[ThinkingBuddha]

The dog was ALWAYS going to kill someone or something; it was just a matter of when, not if. Unlike a child, a dog with issues that cant be corrected, CAN be put down. The owner was totally in control of the outcome.

It does work to make that comparison. Owning both a powerful dog breed and a gun comes with great responsibility. You should know to handle them, or should not be owning them. In both cases the owner IS in control of the outcome.

[Tax-chick]

I think the difference between something that can act on its own (a dog) and something that can’t act on its own (a gun) is significant. You appear to disagree. Whatever.

Other than that, we seem to agree: humans are morally (and legally) responsible, animals and objects are not.