Deadbolt
Well-known member
I agree it's criminal negligence, but I think some discernment should be used in these cases.
The "if the parent is too stupid" argument sounds nice, but it's also very simplistic. Doesn't mean the kids are actually better off. Also, doesn't mean the parents wont have legal rights to their kids once they're done serving their sentence. I'm not saying the parents should be absolved from all punishment and liability. But, I think once a sibling accidentally kills another sibling...shipping the parents off to prison for 3-5 years may not be the best thing.
Also, the "zero tolerance" argument just doesn't work. We have "zero tolerance" on a lot of crimes....they still occur every day. And, at a far, far greater rate than kids accidentally shooting their siblings.
Again, I don't mind some sort of punishment for the parents. Remove their rights to own a gun. Place them on probation that's monitored by DCF. Whatever. I just think calling for their heads and screaming for them to be sent off to prison after one of their kids just died is reactionary and, most likely, counter productive.
I'm not saying that this is some silver bullet that will end unnecessary gun deaths, but the notion that because crime x happens, there's no point in law y is just absurd to me. People still drive drunk, should we abolish drunk driving laws? Of course not.
I understand your sentiment, but I just think that, unfortunately, this is the type of epidemic that requires taking what may be considered drastic measures to get people's attention. Maybe you're right, and maybe we should start with revoking their right to own a firearm and probation...maybe that works, but I'm just not sure it gets enough attention to get the point across.
I do, though, agree with 923 in saying that if there are guns in the house accessible to the child, then social services should have the latitude to intervene. If, say, a school counselor finds out little Johnny told his buddy in class that his dad keeps a loaded 38 in the sock drawer, I want social services in that household immediately before little Johnny is lying in the floor with a bullet in his head.