I read these kind of stories to often. Like the idiots who forgot they had a gun when the TSA finds one trying to board a plane. The party is lucky no one found and used that gun to hurt someone even unintentionally.
You missed the point. The point is this kind of event is rare enough to report on. The news truck isn't going to come out to get the scoop if there are a thousand of these a day. But if you want to replace my analogy with something dangerous, we could go with forgetting to turn off the stove, or leaving your attack dog loose in your front yard, or forgetting to curb your wheels when parked on a steep hill, or forgetting to signal while changing lanes, etc.
You say they're rare. I say they're not rare enough. But what do we do with the forgetful folks who do this kind of thing? Nothing at all? A simple warning?
There are laws against leaving your dangerous animal loose and if it hurt someone the law can destroy that animal. Your traffic violations are all illegal and you can get fines for such actions. But leave a deadly weapon lying around, no law broken, but is much more dangerous than your examples. If you accept traffic laws are reasonable because of the possible danger, why not accept gun laws because of the possible danger? Did this guy even get a meager $20 fine? I reject the idea that leaving a loaded gun around is less dangerous than forgetting to use a turn signal.
If you want to fine him $20, ok, we'll call that a compromise. But remember, you can also get arrested for forgetting your gun (airports, schools, some other gun free zone). So let's change those to $20 fines. You don't get arrested for failing to signal- even in a school zone.
"There are laws against leaving your dangerous animal loose and if it hurt someone the law can destroy that animal."
Actually, Wisconsin has a safe storage law that pretty much follows what you suggest happens with dangerous animals. In the case of firearms though, all that is required is for a child to actually possess the firearm.
"Whoever recklessly stores or leaves a loaded firearm within the reach or easy access of a child is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor if all of the following occur:
(a) A child obtains the firearm without the lawful permission of his or her parent or guardian or the person having charge of the child.
(b) The child under par. (a) possesses or exhibits the firearm in a public place or in violation of s. 941.20. "
Good, lets make those kind of gun laws across the nation, just as traffic laws are. I don't know of one State that does not have traffic laws, but I know many that do not have safe storage gun laws.
Howdy, thought I'd throw in an update on this event that I just came across.
"The Waukesha County District Attorney's Office has issued misdemeanor charges against her for mishandling a gun. "I'm glad to see that law-abiding citizens are going out and getting permits, but you need to temper that right with the responsibilities that come with it," Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel said. According to the criminal complaint--a bible study group was in a nearby room and the young girls in the class would have had access to the gun if they had used that restroom stall."
And apparently the prosecutor didn't do an adequate job in charging this person. I'm assuming that the reason the charges were dropped was because the prosecution couldn't show there were actual children present that were placed at risk. Much like Greg has mentioned in the past. If someone doesn't have children in their home, then child access laws don't apply.
"A Waukesha County judge has dismissed charges against an Oconomowoc woman who left her handgun in a church restroom."
"Grieve said that while initial rumors suggested there were children around, the weapon was seen only by someone doing janitorial service at Elmbrook. At the time, the church was playing host to a women's Bible study group, and that same bathroom was accessible to girls in first through fifth grades who also were in the church. But the complaint does not indicate any girls entered the bathroom before the loaded Ruger .380-caliber pistol was discovered."
"Grieve said he expects prosecutors will decide this week whether or how to amend and refile the charge or to let the matter go."
Even so, Wis Stat. 948.55.requires that a child actually obtain the weapon, not that they could have theoretically done so. Nevertheless apparently charges will be refiled under this statute for which the requirements were not met.
Usually you read about police doing this type of thing in the secure area of airports.
ReplyDeleteI'm starting to think you're really hung up on the "only ones."
DeleteI read these kind of stories to often. Like the idiots who forgot they had a gun when the TSA finds one trying to board a plane. The party is lucky no one found and used that gun to hurt someone even unintentionally.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you can read about these stories speaks to it's rarity. Do you think news reporters could report on non-gun "brain farts" like this?
DeleteDufus from St. Paul locks his keys in his car- story at 11:00.
As a rational person I judge there is a serious difference between misplacing ones gun and ones car keys. I find it interesting that you do not.
DeleteYou missed the point. The point is this kind of event is rare enough to report on. The news truck isn't going to come out to get the scoop if there are a thousand of these a day. But if you want to replace my analogy with something dangerous, we could go with forgetting to turn off the stove, or leaving your attack dog loose in your front yard, or forgetting to curb your wheels when parked on a steep hill, or forgetting to signal while changing lanes, etc.
DeleteYou say they're rare. I say they're not rare enough. But what do we do with the forgetful folks who do this kind of thing? Nothing at all? A simple warning?
DeleteThere are laws against leaving your dangerous animal loose and if it hurt someone the law can destroy that animal. Your traffic violations are all illegal and you can get fines for such actions. But leave a deadly weapon lying around, no law broken, but is much more dangerous than your examples. If you accept traffic laws are reasonable because of the possible danger, why not accept gun laws because of the possible danger? Did this guy even get a meager $20 fine? I reject the idea that leaving a loaded gun around is less dangerous than forgetting to use a turn signal.
DeleteIf you want to fine him $20, ok, we'll call that a compromise. But remember, you can also get arrested for forgetting your gun (airports, schools, some other gun free zone). So let's change those to $20 fines. You don't get arrested for failing to signal- even in a school zone.
Delete"There are laws against leaving your dangerous animal loose and if it hurt someone the law can destroy that animal."
DeleteActually, Wisconsin has a safe storage law that pretty much follows what you suggest happens with dangerous animals. In the case of firearms though, all that is required is for a child to actually possess the firearm.
"Whoever recklessly stores or leaves a loaded firearm within the reach or easy access of a child is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor if all of the following occur:
(a) A child obtains the firearm without the lawful permission of his or her parent or guardian or the person having charge of the child.
(b) The child under par. (a) possesses or exhibits the firearm in a public place or in violation of s. 941.20. "
http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/948/55
Good, lets make those kind of gun laws across the nation, just as traffic laws are. I don't know of one State that does not have traffic laws, but I know many that do not have safe storage gun laws.
DeleteHowdy, thought I'd throw in an update on this event that I just came across.
ReplyDelete"The Waukesha County District Attorney's Office has issued misdemeanor charges against her for mishandling a gun.
"I'm glad to see that law-abiding citizens are going out and getting permits, but you need to temper that right with the responsibilities that come with it," Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel said.
According to the criminal complaint--a bible study group was in a nearby room and the young girls in the class would have had access to the gun if they had used that restroom stall."
http://m.wisn.com/news/woman-charged-after-leaving-loaded-gun-inside-church/25707930
And apparently the prosecutor didn't do an adequate job in charging this person. I'm assuming that the reason the charges were dropped was because the prosecution couldn't show there were actual children present that were placed at risk. Much like Greg has mentioned in the past. If someone doesn't have children in their home, then child access laws don't apply.
ReplyDelete"A Waukesha County judge has dismissed charges against an Oconomowoc woman who left her handgun in a church restroom."
"Grieve said that while initial rumors suggested there were children around, the weapon was seen only by someone doing janitorial service at Elmbrook. At the time, the church was playing host to a women's Bible study group, and that same bathroom was accessible to girls in first through fifth grades who also were in the church. But the complaint does not indicate any girls entered the bathroom before the loaded Ruger .380-caliber pistol was discovered."
"Grieve said he expects prosecutors will decide this week whether or how to amend and refile the charge or to let the matter go."
http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/judge-drops-complaint-against-woman-who-left-gun-in-brookfield-church-b99297144z1-264259601.html
Even so, Wis Stat. 948.55.requires that a child actually obtain the weapon, not that they could have theoretically done so. Nevertheless apparently charges will be refiled under this statute for which the requirements were not met.
Delete