Michigan courts sentenced the parents of a 17-year-old school shooter on involuntary manslaughter charges for the first time in history on April 9, according to The Associated Press.
The parents of convicted school shooter, Ethan Crumbley, were arrested and sentenced in connection to the Oxford High School shooting in Oakland County, Michigan with a minimum of 10 years, according to AP News.
Judge Cheryl Matthews said to AP News, “These convictions confirm repeated acts, or lack of acts, that could have halted a runaway train.”
According to AP News, the Crumbley parents failed to secure a newly purchased firearm and were also indifferent to their son’s mental health. The mother fired 50 rounds with Ethan Crumbley at the shooting range with the gun her son would later use at Oxford High School in Nov. of 2021.
In 10 interviews at Cosumnes River College and Sacramento City College students gave their opinions on the verdict and future precautions.
Ayah Othman, a 19-year-old psychology major, said she doesn’t believe the guardians of a child should be responsible for their child committing a mass shooting in all cases.
“I do believe that some responsibility should be shared with the parents of the child,” Othman said. “All it could’ve taken to stop the child is a parent being a little more aware of the things their child is planning.”
Othman said there should be stricter gun laws on who can legally purchase a firearm.
“I believe there aren’t enough precautions taken when handing someone a deadly weapon,” Othman said.
Nineteen-year-old computer science major Ezra Cortez said the parents are accountable for caring and fostering their children into responsible adults.
Cortez said to better protect students, schools should arm their tenured staff with firearms.
“As a proud Second Amendment believer, the gun doesn’t kill people, the person behind the gun kills people,” Cortez said.
Emma Popham, an 18-year-old undeclared major, said in order to prevent other mass shootings, there should be stricter gun laws. She said she is more cautious and aware of her surroundings on campus.
“I believe a crime as severe as a shooting, they should always hold the child responsible,” Popham said. “However, I also think it’s important to investigate if the parent held a role in why they committed the crime if they live in the same household.”
Twenty-year-old architecture major Kelly Hungerford said the parents are responsible for the child, especially in cases of harm.
“Whether the child got the gun from their parents, bought it or any other way, it’s still the parents’ job in my mind to watch over their kids and watch out for that,” Hungerford said.
Hungerford said minors should be punished and rehabilitated into society and the parents should be punished as well.
Hungerford said he is partially afraid of shootings as a student.
“As someone who grew up with shooter drills and threats and always hearing about it, it becomes more of everyday life than anything else,” Hungerford said.