Which statement reflects the endangerment element in endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon?

• A. Endangerment requires conduct that creates a substantial risk of death or great bodily harm
• B. Endangerment requires actual injury
• C. Endangerment requires ownership of a weapon
• D. Endangerment requires the weapon be fired

Answer: (A)

Endangerment is about the risk your conduct creates, not whether someone actually gets hurt. For endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon, the offense is met when the actions of the offender create a substantial risk of death or great bodily harm to another person. That means you don’t need actual injury to have committed the crime; merely handling, displaying, or threatening with the weapon in a way that creates a real, substantial danger satisfies the endangerment element. Ownership of the weapon or the weapon being fired isn’t required for this element—the crucial point is the substantial risk produced by the use or threatened use of the dangerous weapon.