TexasGal wrote:I don't know if leaving a gun unsecured in a car you know will be out of your control in a dealership can make you liable for whatever happens with it.
However,
If there are any laws that could be applied and if I were on the jury, I know how I would feel about someone who didn't even bother to put a loaded gun in a tethered lock box during vehicle service knowing just any yahoo could pick it up--possibly even a minor. He should have known better after all. He frequents forums like this and has a CHL. Gun safety is supposed to be something he takes seriously. Some idiot at the dealership sees the gun and on impulse picks it up and an innocent person dies who happened to be standing in the wrong place when it just "went off". Is the guy who picked up the gun responsible for his actions? Of course. Is the guy who made no effort to keep the gun out of his hands responsible? I'd have to say Yes to some degree he is. If it was my loved one who died in that scenario, I sure would want to include the gun owner on my list of people to hold responsible.
It would be a whole other thing if the gun was in a good lock box tethered with a good cable in the locked trunk. The guy who cut the cable, pried open the box, and then shot somebody would be far more clearly at fault then and no random kid checking out cars in the garage could get to it. I know some will not agree with that, but it is my opinion. And why would we want to take the chance on the loss of life, or the bad press for the right to bear arms? Our foes just love to hear about gun owners who do stuff like this.
I have to disagree, you're idea contains lots of hypotheticals that add up, personally I leave my gun in my car only when I am in it, or when I am at work (work at a university), and I never leave my car for an oil change or a car wash, but if someone does leave it in their car, it is up for getting stolen or mishandled but that is the full responsibility of the person who stole it or mishandled it. Access was not given to the cab of the vehicle (minor or not) and if it was for say a vacuuming, permission is implicitly denied in taking or moving any personal objects unless otherwise stated.