No Excuse IMO.
If you own or are in possession/use of a Firearm or multiple Firearms you need to know where and what CONDITION IT/THEY ARE IN. NO EXCEPTIONS !!!
Long Guns (Shotguns and Rifles) are slightly different CONDITIONS from Handguns. Shotguns are way more likely to be used for Home Defense than a Rifle but are not exclusive to Home Defense.
This applies to All Firearms: Pistol or Long Gun it doesn't matter. As the owner or possessor of a Firearm it's Your Responsibility.
I include any Firearms that are in any state of function IE: At the Gunsmith's or in the Home that are being built/repaired or under modification. The Firearm Owner is responsible for maintaining a mental list of any and all Firearms that are currently owned or possessed.
The same applies to Ammunition/Magazines/Speed Loaders as well.
If one has so many Firearms that they can't remember the status of them mentally then keep a list somewhere.
Again this My Opinion.
I fly a lot. It happens all the time. My small home airport has about 25 citations a year for people forgetting to leave their firearms at home.
Classic idiocy. You start with an empty bag and start putting stuff in. “Oh look, here’s my pistol, guess I’ll add in also”
I agree.