What would you do?

[TomS]

I am a referee for youth sports. Recently when I went to an event and arrive in the changing room there were already a few bags in the room. When I was getting ready for my event, two individuals return to the room. I noticed that one person took a gun out of the equipment bag they had on the floor and put it on their belt. I assume the person is legal to carry, but I was a bit shock that this person would leave the gun unattended in the changing room. At this particular location, the changing room is not what I would consider a secure location because instead of a key there is a push button lock that basically everyone knows the code. I considered saying something but there were other people in the room too and did not want to call attention to the situation. I also consider reporting it to the police.

[Thunder71]

Was this at a school?

[TomS]

It was not at a school and do not believe there are any signs that say you can not carry there. I do know that they were part of a team from a school that was there.

[Evad]

Sounds like an ice arena.

BTDT, I would never leave an unattended gun. I would have told the guy how often other people come through the room as a friendly reminder.

[ninjedi]

next time the guy is ref'ing, steal the gun.

[igofast]

If anyone under the age of 18 has access to the locker room the person is in Violation of MN statute 609.666 (https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=609.666) which reads:

609.666 NEGLIGENT STORAGE OF FIREARMS.
Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following words have the meanings given.
(a) "Firearm" means a device designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled a projectile by the force of any explosion or force of combustion.
(b) "Child" means a person under the age of 18 years.
(c) "Loaded" means the firearm has ammunition in the chamber or magazine, if the magazine is in the firearm, unless the firearm is incapable of being fired by a child who is likely to gain access to the firearm.
Subd. 2.Access to firearms. A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor who negligently stores or leaves a loaded firearm in a location where the person knows, or reasonably should know, that a child is likely to gain access, unless reasonable action is taken to secure the firearm against access by the child.
Subd. 3.Limitations. Subdivision 2 does not apply to a child's access to firearms that was obtained as a result of an unlawful entry.

While I can appreciate not wanting to make a scene, the persons behavior absolutely needs to be corrected. If we don't police our own, we can be d@#n sure that the other side will, and it will provide ammo for them when it comes time to legislate.

I wouldn't necessarily engage the police but instead assume that they were a normally law abiding gun owner with a carry license not aware of the rules surrounding storage(not sure how this is possible, you could ask who their instructor was. ). However, if you felt that they were not on the level perhaps a call would be warranted(keeping in mind unless you have names, license plates, or some other way to ID there's nothing the police will be able to do).

I'm ambivalent on whether it should be addressed if no one over 18 has access to the room(which I doubt is the case).

[Randygmn]

Unless this was a separate "adults only" locker/changing room, the gun owner was wildly irresponsible, at best.
If this was a school sponsored athletic program, on or off school grounds, I believe it is a crime.

If my child was participating, I would have been angry that the gun was left unattended for anyone to have had unauthorized access to.

There is no doubt that I would have made it my business to confront this person, alone, in a very firm but friendly manner. Calling the police would not be a consideration on my part, unless the person became a lunatic during/after our discussion.

[Nougat]

my shotgun came with a trigger lock thing. would he still be in for it, if when stored it had one of those on it(rendering it unfirable). forcing them to leave it in a car right now would probably render a lot of guns inoperable( sort of defeats their rights after getting a carry permit?). probably not good for springs and stuff either?

this kind of touches on the because someone else breaks or could break the law law abiding types must be punished, no?

its really cold out!

edit:a locking box that could contain would work right? are the kids part of the everyone who know the door code?

[TomS]

609.666 NEGLIGENT STORAGE OF FIREARMS.
Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following words have the meanings given.
(a) "Firearm" means a device designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled a projectile by the force of any explosion or force of combustion.
(b) "Child" means a person under the age of 18 years.
(c) "Loaded" means the firearm has ammunition in the chamber or magazine, if the magazine is in the firearm, unless the firearm is incapable of being fired by a child who is likely to gain access to the firearm.
Subd. 2.Access to firearms. A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor who negligently stores or leaves a loaded firearm in a location where the person knows, or reasonably should know, that a child is likely to gain access, unless reasonable action is taken to secure the firearm against access by the child.
Subd. 3.Limitations. Subdivision 2 does not apply to a child's access to firearms that was obtained as a result of an unlawful entry.

Thank you for the reference to the law. I too really did not want to contact the police.

I was able to track this person down from the team’s website so I sent him an email to express my concern and included the link to the law. I’ll see what kind of a response I get back.

[bensdad]

trigger lock thing.

My 11 yo son can defeat those in seconds on a dare. Sorry for the drift. Carry on.

If it was a room reserved for adults, and had a locked door, he didn't break the law.

[TomS]

my shotgun came with a trigger lock thing. would he still be in for it, if when stored it had one of those on it(rendering it unfirable). forcing them to leave it in a car right now would probably render a lot of guns inoperable( sort of defeats their rights after getting a carry permit?). probably not good for springs and stuff either?

this kind of touches on the because someone else breaks or could break the law law abiding types must be punished, no?

its really cold out!

edit:a locking box that could contain would work right? are the kids part of the everyone who know the door code?

Kids shouldn’t know the code but I would not count on that. This is the location that most concerns me personally about having something stolen. Also, I would expect that there are probly some refs that are not 18.

Ironically, there are some lockers that could be used if you carried a lock.

Personal I have a gun vault in my car in case I need to leave the gun but even that make me a bit uncomfortable.

[DoxaPar]

I say, just carry a spare trigger lock and then next time you see a negligently stored firearm lock it for them. Then leave a note, "I secured your firearm for you."

[Sietch]

Calling the police about this would be like calling the police to report that your neighbor forgot to sort his recycling.

I would definitely reach out to him personally to express my concerns, maybe commiserating that the law is unnecessary and overbearing, but it's still best practice to keep it with him or make it secure next time.

[TomS]

I did get a reply back from the person that left the gun in the locker room and they thanked me for my email and said it was a mistake on their part. Said the plan was to leave it in the car in the future.

[bstrawse]

Unless this was a separate "adults only" locker/changing room, the gun owner was wildly irresponsible, at best.
If this was a school sponsored athletic program, on or off school grounds, I believe it is a crime.

If it's on a K-12 school property, it's a violation of MN 609.66 for possession on school grounds (even with a permit).

If it's NOT on K-12 school property, then the property must be being used exclusively for school use - and be conspicuously posted as such, in order for this to be a crime. See MN 609.66 for specifics.

B