Where Were the Parents?

KansasCity.com reports on the tragic shooting.

SALINA, Kan. A 14-year-old boy has been charged with fatally shooting his 9-year-old stepbrother at their rural Kansas home.

Saline County Attorney Ellen Mitchell said the 14-year-old was charged today as a juvenile with one count of first-degree premeditated murder in the death of his stepbrother.

She says she is awaiting investigative reports and doesn't know whether she will seek adult charges. A hearing is planned for 9 a.m. Thursday.

County sheriff's Capt. Brian Shea says the older boy called 911 Tuesday afternoon and said he shot his brother accidentally. The two boys were home alone while their parents worked.

But Shea says the investigation revealed the shooting was no accident.

I can see that a 14-year-old should know better, but when Saline County Attorney Ellen Mitchell says she may want to try him as an adult, I say that's ridiculous.

I know the article said the parents were working, but I still want to ask, in a more figurative sense, "WHERE WERE THE PARENTS?"

What's your opinion? Is there something wrong with leaving two kids home alone with access to a gun? I say yes.

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