Pro-gun activist Jamie Gilt shot by 4 year old Son

[Zombie]

First gun thread I found.

Was recently talking to a friend about gun rights. And they suggested liability insurance for gun owners.

I found the idea interesting. Basically if you own a gun you have to have liability insurance. If your gun is used and you are found at fault the victim has an insurance claim.

Thoughts? pros/cons?

I can already see both pros and cons...

I think it's a worthy idea. I don't know of anyone that disagrees with the requirement of insurance for motor vehicles which are much more of a necessity in this day and age than guns are.

The biggest argument against it as far as I can see is enforcement, I'm not really sure what that would look like.

 

[NAOS]

That scenario is disastrously corruptible, IMO.

 

[bigb]

It's an interesting concept. Utah has a law that basically says if I legally shoot someone, I cannot be held liable for their damages. Not all states have this law. So, in Utah, it's basically a non-issue (as long as the shooting is legal and justified). If this insurance could be put to legal fees after a shooting, I might be more inclined to think about it. When I took my CFP course, the instructor said "if and when you use your firearm on a person, you better be prepared to write a $10,000 check for your legal fees. Even if the shooting was justified." If insurance covers legal fees, come talk to me.

 

[fishonjazz]

First gun thread I found.

Was recently talking to a friend about gun rights. And they suggested liability insurance for gun owners.

I found the idea interesting. Basically if you own a gun you have to have liability insurance. If your gun is used and you are found at fault the victim has an insurance claim.

Thoughts? pros/cons?

I can already see both pros and cons...

I think it would have to be really cheap. The probability of me ever shooting anyone with one of my guns or anyone getting shot with one of my guns is so low. I would not want to have another monthly bill just so my guns can sit in my house doing nothing.
Also, i hate the whole idea of insurance, in principle, for anything. Insurance basically means that you pay money for something that you may never get any return on. I hate it. I have given WAY more money to my auto insurance companies than i have received back from them in payouts. I have spent WAY more money on health insurance than i have gotten back from them. Im losing money big time by paying insurance. Its a scam imo and insurance companies are crooks.

 

[Cappy_Smurf]

Which is one big reason I've become disheartened by the turn the gun rights movement has taken. I believe gun ownership requires a significant degree of discipline and diligence. The first and last thing anyone in possession of a firearm should be thinking about is the safe handling of their weapon, according to a rigid set of standard criteria that is well practiced and never deviated from.

Instead, gun rights seems to mean that anyone should be able to own and carry a gun and that we should place no obstacles in their way. Also, advancing the cause through fear mongering and promoting the idea (well above safety and responsibility) that you're very likely going to have to blow someone away, and that you need to be ready and not hesitate when the opportunity to do so arises. It's soooo important to be ready to kill a "bad guy" you can't be hindered by having to load the firearm, or remove a lock, or open a safe. You need to be able to kill "bad guys" on a split seconds notice. And when in doubt assume that shadow, or that noise, or the person on the other side of that door is about to gun YOU down so you better fire first.

I am a gun owner and have been since 12 years old, when I received my first shotgun for my birthday. I am also 100% anti-NRA and have been for a long time. They may have started out with the interests of gun owners, but now it's all about protecting the rights of gun sellers to be able to maximize their profits, regardless of consequences. IMO, that organization is a disgrace, and I would hope other gun owners would start seeing them for what they are and stop supporting them.