A concealed firearm falls and goes off while dancing. What could you charge them with?

• A. Reckless endangerment
• B. Discharging a firearm in public
• C. Carrying a concealed weapon
• D. Assault

Answer: (B)

Discharging a firearm in public is the best fit because the act occurred in a public setting and involves firing a weapon there. Many statutes specifically prohibit firing a gun in a public place, regardless of intent, so the incident described—an accidental discharge that happens while in a public venue—directly matches that offense.

Carrying a concealed weapon focuses on possession and concealment, not on the act of firing, so it doesn’t address what happened. Assault requires intentional or reckless intent to cause harm; an accidental discharge typically doesn’t meet the element of assault unless someone is harmed or threatened in a particular way. Reckless endangerment could apply in some cases if you can prove a disregard for safety, but the clearest, most direct charge for this scenario is discharging a firearm in public.