[MindBender26]

Both firearms owners are guilty of felony stupidity.

What reasonable adult leaves a weapon, unloaded or not, where it can be accessed by a 12 year old or a retarded 18 year old?

The Trooper is lucky they do not change this from a firearms case to a case of endangering a minor.

These are not cases for us to be proud of or draw attention to.

[ml/nj]

What reasonable adult leaves a weapon, unloaded or not, where it can be accessed by a 12 year old

They used to do it all the time at Coney Island.

ML/NJ

[marktwain]

MindBender26 posted:

“What reasonable adult leaves a weapon, unloaded or not, where it can be accessed by a 12 year old or a retarded 18 year old?”

marktwain replies:

I was raised that way, and I raised my children that way.

Only about half the country does it, with no significant problems. Children learn responsibility by being given responsibility.

[mad_as_he$$]

I see you have gotten some responses to your question already but I will add my response. Where I grew up there was ALWAYS a loaded 12 ga by the back door and a loaded 30-30 over the fireplace. Even God could not save you if you touched one of them before you were told too. We all received extensive instruction in gun use starting at about age 6. Get caught misusing any tool especially a gun and justice was swift, harsh and usually very painful. No one had accidents or “played” with the guns. That was just the way it was.

[Still Thinking]

What reasonable adult leaves a weapon, unloaded or not, where it can be accessed by a 12 year old or a retarded 18 year old?

Oh, please. Don't succumb to the modern thinking that anyone under 68 is a child. A normal 12 year old should have already known for years when he can use the guns and when he can't (and who he shouldn't be pointing them at when he does). The 18 YO Down's patient is another matter. Depends on his functional level. Down's patients range from barely impaired to severe. If he's fairly severely impaired, I would probably agree with you in his case.