Agree 100%, my first thought was the same; OP is more like the distracted driver in that scenario. He has the ability to completely prevent. He thinks that other owners are negligent and responsible because they aren’t following the rule of leashing their dog. (They are partially to blame too, all dogs should be leashed as it is preventative and polite). But OP is negligent and also to blame by not muzzling his potentially aggressive dog in a public space. The reality of having a dog that will possibly physically attack (whatever the scenario/ following the technical rules or not) is a threat in itself that needs to be addressed with tact. The use of a muzzle will not hurt the dog, yet would prevent any bites to others. OP may be “responsible” in that he “followed the rules” but is simple minded for not accepting reality which is irrrsponsible. Just as it’s irresponsible for people to not leash their friendly dogs. Except, one of these scenarios in particular tends to result in more disastrous outcomes (and for the unleashed dog or aimless child who get seriously fucked up.)
The reality of the situation is that things happen, and not everything can be controlled and in sync with the words on the sign. The example the last person said with the Pomeranian and little boy running up perfectly sums up the importance of that possibility.
People need to be able to admit that if they decide to not muzzle, they aren’t totally blameless when an incident occurs. I will get downvotes because many people take rights very seriously, and tend to mindlessly think that by following a rule you’re automatically in the right. Technically, are you following the law regarding the leash? Yes. Does that make you totally blameless when someone or someone’s dog gets bit? No, not morally, when you refuse to use the most obviously realistic and self reliant prevention method of muzzling.
If he feels he is not at all responsible, because he is following the rule and other people “aren’t”, then it says a lot about him as a person; his compassion for others, maturity level and his over-simplified understanding of reality. One day it will be a child who is too young to understand when you tell them don’t come near, that runs up to the dog. Will your conscious be clear when they lose an eye, or a finger?
Muzzle your potentially aggressive dog if you give a crap about others and not just you and your dog. Otherwise hop off your high horse preaching that whoever gets bit by your dog is at fault. If you truly understood that animals are unpredictable and caution is needed, you would understand that something such as a leash and following the rule on a sign won’t always hold up to reality, literally. Dogs escape. Children wander. You’ve got to take that into account to consider yourself a truly responsible dog owner.