Letter to the editor: Charge negligent gun owners

The Oxford High School shooting is just another preventable tragedy caused by negligent parents who did not secure firearms. While the parents in this Michigan shooting have been charged, it is time the states impose laws to charge individuals who allow their deadly firearms to be used in a crime with conspiracy in the crime committed.

Maybe when parents or other negligent gun owners are charged with conspiracy to commit murder, they will take responsibility for the ownership of their deadly weapons. The right to bear arms brings with it the responsibility to keep weapons out of the hands of someone not authorized to use it. Failure to be a responsible gun owner should come with being punished.

The only way to force responsible gun ownership and to prevent unauthorized use of owners’ weapons is to begin charging them with a crime that imposes serious consequences. This is my opinion and suggestion to stop preventable killings. I would like to hear from government officials on their plan of action.

Anton Uhl

West Deer