Posted: 12/10/2007 12:14:48 PM EDT
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Situation: I know a family with two young children, 5 yo girl, and 7 y/o boy. There is also a stepson that is 18 and has a history of lawbreaking and some mental issues. The stepfather trusts the young man, and has instructed him on the safe use of firearms. Currently, there is an unsecured rifle in a closet, and the stepson knows how to get into the safe where there is another pistol. There are a lot of unsavory/questionable teenagers coming in and out of the house as friends of the 18 y/o. What level of security do you feel should be maintained? |
| Stop letting kids friends into house, and lock up all the guns so only dad and mom have keys. It will get worse. My 40 somthing crack head uncle pawned most of my grandfathers guns for beer money. This kid could do the same, or use them to be an MTV thug. Lock the guns up. |
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It depends on the stepson's opinion of guns and stepfather plus the history of crimes and how recent they were. When I was 14-17, I was a hellraiser, got into fights all the time, did a lot of stupid stuff that I could have gone to jail for and hung out with unsavory people. However, I knew where the 3 houseguns were and where the spare ammo was. I also knew how big of a responiblity guns were. |
Why would OP get sued unless he is the stepfather? If he is the step father then why is he talking about himself in the third person. He wouldn't be sued since he is commiting no crime anyway. 18yo would be guilty of theft. Likewise the stepfather wouldn't be sued if the 18y0 stole his car either. There is no legally defined duty to keep all guns in a gun safe 
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If your gun is obtained by a child and used in a negligent way you can be held responsible. |
18 year old is an adult. |
Did you read the part about the unsavory/questionable teenagers coming in and out of the house as friends of the 18 y/o? 
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In attempting for a tort, but not for a crime. |
That line is all you need to know ......... there is no bigger danger sign than this. Mom and Dad are the only ones that should have access to a heavy safe, and ALL firearms that are not in the possesion of an adult should be secured in it. Man, that's a recipe for disaster. |