German father charged over son's shooting spree

[philw]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8383866.stm

The father of a German teenager who went on a shooting spree in March, killing 15 people, has been charged with manslaughter.
Tim Kretschmer, 17, took his father's pistol and burst into his former school in Winnenden, near Stuttgart, opening fire, before killing himself.
His father has now been charged with 15 counts of manslaughter for failing to keep his gun secure.
Prosecutors said he had "negligently" stored weapons and bullets.
Kretschmer used his father's legally-registered pistol to kill eight schoolgirls, a schoolboy and three teachers at Albertville secondary school on 11 March.
Quantity of ammunition
He then commandeered a car and killed two more people in the town of Wendlingen, 40km (25 miles) away before he shot himself as police approached.
His father Joerg had legally kept more than a dozen weapons in his house.
Prosecutors said his father had "negligently made possible the actions of his son in that he stored the weapons... in such a way that Tim could get his hands on a gun and a large amount of ammunition."
He has been charged with 15 counts of manslaughter, 13 counts of grievous bodily harm and breaking gun laws, the prosecution said.

[Ulmus]

 

Yikes!  That's just crazy!  Now not only does the father have to deal with the fact that his son was a maniac and/or he failed as a parent;  (Even if he did everything right and his son was nuts, he's still gonna feel that way.)  he now had the pressure of being charged for murders he did not commit.

[JC5123]

Keep an eye on how this turns out. I could see the anti's using this argument the next time some bullied teenager tries to shoot up his school.

[twyacht]

They will use the same argument with " vicious " dogs and their owners.

Pit Bull owner is slack with fence repair and/or maint. Pit Bull gets out, kills child walking home from school... It has happened.

Owner is held responsible.. but only in civil court. Gross negligence must be proven for criminal charges.