The owners of the mall were exercising their private property rights in declaring the mall a "gun free" zone. By posting that sign, they implicitly take responsibility for the safety of all who enter...including assurance that their prohibition is enforced on everyone who enters. The owners failed to prevent an armed person from entering their premises and killing persons unarmed by their policy. It is reasonable to hold the owners accountable for creating the situation that allowed the carnage.
You nailed it. Business owners have a private property right to ban guns from their premises, but they also have a legal responsibility to provide a safe environment. You have every right to make the decision to ban guns from property you control, but you’re responsible for the consequences.
That’s why I support a law stating that any legislator who votes against carry on a public university campus should be held legally liable if a shooting occurs. That would have a lot of Virginia senators and delegates mucking the stalls at the James River Work Center.
That would be my take on it. Some years back, Texas enacted a law interestingly titled 30-06, which allowed businesses to ban CCW on their premises.
Some CCW holders had business cards made up and handed them out to those businesses that posted "no guns allowed" signs. It went something like "Thank you for assuming the liability of providing for my safety while in your store. Since the state of Texas has issued me a license that I may legally carry a concealed weapon, your action means that you willingly assume the burden. My attorney has been so notified." After that, a lot of signs came down. The wording needs to be shorter, but similar cards today might cause some of these "gun free zone" idiots some second thoughts.
The heck with civil liability though. Go for the Accessory to Murder. Let them know that it isn’t just the companies pocket book we are going after...
The owners of the mall were exercising their private property rights in declaring the mall a “gun free” zone. By posting that sign, they implicitly take responsibility for the safety of all who enter...