# How much are parents responsible for actions of their children? (Crumbley found guilty for son shooting) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2024, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-are-parents-responsible-for-actions-of-their-children-crumbley-found-guilty-for-son-shooting/997406 "2024-02-10T20:36:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-are-parents-responsible-for-actions-of-their-children-crumbley-found-guilty-for-son-shooting/997406/81 "2024-04-12T00:57:26Z")
Yeah. I dont like this precedent but this case was unique. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-are-parents-responsible-for-actions-of-their-children-crumbley-found-guilty-for-son-shooting/997406/82 "2024-04-12T01:08:41Z")
I guess i don’t even think it’s a remarkable precedent. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-are-parents-responsible-for-actions-of-their-children-crumbley-found-guilty-for-son-shooting/997406/83 "2024-04-12T01:40:16Z")
I think in this case a line was crossed because the kid was asking the parents for help, they brushed it off, and then gave him a gun, creating a danger to society. WTF were they thinking? “Hey, Ethan seems disturbed and asked for some help? Tough knuckles, he’s gotta buck up! Let’s give him a gun - yeh, thats a good idea!” Massive levels of negligence, and went up a notch by actively enabling the crime. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-are-parents-responsible-for-actions-of-their-children-crumbley-found-guilty-for-son-shooting/997406/84 "2024-04-12T10:48:20Z")
The kid was asking specifically for help with his violent, homicidal obsessive thoughts! So they buy him a gun, they don’t secure it, and then their actions the day of the shooting! No, we’re not taking him out of school, no you may not search his backpack, and no, we’re not going to either. If their objective was to create a chain of events where it was most likely the kid would shoot up the school, they couldn’t have chosen a better script. I don’t get the (I think, limited) concern over the “precedent” this set. Yeah, if you’re a parent who behaves this way, you should be concerned about the legal consequences. Just as you should have been prior to this crime. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-are-parents-responsible-for-actions-of-their-children-crumbley-found-guilty-for-son-shooting/997406/85 "2024-04-12T11:38:36Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > I don’t get the (I think, limited) concern over the “precedent” this set. I agree with you. My only thought is people (unrealistically IMO) fear a potential slippery slope. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-are-parents-responsible-for-actions-of-their-children-crumbley-found-guilty-for-son-shooting/997406/86 "2024-04-13T00:41:34Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > No, we’re not taking him out of school, no you may not search his backpack, and no, we’re not going to either. I did read in an early report that the parents refused permission to examine his backpack, but it was not mentioned in recent news reports. Is it known that this happened? And why did the school authorities even need permission? In my schooldays, the school would have just said, “Our premises, our rules.” But I agree totally with the verdict. Too bad they will eventually get out of prison. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-are-parents-responsible-for-actions-of-their-children-crumbley-found-guilty-for-son-shooting/997406/87 "2024-04-13T05:21:46Z")
I can’t find anything recent, though I distinctly remember this detail from early reports. If it is accurate, perhaps the school expected the parents would take him home given the disturbing messages he wrote. When they refused, only then did they ask to make a search. _In loco parentis_ authority evaporates, I suppose, if the parents are actually present and deny permission. I’m obviously just speculating at this point. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-are-parents-responsible-for-actions-of-their-children-crumbley-found-guilty-for-son-shooting/997406.md?page=4)