OldmanFCSA wrote:SO -IF a "legal" "child" leaves it lying around, who is responsible ... the State?
By "legal" I mean legally of age to hunt with a loaded firearm during a normal hunting season without adult supervision.
By "child" I mean - read above quotation.
By "leaving" = read the above senarios .........................................................
Now, please read before re-posting the LAW because the LAW is un-useable in this situation that has been approved by the state authorities.
Call it a Catch-22 situation - just post your OWN thoughts about the subject.
Now, STORAGE of a weapon during non-hunting situations, the Law would apply better, but still not perfeect.
The law is fairly specific. Chapter 97B sets forth the criteria under which children may possess firearms for the purpose of hunting. I understand your point, and here's my opinion. If a child is NOT hunting and has access to a loaded firearm then 609.666 will come into play.
Who is responsible when the "legal" child leaves a loaded firearm around? Three possibilities: The child, the parent, or the owner of the firearm. Theoretically, all three could be charged, although that wouldn't be likely.