“Should Parents Ever Be Held Responsible for the Harmful Actions of Their Children?”

In my opinion, parents should be held accountable for the actions of their children, particularly in cases involving school shootings. After reading the article, I agreed with the jury with the conviction of Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of Ethan Crumbley. The prosecution argued that Ethan’s parents should have recognized his distress signals and taken steps to prevent the tragedy. While I acknowledge the complexity of this issue, I find it difficult to fully agree or disagree with this statement. Admittedly, parents can sometimes miss signs of distress in their children due to various reasons. However, in Ethan Crumbley’s case, it seems evident that his parents should take responsibility for his actions. Ethan Crumbley, was 15 at the time when he killed four of his classmates, using the gun he was gifted by his parents. It’s undeniable that his parents played a role by providing him with the weapon and potentially teaching him how to use it, despite his lack of maturity and responsibility.

Jennifer Crumbley’s defense attorney, Shannon Smith, argues that Jennifer Crumbley cannot be held accountable as she was doing her best as a mother. However, I find this argument unpersuasive. Most parents would not deem it appropriate to give a firearm to a 15-year-old, and such actions aren’t a benchmark of perfect parenting but rather a basic expectation of responsible guardianship. Convicting Jennifer Crumbley will set an essential precedent, signaling that parents must exercise caution and responsibility in their actions, particularly regarding firearms and their children.