How can a person be responsibly forgetful?

Despite research and debate, I have not formed solid opinions on a couple of social issues, gun ownership being one of them. I see valid points on both sides of the issue. The pro gun side added fuzzy edges to their debate this week.

            The Kentucky General Assembly is considering a bill that allows anyone to carry a gun onto school property without incurring the current felony charge if caught. The NRA and Senator Ray Jones, D-Pikeville, defend this by saying it is unfair to charge a gun-toter unless the school posts “No Guns Allowed” signs. The bill would require the school district to post the warning at every entrance to schools, gymnasiums, stadiums, and cafeterias.

            I heard a man argue for the protection of people who ‘forget’ they have a gun on their body when entering a school. That fuzzied up every drone I’ve heard from people who resent the assumption that not all gun owners are responsible. How can a person be responsibly forgetful?

            If we can’t expect the gun owner to remember he has a gun in his pocket, how can we believe he will remember where he puts that gun when he goes home? If a person feels so threatened that he can’t walk into a school building without protection, do we really want him around our children? Isn’t his presence a threat to their safety?

            And then, we have the hunting debate. Hunters are responsible gun owners, with purpose. A hunter who can mistake an orange vest for a quail is responsible? Multi-millionaires need to shoot their dinner, carting along a portable hospital and secret service at the taxpayers’ expense? Responsible people make decisions like this?

Guns don’t shoot people, hunters do? Is the paranoid hunter with proven disregard for human life the only one who makes this mistake, or do all hunters share the trait?

Too many fuzzy edges around the responsibility claim  for me.