As the fourth of July weekend rolled around, the Highland Park shooting had just begun. In a
place which is “designed as a leafy retreat for people seeking safety and quiet”, a 21-year-old
man still decided to disrupt everything and cause an entire community conflict. But this wasn’t
the only one that occurred this weekend, or even these past few months, such as the ones in Oslo, Norway and Uvalde, Texas. Now, some controversy has stirred around a shooter’s parents. So, to blame or not to blame the parents?
A 40-year-old Alberto Fuentes, who came to the Highland Park memorial, had said “The kid had a problem. I have kids, too, and if I see something, I have a responsibility. The parents had a responsibility to do something.”
Even though thousands of American parents worry excessively about their children being victims of shootings, another group of parents worry about their children, almost always boys, causing the shootings.
Some parents of shooters have been worrying about their son’s mental health, and seeking help.
But all of these actions usually happen after the attack. Authorities say that the parents can face accusations that they ignored the “warning signs” or allowed the attacks to happen by allowing them to have access to weapons.
After attacks, some parents, to avoid facing scorn, leave the town and change their identity
entirely. Or, they become invisible by staying quiet.
Andrew Solomon, an author who interviewed parents of the gunmen who attacked Columbine
High School and Sandy Hook Elementary, said “It’s terrifying enough to think you might be the
victim of some random piece of violence. But to think you might be called out for not knowing
that your child had caused this, is also a terrible fate.”
place which is “designed as a leafy retreat for people seeking safety and quiet”, a 21-year-old
man still decided to disrupt everything and cause an entire community conflict. But this wasn’t
the only one that occurred this weekend, or even these past few months, such as the ones in Oslo, Norway and Uvalde, Texas. Now, some controversy has stirred around a shooter’s parents. So, to blame or not to blame the parents?
A 40-year-old Alberto Fuentes, who came to the Highland Park memorial, had said “The kid had a problem. I have kids, too, and if I see something, I have a responsibility. The parents had a responsibility to do something.”
Even though thousands of American parents worry excessively about their children being victims of shootings, another group of parents worry about their children, almost always boys, causing the shootings.
Some parents of shooters have been worrying about their son’s mental health, and seeking help.
But all of these actions usually happen after the attack. Authorities say that the parents can face accusations that they ignored the “warning signs” or allowed the attacks to happen by allowing them to have access to weapons.
After attacks, some parents, to avoid facing scorn, leave the town and change their identity
entirely. Or, they become invisible by staying quiet.
Andrew Solomon, an author who interviewed parents of the gunmen who attacked Columbine
High School and Sandy Hook Elementary, said “It’s terrifying enough to think you might be the
victim of some random piece of violence. But to think you might be called out for not knowing
that your child had caused this, is also a terrible fate.”