if you have the right to bear arms do you believe you should be held accountable for there improper use?

Question

suppose you own a handgun and fail to properly secure it and an innocent bystander in your home is shot do you accept criminal responsibility? if you have the right to bear arms do i have the right to expect you to use and secure it in a safe manner?

old fuzz - how many times have we seen someone shot by the unloaded weapon and every one is sad but it was an accident and no charges filed against the gun owner.

witwwats - answer the question do you accept responsibility? i happen to believe in the right to bear arms so dont make wild accusations

Answer 1

Yes, you do, before anyone has a gun they should know the rules and how to use it. Also, how and where to keep them so others can't get to them.
We own guns and know how to use and store all of them.

Answer 2

Accidents happen every day. People cut them selves every Sunday cutting coupons from the paper with scissors, some people don't wear eye protection and they get hurt when weed whacking. We have the RIGHT to bear arms. If a "innocent bystander" gets hurt because of a accidental discharge then it should be treated like any other accident with no additional penalty incurred because it was a fire arm.

Answer 3

Duh!! Where have you been living?? The gun owner bears both criminal and civil responsibility if a gun in his possession is misused. However, keep in mind that the responsibility is limited to what he can reasonably do to secure the gun. I have a number of guns, they are in a gun safe, a good gun safe. If a burglar breaks the safe and steals the guns, I won't be held responsible for their criminal use because I did what I reasonably could to secure them.
If I just left my loaded guns lying around the house and one of my grand kids comes over and shoots someone while playing with it, I am going to jail and be sued into bankruptcy

Answer 4

"fail to properly secure it"

What a sweetly damning phrase.

I suppose YOU will decide what is "properly secured"?

Legally owned firearms are involved in LESS THAN 1/10 OF 1% OF VIOLENT CRIMES.

For the mathematically challenged, that is 1 out of 1000.

Yearly, more than 1 million LEGAL firearms are used to mitigate or resolve crimes against person or property.

I have the right to bear arms. I am held accountable to act in a responsible manner.

I do not have to answer to the whim of the uninformed or the fears of the bedwetting liberals.

Answer 5

If you own a deadly weapon, you have the responsibility to ensure that others are not harmed by its use with the exception of self defense and even that carries a caveat or two. It's a matter of law as well as common sense.

Answer 6

I believe that law-abiding citizens should have the right to own a gun. However, the right to have a gun does NOT mean the right to be irresponsible with it.
I think if you are negligent with a gun, you should be held responsible for whatever happens.

Answer 7

Of course, this is a no-brainer. Rights come with responsibilities. Can you imagine what our society would be like if there was no obligation to keep guns out of the wrong hands?

Answer 8

First off, what was this innocent bystander doing playing with your handgun? Or was the owner playing with it improperly and they shot someone?

Answer 9

Rights come with responsibilities.

Answer 10

you can bear your arms around me in a safe and secure manner ,I won't mind.I won't press charges.lol