Doesn't The Gun Owner Bear At Least Some Responsibility?

[Treo]

There are two stories making the rounds right now about people who were arrested after they tried to check a loaded handgun at the WTC Memorial in New York.

In both cases it appears to me that the gun owners were grossly negligent in traveling to another state w/out making any attempt to find out what the gun laws were there.

I know that people don’t think NYC’s gun laws are just, I don’t think NYC’s gun laws are just but for right now they are the law and I really feel that in both cases the gun owners who didn’t bother to check the laws bear most of the responsibility.

How am I wrong?

[NavyLCDR]

I would say you aren't wrong. That being said, there are tons of misconceptions that people have about concealed carry permits, especially when crossing state lines. Last time I checked, though, not knowing what the speed limit is on a strange road is not, by itself, going to get me out of the speeding ticket.

[Nightmare45]

The owner of the gun is responsible for knowing the laws anywhere they carry, ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

[chiefpropellerhead]

I agree with everything that is being said in response thus far. The gun owner and CWP holder is responsible for KNOWING the local and state laws with regards to the weapon and how it is to be transported. Ignorance is no excuse.

[WB9IIE]

Everything I see in the above posts is very true. When I went through the training required for the Missouri C/C, nothing was said about where to obtain factual information. It WAS mentioned, however that the gun owner IS responsible for knowing the laws in the community where he/she is carrying. When I moved to Tennessee, I had to through training again because Tennessee, although it does have reciprocity with Missouri, did not recognise training conducted in the Show Me State, and I was required to sit through all the training again, which I didn't mind. Can't ever get enough training. the Tennessee instructor, a retired LEO, mentioned USACARRY.COM as about the best source of information for the average citizen. Unfortunately, for the lady from Tennessee at Ground Zero, she will probably loose her state issued permit, unless she is found inocent of the charges against her, or the State of Ney York dismisses the case.

This website has an excellant resource available in the interactive maps area. Click on the state you will be visiting and scroll down through the application information, and there is usually a section that will tell one where firearms are prohibited within that particular state.

Any time we get ready to travel, I go to the state's pages where we will be traveling, highlight the prohibitions, and copy them to a word document with the name of the state as the header. If there is more than one state, I go to each state and repeat the process. After compiling the information, I print the word document and keep one copy in the center counsole and another copy folded in my pocket. You can get a great education when doing this, and maybe even stay out of jail.

[Caribou]

Yes, these people are responsible for knowing the laws of each State they visit. Yes, they screwed up. For me the disturbing thing is that time after time we hear of people trying to do the right thing and NY stomping on them. An honest person with a permit to carry from another jurisdiction trying to abide by the law outs him/her self. Someone with a layover checks in at the airport.

We are talking about good people here who wind up losing their gun, their freedom, loads of attorney fees, and their right to carry. These are the people we need on the street with a gun. Lord knows there are enough on the other side out there.

It is like the kid that rides his bike out in front of the car. You know it is the kids fault but you can't help but feel bad. Now, I can't do a lot about the kid but in this case I will let my senators know I wish them to pass HR822. this should slow down the violation of our rights by NYS &NYC.

Another point is that this is just not right. The words "shall not infringe" seem to have little effect in NY. NY wants no one to have a gun and what I see them doing is using our State laws against us. When they finally send these people back home they have lost their right to carry. So, when I see someone break an unjust law through ignorance and while attempting to do the right thing I will always be upset.

[pyth0n]

There are two stories making the rounds right now about people who were arrested after they tried to check a loaded handgun at the WTC Memorial in New York.

In both cases it appears to me that the gun owners were grossly negligent in traveling to another state w/out making any attempt to find out what the gun laws were there.

I know that people don’t think NYC’s gun laws are just, I don’t think NYC’s gun laws are just but for right now they are the law and I really feel that in both cases the gun owners who didn’t bother to check the laws bear most of the responsibility.

How am I wrong?

You're not wrong. Articles have been written that advise checking state laws when traveling cross country, every gun site has had individuals ask about traveling with guns with airlines. Each time a member mentions checking state laws before leaving home. I direct my students to sites like this and Handgun Laws for info and state contact agencies.

[Samuel]

You are not wrong. The ones committing the crime should be held responsible despite not knowing. If the person who doesn't think the law is just is arrested, that person can always challenge the law in court, through the legislature, and in the court of public opinion.

Every person I teach in my class is told although this is the law it doesn't mean the law will always be the same forever.

[Treo]

Every person I teach in my class is told although this is the law it doesn't mean the law will always be the same forever.

Every gun owner in America needs to get that tatooed to their forhead so they read it every day when they brush their teeth

[unclewayne17]

I don't know if they still have the sign up saying no guns allowed but they did. I stopped there one time on my way in and you know what? Not a single person had thrown out there gun to be legal there, so I guess there are a lot of illeagle guns in NYC.