That’s because ignorance of the law is no excuse… unless it is ignorance of gun laws, in which case, it is a perfectly acceptable excuse.
Be careful about asking about fairness in sentencing, that’s when we start seeing mandatory sentences start to crop up, they may be harsh, but as they are mandatorily given to all offenders, then certainly are “fair”.
No, that would be “equal” or “uniform”. Fair implies being thoughtful and coming up with a solution/penalty that is commensurate with the offense, and takes intent into account. “Mandatory” and “zero tolerance” are the opposite of being fair.
A little late to the discussion a day or so ago about where you are legally required to inform police if you are armed, but I came across the following map showing that there are only a handful of states that require such disclosure:
Ohio, as reported, is one of them. I am a little surprised to see Texas and Alaska as must-inform states.
Yes, occasionally states that are generally thought of as very pro-gun have some odd anti laws. For example, Florida, sometimes mocked as the “Gunshine State” is one of only a handful of states that generally prohibits open carry.