Why would an off duty pilot shoot someone in a bar (other than the ex Marine types.... KIDDING!). Why would you think that pilots are any less responsible than say, the average postal inspector, podunk cop, soldier, fbi agent, USDA chicken inspector etc, etc,etc,etc.......... If it did happen, then the litigation hell you describe would likely be true, and for good reason. But it would be the Feds that authorize and train us, so, who gets sued?
Exactly, you are no different, and people screw up no two ways about it, you just upped the odds. It is why Marines get busted, Air Force guys end up in jail after multi-state crime sprees, cops hit people drinkin & driving, the list continues, but you guys will go under the magnifying glass because of the debate. You have big Unions, big corporate bank accounts and big government bail out programs. Sued, everyone this litigious community can think of... because you have deep pockets.
Oh, and trust me you did, about 3 times.