Should parents be held responsible for 15yr old school shooter

I also can’t understand any parent buying a child a gun which will kill humans or animals, however safe it’s kept

agnurse

Bluebelle

I live in Canada, and we can legally own guns here. My youngest brother enjoys hunting (for food) and target shooting. I think he was about 12 when he got his first gun, as a Christmas gift. However, my parents had VERY clear rules about guns - that they are NEVER to be pointed at another person and that you follow all the gun laws and requirements. (In Canada, guns must be kept in a locked, fireproof gun safe and ammunition must be stored separately. If you own handguns, which my father does, they must be kept in a locked box inside said locked gun safe. You also need to have a valid firearms license and if you want a handgun you need an additional restricted firearms license. My dad and brother follow all required legislation.) My brother learned to respect firearms and be is very responsible with them.

My brother is now a corrections officer. He works with prisoners awaiting trial. He has very few problems - but not because he tries to be intimidating. He tells those in his charge that if they don't cause trouble, he will treat them well. It's only if they start acting out that he'll come down on them. It's a system that works well.

Proper gun control and attitude do wonders don’t they?

The thought of a 12 year old with a gun makes me feel ill.

Same here. No matter how well versed they are in firearms safety, no matter how and where the guns are stored, no matter for what purpose that gun is provided; you're still giving a child an instrument that can take a life. And for that the adult is fully responsible and is culpable when things go wrong.

I appreciate that some people behave responsibly with guns , what I fail to understand is why oh why does anyone need one !!! Yet another so school shooting in America , when will it stop,???? The concept of ' a right to bear arms ' is beyond my comprehension! and yes of course this boys parents must be accountable for their appalling behaviour. The gun culture in America is so deep seated it will be a marathon task to change attitudes - but change must come.

I think that is the difference in culture that I was talking about. The thought of a 12 year old with a gun makes me feel ill.

I don't think I'll ever understand a parent giving a child a tool that can kill. I do wonder now how those parents feel? Guilty? I somehow don't think they will. Someone, or something else will be their reason for this killing not them.

Bluebelle

I live in Canada, and we can legally own guns here. My youngest brother enjoys hunting (for food) and target shooting. I think he was about 12 when he got his first gun, as a Christmas gift. However, my parents had VERY clear rules about guns - that they are NEVER to be pointed at another person and that you follow all the gun laws and requirements. (In Canada, guns must be kept in a locked, fireproof gun safe and ammunition must be stored separately. If you own handguns, which my father does, they must be kept in a locked box inside said locked gun safe. You also need to have a valid firearms license and if you want a handgun you need an additional restricted firearms license. My dad and brother follow all required legislation.) My brother learned to respect firearms and be is very responsible with them.

My brother is now a corrections officer. He works with prisoners awaiting trial. He has very few problems - but not because he tries to be intimidating. He tells those in his charge that if they don't cause trouble, he will treat them well. It's only if they start acting out that he'll come down on them. It's a system that works well.

Yes definitely.

I am afraid that whilst the parents have responsibility for their child the society also holds responsibility for creating a culture of guns. People are going to die on a very regular basis of you have such a culture.

The boy's teachers apparently contacted the parents more than once to tell them that he was searching for ammunition on the school computers, and with several other warning signs, but the parents ignored it.

I thought parents were responsible for their minor children. A fact that many parents lose sight of.

My DD did a stint in the USA she was astounded to see who owned guns and they went for practice to learn how to shoot. Where they kept them was unbelievable, glove compartments in cars, kitchen drawers under beds, even handbags.
In this country, we are all or should be in charge of our teenagers until they reach the age of consent.
I agree with a lot of others on here parents should be held responsible and named and shamed for their children's actions. A bit of scrubbing off graffiti in full view of everyone might make them think twice when they hear children leaving the house without saying where they were going.
Mine hated me for insisting that I knew where they were and I often insisted on picking them up even if it was late on a Saturday night, a group of mums and dads got together and organised the drop-offs and pick-ups and we tipped each other off when we thought they were up to no good, like wandering around a garrison town with all the squaddies and the silly little boys for that's what they were shouting insults at grown tough men egged on by silly girls.

Bea65 if a parent has encouraged a child by buying them a gun, a knife, a weapon of any kind whatever country they live in they should be totally responsible If the parents had no knowledge that the child had purchased a weapon that’s surely is a different story

So many of our young people are losing their lives here with stabbings and shootings ..do we follow the US in charging the parents? ?

Definitely.

they sounded awful

Absolutely! I would take it even further and make parents of minors responsible for not only acts of violence but vandalism also! We have a lot of vandalism in our local parks, many are young teenagers who get a slap on the wrist. NO! Make the parents pay for the damage, do community service name and shame etc it’s no excuse not knowing what your 14/15 year old is up to!! Parents definitely need to take responsibility and be accountable. All you hear is “they are bored/nothing for them to do/society is to blame. NO, YOU are to blame. Your children are your responsibility. ?

Y,es they should.
I wish they would do something similar with the parents of the teenagers who murder their contemporaries. The parents should be in the dock with them, charged with child neglect.

Yes - they bought the gun for him. So sad for those who lost their lives.

If they gave a 15 year old a gun then they are responsible for him shooting and killing people
The four wouldn’t be dead if he didn’t have a gun would they? So yes the parents are responsible in my eyes America is gun mad

Yes - I did see that and so, ofcourse they should be held responsible. And the mother saying some thing like 'use the gun but don't get caught'. I believe they are on the run. I do hope they are found and brought to justice.