, Andy. I just picked up on your 1 chance in 100,000 statement. I of course support your position 100,000%. :tiphat:

Elmo