Robert E. Crimo III shot and killed 6 people in a July 4th parade, with a legally obtained gun that his father authorized him to receive even after his son had threatened to him himself years earlier. It is notable that Crimo had dropped out of high school in 2016, before sophomore year, and 80% of mass shooting gunmen show changes in behavior such as depression, isolation, or quitting school/work.
With the increase in mass shooting carried out by gunmen in their teens and early twenties, prosecutors and researches are focusing on parents to help them understand how the parents’ sons turned to violence, and what measures would have helped prevent the shootings, and whether parent who neglect warning signs or provide their children guns should be criminally responsible. Frank Kaminski, police chief in a Chicago suburb, says “[i]t’s some uncharted territory of how much responsibility parents are going to be held for their kids’ behavior. I’m all for holding everyone accountable for guns.”
A notable case in parent involvement with mass shooter is a 29-year-old shooting in Nashville at a Waffle House. Officials say he was treated for mental health issues and lost his gun license. He transferred possession of guns to his father, and his father returned a rifle to him after he moved away, which is a crime.
A factor that could contribute to parents neglecting warning signs is the unwillingness for parents to get their kids help. Research indicates that parents of disturbed children don’t know where to turn for help. They hesitate to call the police to intervene because they are scared of the effect on their child’s record. However, Kevin Johnson, a prosecutor in a case involving parents’ role in a mass shooting, says family must “have the courage and common sense to follow through and make the appropriate report to the authorities.” He also adds that “unless and until they are willing to do that, there is no way that authorities can step in and assist and perhaps prevent a tragedy.”
Recently, there has been an increase in mass shootings with gunmen in their late teens or early twenties. In many cases, parents have either ignored warning signs or allowed their child to obtain a firearm. Parents should not be afraid to report signs of mental health issues because doing so could potentially save lives of innocent people.
Link to article: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/10/us/highland-park-shooting-parents.html
With the increase in mass shooting carried out by gunmen in their teens and early twenties, prosecutors and researches are focusing on parents to help them understand how the parents’ sons turned to violence, and what measures would have helped prevent the shootings, and whether parent who neglect warning signs or provide their children guns should be criminally responsible. Frank Kaminski, police chief in a Chicago suburb, says “[i]t’s some uncharted territory of how much responsibility parents are going to be held for their kids’ behavior. I’m all for holding everyone accountable for guns.”
A notable case in parent involvement with mass shooter is a 29-year-old shooting in Nashville at a Waffle House. Officials say he was treated for mental health issues and lost his gun license. He transferred possession of guns to his father, and his father returned a rifle to him after he moved away, which is a crime.
A factor that could contribute to parents neglecting warning signs is the unwillingness for parents to get their kids help. Research indicates that parents of disturbed children don’t know where to turn for help. They hesitate to call the police to intervene because they are scared of the effect on their child’s record. However, Kevin Johnson, a prosecutor in a case involving parents’ role in a mass shooting, says family must “have the courage and common sense to follow through and make the appropriate report to the authorities.” He also adds that “unless and until they are willing to do that, there is no way that authorities can step in and assist and perhaps prevent a tragedy.”
Recently, there has been an increase in mass shootings with gunmen in their late teens or early twenties. In many cases, parents have either ignored warning signs or allowed their child to obtain a firearm. Parents should not be afraid to report signs of mental health issues because doing so could potentially save lives of innocent people.
Link to article: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/10/us/highland-park-shooting-parents.html