Irresponsible parental gun ownership could become a factor in custody disputes

Evolving views about parental gun ownership and liability will likely have ramifications in custody battles.

By: Marcia Zug, University of South Carolina, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 2, 2026

Words: 1,123

Last Updated: 3 months, 4 weeks ago

By Marcia Zug, University of South Carolina

The first parents convicted of involuntary manslaughter for a mass school shooting committed by their child were Jennifer and James Crumbley. The Crumbleys were convicted in 2024, after their 15-year-old son Ethan killed four students at Oxford High School in Michigan in 2021.

In March 2026, Colin Gray became the first parent convicted of murder for a mass shooting carried out by his child. His son, …

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