10-11-2017, 10:32 AM
If gun owners were prosecuted whenever one of their guns was used in a crime, regardless of how it was obtained and used, I think MS's implication is right; that it would likely encourage more gun owners to be responsible and safely secure/store their firearms. But, it wouldn't always be appropriate, in my opinion.
If someone securely locks their firearm(s) and it's stolen, the gun owner should not be held accountable for what the thief does with it IF the gun owner reports it stolen immediately.
If a family member takes/steals a weapon and there's evidence that the weapon wasn't adequately secured, the irresponsible gun owner should be held legally accountable for that gun being used in a crime. This type of case is more difficult to prove though. Dad says he locked up his pistol and somehow 16-year-old Johnnie got a hold of it and robbed a liquor store before dad had an opportunity to notice it was missing, for example. Is dad telling the truth, or did he allow/afford Johnnie access? It would need to be investigated, not taken at face value, to determine if charges are merited.
Leave your firearm unsecured and a toddler gets a hold of it and shoots himself or someone else, you should be prosecuted for negligence (at the least).
That's how I feel about it. But, many states don't have laws requiring safe storage or reporting theft of firearms, unfortunately.
If someone securely locks their firearm(s) and it's stolen, the gun owner should not be held accountable for what the thief does with it IF the gun owner reports it stolen immediately.
If a family member takes/steals a weapon and there's evidence that the weapon wasn't adequately secured, the irresponsible gun owner should be held legally accountable for that gun being used in a crime. This type of case is more difficult to prove though. Dad says he locked up his pistol and somehow 16-year-old Johnnie got a hold of it and robbed a liquor store before dad had an opportunity to notice it was missing, for example. Is dad telling the truth, or did he allow/afford Johnnie access? It would need to be investigated, not taken at face value, to determine if charges are merited.
Leave your firearm unsecured and a toddler gets a hold of it and shoots himself or someone else, you should be prosecuted for negligence (at the least).
That's how I feel about it. But, many states don't have laws requiring safe storage or reporting theft of firearms, unfortunately.