Are you legally responible for every sound wave that comes out of your gun?

D

Doug.38PR

Moderator
Legally you are responsible for every bullet that comes out of your muzzel.


I was just grabbing a quick bite to eat in a restaurant and something occured to me as it was around dinner hour and there were a lot of people around me.
If someone had to use a gun in there to shoot some wacko with a gun, who would be responsible for any permenant or otherwise hearing damage that a dozen or so people in that enclosed building me have?:eek:

The guy who actually fired the shot?
The guy who caused the shot to be fired?
What if both guys were engaged in shooting?


Depending on the answer, it is something to think about next when you are deciding whether you want to load a hot .357 magnum or .44 magnum or .10mm for "more stopping power." You might be okay with living with a ringing in your ears, but others might not be
 
:rolleyes:

WildimhoyouneedtospendmoretimeenjoyingyourlunchinsteadofconstantlyworkingtacticalninjascenariosinyourheadAlaska

PS...in the EXTREMELY unlikely event (equivalent to the probabilites of Hillary becoming a pole dancer or Rosie becoming a centerfold for anything other than a Pork Processors magazine) I would ever even consider popping off a round in a public place, I wouldn't even think about the issue.
 
There are far moimportant things to be worried about. Damages incidental to a legitimate shooting would normally be the responsiblity of the offending party.
 
It's not a worry. :o It's just an interesting legal topic that occured to me. Chill out, shouldn'tbesoWildAlaska.


Damages incidental to a legitimate shooting would normally be the responsiblity of the offending party.
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Hmmm...that being the case shouldn't (not wouldn't) that apply to every muzzel that comes out of your gun? If a bullet goes through the offending party and hits someone else, shouldn't the offending party be held responsible because they caused the shot to be fired?
But that's really taking the OP off topic (or are they linked).
 
The federal government is responsible due to their excessive restrictions against the installation of mufflers. :D
 
In fact, yes, you're responsible for the sound blast. Also good to consider: Sound waves from gunshots are REALLY not good for unborn fetuses. If you're in a store, and you shoot your weapon right next to a pregnant lady's belly, you can do damage to the unborn child.

Lesson: Move away from other people as you shoot.
 
I think if the situation is serious enough that you're justified in shooting someone, it's plenty serious enough to risk hearing damage to bystanders. Lives are worth a lot more than perfect hearing.

Other considerations:

-- Bystanders could stick their fingers in their ears while hiding behind cover, if they're that worried about their hearing while bullets are whizzing around. :)

-- It takes more than exposure to a single gunfight to severely impair hearing. Plenty of combat vets have decent hearing. Granted that most of those were not in enclosed spaces.

-- It would be difficult for anyone to prove that their hearing damage wasn't already there prior to the gunshots. Of course, for civil liability cases only a preponderance of evidence is necessary, not absolute proof of guilt.
 
I dunno, of all of Doug's fears I gotta say this one is at least grounded in reality and something I never really thought of.

And I wouldn't be surprised to be sued for hearing damage in such a situation.

I've been told about shooting and children by the guy at my range when I mentioned my wife was pregnant. I'd never thought of it before, but it makes perfect sense.
 
Legally you are responsible for every bullet that comes out of your muzzel.
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Except in some states with certain laws concerning responsibility during the commission of crimes, yes you are. In those cases, you are responsible for ANY harm you do to bystanders, victims, or folks other than the bad guys.

Now whether or not said persons can prove you did them harm is another matter, but we aren't talking proof, but responsibility.

Depending on the answer, it is something to think about next when you are deciding whether you want to load a hot .357 magnum or .44 magnum or .10mm for "more stopping power." You might be okay with living with a ringing in your ears, but others might not be
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Well gee Doug, what is the goal of self defense shooting? Do you think it might be, um, SELF DEFENSE? Would you be willing to sacrifice your ability to defend yourself based on the theoretical concept that some non-involved party's hearing might be affected as a result of the sound you produced during the battle?

If you want to go with some quieter and less powerful caliber for that reason, then you are cheating yourself. Slightly deafened parties aren't going to be able to sue you if you are dead and that may be the result if you go with a lessor caliber.
 
Sound waves from gunshots are REALLY not good for unborn fetuses. If you're in a store, and you shoot your weapon right next to a pregnant lady's belly, you can do damage to the unborn child.
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Do you have a link to a study supporting this, by any chance?
 
"Sound waves from gunshots are REALLY not good for unborn fetuses. If you're in a store, and you shoot your weapon right next to a pregnant lady's belly, you can do damage to the unborn child."

One of the funniest pictures I've ever seen circulating on the internet was a scan from a newspaper.

A very pregnant woman was standing in front of her house.

Headline on the article was "XXX Woman Worried That Jackhammers Might Harm Her Baby"

They were apparently using jackhammers to tear up the street in front of her house.

The reason it was so funny?

She's standing in front of her house, looking all worried at the prospect of loud construction, and she's smoking a frigging cigarette.


Stupid *()*(&%^)(*&#$)(^*#
 
of all of Doug's fears I gotta say this one is at least grounded in reality
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;)I don't know if "fear's" are the word, curiosity maybe. Reality is there is only so much you can do in planning for problems and mostly you just have to handle them as they come. (if they ever even happen)

Next question:
:eek:Would carrying a plastic pistol make you less likely to be struck by lightning than carrying a steel gun?:eek::D

Maybe we should wear a rubber suit for insulation when carrying a steel gun;)

Would the lightening set off the ammo?:p
 
WA;
Billary is now dancing the maypole in a thong and 2 feathers and Rosie, au natural, is in a fetal position on a huge platter with an apple in her mouth on the cover of Pork Porn Producers mag.
I take it you have never heard of the Luby's massacre, Dr. Hupp and the reasons there is a CHL in Texas, Ann Richards was not re-elected governor and W is now Prez rather than still counting gate receipts at Rangers stadium.
:rolleyes::D
 
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