“Where were the parents?”
This question tends to come up in public discourse when anything newsworthy happens with a child, whether the child is the victim of an accident or the perpetrator of a crime. When a toddler is found wandering away from home, when there’s an accidental drowning, and certainly when teens are caught breaking into cars to steal electronics, the immediate question is about parental responsibility.
When a 14-year-old manages to access a firearm and take it to a school where he takes the lives of innocent people, it’s not only the moral responsibility but the legal liability that comes into question.
When Parents Provide The Murder Weapon
In the case of school shooting suspect Colt Gray, his father, Colin Gray, has been arrested and charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children. He’s being held responsible for the murders and injuries because he allegedly provided his son with the firearm used to carry out the act.
The teenager had been investigated previously for threats of a similar act, in May of 2023, when the FBI received reports that he was making disturbing and threatening posts on Discord. At the time, his father assured the FBI that Colt only had access to firearms under adult supervision, according to ABC11.
Then he gave Colt an AR-15 for Christmas, according to reports.
When Parents Dismiss Safety Concerns & School Reports
Earlier this year, Jennifer and James Crumbley, parents of Ethan Crumbley, who reportedly gave plenty of warning signs before killing fellow students in a Michigan school in 2021, were both found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors made a case that they had ignored these critical signs, and failed to take basic steps, like securing firearms, checking their son’s backpack, or questioning him after learning that he had added violent imagery and disturbing messages to his school assignments. The New York Times reported:
“James Crumbley was presented with the easiest, most glaring opportunities to prevent the deaths of these four students,” Karen McDonald, the prosecutor in Oakland County, said in closing arguments on Wednesday. “And he did nothing.”
Legal Liability For Parents Seems Limited
So far, the Crumbleys are the only parents to be convicted for a school shooting carried out by their minor child. Only days after the Georgia shooting, it will likely be a long time before we know whether Colin Gray will be convicted of the charges against him.
Parents of another alleged school shooter, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, were found not guilty by a jury earlier this year. The jury was not able to conclude that they’d neglected parental duties to secure weapons and provide necessary mental health access for their son. The then-teenager, now in his 20s, has not yet been to trial, as he remains in a mental health facility where he is deemed not mentally fit for trial.
What Are Parents Duties To Act & Prevent Accidents, Murders, & Tragedies?
After the Michigan shooting, that state passed a law requiring parents to secure firearms. While some other states have similar legislation, there is no federal law requiring parents to secure guns in a way that prevents children from accessing them. However, that doesn’t mean that parents can’t be held liable.
So, what should parents be doing to protect their children and others?
First, make sure that firearms are secured. A locked gun case is best, and firearms and ammunition should be stored separately.
Second, even if you have no firearms in your home, teach your child some basic gun safety in case they ever encounter one elsewhere. “Don’t touch” is insufficient to overcome a child’s curiosity! Teach kids to consider every firearm loaded and that if they see an unsecured gun, they should speak to a trusted adult.
Protecting Your Child’s Mental Health
Mental health is a collective struggle for society, yet it’s also one of the most isolating individual struggles possible. To make matters worse, healthcare can be challenging to access, and even if you have insurance or can afford to pay out of pocket, there can be months-long wait lists to see a doctor.
Not being able to access mental health care is a tragedy in itself, but that doesn’t mean it rises to the level of neglect by legal definitions. Choosing to ignore mental health struggles, especially when there are signs a child might be a danger to themselves or others, though, may be.
If your child is talking about wanting to hurt himself or others, or if his school is reporting these concerns, you have a parental duty to address it. If you can’t access a mental health specialist right away, you can speak to your child’s school counselor or call your local health department or social services department for help finding services.
Take The Risks Seriously!
At this point, the overarching theme of the charges and convictions is that parents are held responsible for not taking concerns seriously. One parent, Colin Gray, is accused of buying his son a weapon after the teen was investigated for alleged threats, and two more, Jennifer and James Crumbley, were convicted for blowing off the school’s concerns about safety.
As a parent, it’s not our job to be perfect or to always have every insight, but it is our job to take our kids’ mental health seriously and to be prepared to take necessary steps to protect them and others.
