Stolen pistol leads to reckless endangerment charge for Stamford man

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I'm going to play Devil's advocate here.

While acknowledging that someone "breaking into" his car is unlawful (if opening an unlocked door can be considered "breaking". At what point would you fine folks like to make this guy be responsible for the dumbassery of leaving an unsecured handgun in an unlocked car?

At what point does it become criminal negligence? When he leaves the gun on the sidewalk?


Had he taken the three seconds required to secure it in the glove box, as unsecure as it is, he at least would have taken an affirmative step toward securing the gun.

I'll take this one.

I would say that if he were to leave the gun "in plain sight" in the vehicle, then that would be where to draw the line. I still think it's bullshit, but that is my compromise position. If he puts it OUT of sight, whether it is in the glove box, console, under the seat, stuffed in the seat cushion, tucked up under the dash, etc., even if unlocked, and even if the car is unlocked, then, no, I don't think that is negligence. Why? Because LOCKS DON'T KEEP THIEVES FROM STEALING SHIT!

I think it is MUCH less unreasonable to leave a gun in your car in plain sight than it is to leave it out of slight but unlocked. And by taking the time to put it out of sight, he is taking an affirmative step to secure the gun - as unsecure as it may be.

I mean, what's next? "Well, yeah, you locked it, but your lock wasn't high-quality enough." ??

Now - as for your HOME?? Where you do not have children?? Then you should be able to leave your gun right there on your kitchen table if you want to, with no negligence issues at all, even if you don't lock your door (although I would say you have to at least SHUT the door). Your privacy and security expectations in your home are virtually absolute as far as I am concerned.