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The Kitchen Table

Don't you just wonder what some parents are thinking?

16 years ago

In Des Moines over the weekend, a 14 year old boy was left home alone while his single dad went camping. The boy had access to a gun and when he and his best friend got in an argument, the 14 year old shot and killed his friend. He is now being charged with first degree murder.

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Comments (12)

glenda_al
16 years ago
I call it A SHAME
ont_gal
16 years ago
I don't wonder what some parents are thinking,cuz I happen to be seeing first hand on a daily basis, that they AREN'T thinking.
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stephmc72
16 years ago
Wow, that is a shame. Very sad, and although the 14 year old should be old enough to know better, I place blame on the parent on so many levels. That's really sad.
sjerin
16 years ago
Lots and lots of kids are almost raising themselves, often with a lack of conscience and control. I'd like to say I wish parenting classes were required for new parents, but I'd be mighty ticked if I were required to do so!
carla35
16 years ago
It sounds like a bad parenting story... but I have to admit, it doesn't sound like an accident.

The 14 year old intentinally killed a friend in an argument; he needs to take responsiblity for murder...doesn't sound like he can blame that on daddy.

There are too many specifics I don't know..maybe dad went camping with a younger sibling in Boy Scouts... maybe mom or Uncle Jimmy was supposed to stop by and got sick... maybe the gun was locked up and the kid went searching for the keys... I don't know... 14 year olds stay alone and even babysit other kids... generally not all night..but they should be old enough to be alone for long periods...and they should be old enough to know not to kill someone....I guess that maybe that's where the worst of the bad parenting comes in...forgeting to teach that when you get mad at someone, you can't kill them!
cynic
16 years ago
After reading the title, ont_gal said exactly what I was thinking. carla35 brings up good points.

When I was growing up, we had guns in the house. Most were technically "locked up" in the gun cabinet that was next to my bed. It was a converted desk/shelf unit with a bowed glass front door. The key was on the top of the unit. But *we* were taught that it was off-limits. Period. Even in teen to adult years you didn't go in there without permission. Today's attitude by so many is so different.

14 doesn't eliminate you being responsible for your actions IMO. There's consequences for your actions from long before that age, or at least there SHOULD BE consequences. Whether it's a slap on a hand for touching a hot stove (oh NO!!! not VIOLENCE!!!!) to loss of the Dairy Queen trip for not doing your chores or whatever.

No information as to the upbringing or the circumstances and facts so it's hard to give more thoughts on it, except it's sad in so many ways.
ruthieg__tx
16 years ago
Kids today play and see those video games where they are just constantly shooting at someone or each other...I just don't believe that can be good for a kid.
iowagirl2006
16 years ago
I don't like those shooter games either - but my son does play some. Not a lot though - I don't let the video game system be hooked up all the time.

He does have his own real guns, and he is younger than the boy mentioned above. He has taken gun and hunter safety classes and lives in house where that is taken very seriously. We also lock all our guns in a safe and ammo in a different one. He does not have a key for that. I have never seen him not check a gun, even though he knows it is not loaded.

If you have any firearms - it is your responsibily to keep them locked and safe....what a tragedy.
kacram
16 years ago
A 14 year old knows what shooting a gun at someone will do.
joyfulguy
16 years ago
What an unmitigated tragedy - cut it however you choose!

ole joyful
Dash2
16 years ago
So, the father goes camping and the 14 year old can't go with him. Makes you wonder what the father was doing that excludes a kid from the trip.

If he just wanted some alone time, he got his wish. He'll have plenty of that now.
linda_in_iowa
Original Author
16 years ago
That is exactly what I thought Yarnlover. We always camped as a family. I would never, ever leave a 14 year old home alone overnight. This accident happened at 4:45 a.m. and the victim and another boy must have been there all night. I bet their parents didn't know there was no adult at home. I always phoned the other parents when DS stayed overnight with a friend and vice versa. I also asked DS if any of his friends had guns. When he was grown, he told me he had never seen anyone handle a gun until he was 21. Working in an ER, I always had a fear of kids and guns. I remembered when a highway patrol officer's young kids got their dad's service revolver and one kid accidentally shot his sibling.

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