Recently, the Washington Post highlighted the safety and liability concerns associated with hosting gun shows, which draw thousands of firearm enthusiasts each year. In an effort to protect both those attending the shows (and those that live in surrounding areas), one commission decided to impose safety restrictions–such as banning live ammunition on the premises where the show will take place and dry-firing weapons, as well as requiring that all firearms have trigger locks and that at least five park police officers are on duty at all times during the gun show–in order to protect people from harm. But is it enough?
In the wake of mass shootings at nearby schools, some agencies have gone so far as to issue moratoriums on events such as gun shows while the state General Assemblies can pass stricter gun laws to protect citizens. Courts have recently awarded damages to those injured or killed as a result of minimum security at these events, causing gun show organizers to take a second look at consumer safety issues.
What Laws Currently Protect Citizens?
Some states (such as Maryland) have laws such as the Firearms Safety Act, which sets guidelines for gun dealers and purchasers to requiring licensing, background checks, and fingerprinting for handgun buyers. However, these requirements do not always apply for purchasers at gun shows the same way that they would for individual privately owned gun shops. Unless state law prohibits private dealers from selling firearms to unlicensed buyers at these shows and leaving with the weapons, buyers are typically free to do so.
Who Is To Blame For Injuries At These Events?
Do states need to take a fresh look at regulating gun shows in order to set safety standards? Trends actually indicate that the courts are increasingly holding gun show organizers liable when guns from their shows end up in the wrong hands and cause serious injury or death. As a matter of public policy, this arguably encourages compliance with basic laws.
Specifically, in one case, two teenagers were able to obtain guns due to the lax security present at one gun show and then proceeded to fire the guns at neighbors, one of whom was paralyzed as a result. Both the teenagers and the gun show were sued for negligence and willful and wanton misconduct and the jury found both to be jointly and severally liable, awarding the victims $750,000 in compensatory and $10,000 in punitive damages. This indicates that regulatory oversight and minimal security is inescapable for these gun show organizers in order to protect people.
Louisiana Injury Lawyers of Harrell & Nowak
No circumstances allow for property owners (and event organizers) to be negligent enough such that your safety–and your life–is placed in danger. The attorneys at Harrell & Nowak have helped many victims throughout Louisiana seek financial compensation for their injuries. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Photo Credit: fox13now.com