Teen arrested after showing handguns on blog

[Merkin.Muffley]

Pictures of guns dangerous! Gun pictures kill hundreds, maim thousands!

DENVER - A 16-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday after postings on the popular Web site MySpace.com allegedly showed him holding handguns, authorities said.

The teen was being held at a juvenile detention center facing three misdemeanor charges of juvenile possession of a handgun, said district attorney spokeswoman Pam Russell. He is due in court Feb. 27.

Police searched the boy’s home after receiving a tip from Evergreen High School on Feb. 10, the same day he was suspended, officials said.

School spokesman Rick Kaufman said parents were calling with concerns and some kept their children home after photographs posted on the boy’s profile on MySpace.com, a social networking Web site, began circulating through the community.

One photo allegedly showed him lying on a floor surrounded by nine rifles with the caption, “Angel o’ death on wings o’ lead.”

“The photos were very disturbing, and while the content was not a direct threat, we just felt it was important for us to take appropriate disciplinary action,” Kaufman said, adding the student could be expelled.

Evergreen High School is in the same district as Columbine High School, where two teenage gunmen killed 12 students and a teacher before committing suicide in 1999. One of the gunmen had posted a threat on the Internet before the shootings.

 

[1911 guy]

Egads!

The horror! The humanity!

What are we come to that being juvenile, while being a juvenile, is automatically threatening? While I think his energies could be spent other than billing himself as the Angel of Death and his parents should monitor more of his internet surfing, he did nothing criminal. Now they've just made a young man with resentment as well as angst.

 

[GTSteve03]

DENVER - A 16-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday after postings on the popular Web site MySpace.com allegedly showed him holding handguns, authorities said.

Are 16-year olds allowed to own handguns? I'm honestly ignorant on that particular law, I know you have to be 21 to buy one but can you own one if younger? Say a parent bought it or something.

Also, how do they know these weren't Airsoft or other replicas?

This just seems dangerously close to another "thought crime" if you ask me.

 

[taliv]

while i agree in general that this isn't a matter for the 'authorities', it sounds like the kid is in serious need of a reality check.

 

[HankB]

Too many questions raised here . . .

* What did the kid do at school to prompt a suspension?

* Did the alleged blog statements meet the legal standard to qualify as "terroristic threats" (or whatever the local definition is) under the law?

* In the absence of actions meeting the legal definition of making terroristic threats, on what legal basis can a school expel a student for actions that do not take place AT school, or at a school event?

* What judge issued a warrant to search the kid's home?

* And a biggie - was anything illegal actually found at the kid's home?

I'm NOT suggesting the kid is a choirboy by any means, but the story raises more questions than it answers. (I'd also like to know if the kid has a prior criminal record as the Columbine killers did, or if he's taking prescription meds, as at least one of the Columbine killers was.)

 

[#shooter]

I know we all hate "what ifs" but....

I will play devils advocate…..

What if…. there was this posting, everyone was aware of it, and then the kid shot up the school the following week, or killed a friend, or his friend killed someone with your gun, or there was a AD/ND. It is obvious these weapons (if they truly are actual firearms) are not secured. I guarantee when the parents of the deceased take you to court and show that picture to the jury, you will be filing for bankruptcy by the end of the week.

Everyone would complain that the school didn't do enough, the parents didn't do enough, and the police didn't do enough. It was obvious that he was going to do something.

Both sides are justified. Maybe his punishment was too harsh. Personally, I find it repulsive that the parents don’t restrict access or allowed this behavior.

What if he had friends over that could have “borrowed” a firearm? Was the ammo secure? As harmless it may seem, if this kid or one of his friends had access to these weapons and used them against our children we would want answers especially if this picture came out and nothing was done.

The NRA advocates “Store guns so that they are inaccessible to children and other unauthorized users. Gun shops sell a wide variety of safes, cases, and other security devices. While specific security measures may vary, a parent must, in every case, assess the exposure of the firearm and absolutely ensure that it is inaccessible to a child.” I agree 100%.

 

[Master Blaster]

Evergreen High School is in the same district as Columbine High School, where two teenage gunmen killed 12 students and a teacher before committing suicide in 1999. One of the gunmen had posted a threat on the Internet before the shootings.

I think that tells you everything you need to know about why the school etal reacted the way they did.

Sort of like us invading Iraq (hint a preemptive strike).

The real problem here is that this has beeen blasted over the media, considering the fact that its a juvenile, who has not yet been delcared delinquent. Nor do they know if an actual crime was committed.

 

[JerryM]

In some states, and I imagine most or all, a minor cannot own a handgun.

While I am a strong proponent of gun rights, I agree that that teen should be apprehended. He is obviously immature and not competent to own guns if he he showing them off on a blog.

Such a person is very likely to go over the edge and shoot someone.

Jerry

 

[Justin]

Yeah, beware the wrath of errant bloggers, they could go off at any time.


I'll reserve judgement until a link to his myspace account surfaces.

 

[El Tejon]

Columbine has Red staters all blissninny.

 

[Justin]

Also, a link to the original nooze story would be helpful.

 

[Old Fuff]

While it might be illegal for this young man to purchase these guns, nothing in the story says he did. It is possible, and even probable that his parents did the buying. What he is apparently guilty of is having his picture taken with some guns, and using a questionable caption.

Beyond that, we don't know much - particulary about his background and past behavior.

One thing is clear however, in liberal blissnanny country any youngster that's associated with firearms in any way is asking for trouble. What they are up against is adults that aren't really adults anymore...

 

[TarpleyG]

What if…. there was this posting, everyone was aware of it, and then the kid shot up the school the following week, or killed a friend, or his friend killed someone with your gun, or there was a AD/ND. It is obvious these weapons (if they truly are actual firearms) are not secured. I guarantee when the parents of the deceased take you to court and show that picture to the jury, you will be filing for bankruptcy by the end of the week.

What if you might be killed by a drunk driver and he had a myspace.com site that depicted him drinking alcohol. Is it okay to have him scooped up just because he might kill you tonight DWI? Must be a big fan of that Tom Cruise movie...

Life is full of what-ifs. Are you suggesting that trampling all over a person's rights is the answer to this? A 16 year old kid with a handgun is not illegal. There are a slew of kids even younger than that that I shoot with on a weekly basis that own their own pistols. Their parents bought them for them but they are their's nonetheless.

No, proper parenting is the answer...not the government.

Greg

 

[Merkin.Muffley]

Justin - Here's the link to the original news story.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11514585/

While I don't doubt the NRA advocates locking guns up to prevent access by children - how many of you grew up in homes where guns weren't locked up? I did. My father gave me my first rifle when I was 9, I had unrestricted access to it, as I did to his guns which were stored in a closet. I wouldn't want to substitute proper firearm training and raising a child who knows right from wrong with a lock. That's the nanny state approach to raising children, and it's wrong.

 

[lucky_fool]

Here's a different article with some additional detail.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/7321763/detail.html

 

[blackdragon]

Another said that music "makes the difference between a good day and me holding some stupid person at gunpoint in the frozen foods section with a gun to their head while its being pressed against a bag of peas."

Hmm...not the wisest thing to say in public. Especially when accompanied by pictures of yoursefl armed.

Not that I'm saying this should (or shouldn't) be illegal, but it is on the list of "things my kid knows better to do, or he's gonna get his butt kicked".

Some kids are born with no common sense....schools won't help there, parents need to step up more. But modern times, with parents (in many cases) not caring, and no religion (pick your favorite peaceful one), kids seem to lack sense of right and wrong...or sense in general.

*sigh*

 

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Juvenile stupidity is neither uncommon nor illegal. You would think that our current crop of "college-educated", "highly-trained," and "professional" school administrators would know this.

The kid desperately needs a reality check. But he does not need to go to jail.

What crime has he comitted, and what law has he broken?

 

[El Tejon]

Allegedly the crime of possessing a handgun under the age of 18.

Columbine really shook them up out there, HTG.

 

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

It's illegal to posses a handgun if you're underaged? I can understand (sort of) making it illegal to purchase a handgun if you're underage, but merely holding one constitutes a crime?

How are you supposed to take your chillins to the range wihtout breeaking the law?

 

[#shooter]

Hummm lets see.....

What if you might be killed by a drunk driver and he had a myspace.com site that depicted him drinking alcohol. Is it okay to have him scooped up just because he might kill you tonight DWI? Must be a big fan of that Tom Cruise movie...

Lets get this straight... I do not like Tom Cruise movies. I am not suggesting tramplelling over someones right to free speech, but people do not have a right to threaten others, which it seems he did. And yes if I saw a 16 year old drinking or drunk in the picture he should be scooped up. He may not kill tonight, but the photo shows past behavior which does indicate future tendancys. Hello! McFly! Underage drinking is illegal. And to top it off my aunt was killed by a teenage drunk driver while out for a walk with my uncle. Thank you for defending potential murders, because that is what a DUI is.

Life is full of what-ifs. Are you suggesting that trampling all over a person's rights is the answer to this? A 16 year old kid with a handgun is not illegal. There are a slew of kids even younger than that that I shoot with on a weekly basis that own their own pistols.

Greg

No I am not suggesting we trample his rights. He does have the right to be an idiot. But he can not threaten people. Do you know that a 16 year old with a handgun is not illegal in Denver? I can't speak for Denver, but there may be states that have laws that prevent young teens from having guns. I don't know. Considering this is Denver there is the Columbine context they must deal with.

Their parents bought them for them but they are their's nonetheless.
No, proper parenting is the answer...not the government.
Greg

I think the picture speaks for itself. If there was proper resonsible parenting this would not happen in the first place.

 

[Thefabulousfink]

Most of his quotes sound like they could just be typical teenage angst, I know that I said similar things when I was a teenager (in a joking maner of course), but that was before Columbine and culture of common sense existed at my school. These days the comments could be taken either way, but a little investigation into other aspects of the boy's life could easily determin if he was serious well before there is any reason to arrest him.

Now we have taken a teenager with at least a little anger directed at society (which is normal for a teen) and given him good reason to have a lot of anger.

Stupidity + 'Zero Tollerance' = more problems than it solves.

 

[FPrice]

It's illegal to posses a handgun if you're underaged? I can understand (sort of) making it illegal to purchase a handgun if you're underage, but merely holding one constitutes a crime?

How are you supposed to take your chillins to the range wihtout breeaking the law?

AFAIK most states laws allow for you to take your child to the range and let them shoot under your supervision. However, giving them a gun and sending them off by themselves is almost certainly not allowed.

Now, if this "kid" did this posing with his parents' knowledge and assistance I think all of them deserve some sort of very close legal scrutiny.

It seems like the kid was not just holding a gun. He was making statements which clearly indicate that he does not possess any sort of maturity and judgement to have access to firearms.

 

[El Tejon]

HTG, depending on the language of Red's statute, yes it may be a crime (or act of delinquency).

By making exceptions to the crime, e.g. Indiana Code 35-47-2.5-14 (hunting, target shooting, educational events with parent or adults). I assume Red law has similar exceptions.

 

[M.E.Eldridge]

Well, the kid might just be showing off. You know, trying to be "gangsta" and what not.

When my cousin was in high school he didn't have a care and he was always late for school. So he got a detention and his parents were unable to pick him, so they asked if I would.

I obliged and when I picked him up there were these two "gangsta" types throw paper balls and pebbles at what most would consider a geek. He kind of fliched when these paper balls hit him and they were loudly talking about what he would do if someone was to try to "cap him with a nine".

Now, I was I working for the DNR and I had my pistol on me and was in uniform. This kind of crap really irks me so I went to tell them to knock it off. They weren't really ready to listen to me......until they saw my "nine"(still holstered of course). They apologized to the kid and ran off. If they were in a gunfight or even if they came into contact with a gun weilding type they would run away or hit the deck crying for momma.

Maybe this kid is dangerous, maybe hes just a wannabe "gangsta" type. Either way he seems to irresponsible and immature to handle a gun. I have no problems with kids shooting, in fact I really like it/encourage it. Its the future of our support, you know. But this kid is just plain stupid. My brother's kid is 8 and he shoots an air rifle I got him for Christmas. He keeps on his bedroom and never plays with, points at things he doeasn't intend to shoot, or show it to friends. Maybe this kid is the same way and he just made a flub. Or he could be dangerous.

Conclusion:more info is needed to make a solid conclusion.

 

[k_dawg]

by that theory..

When my nephew comes over, and he even HOLDS a firearm in our presense.. it is a crime? Even if it is fully unloaded?

Jeez, what about Oveg's kids? They're obviously not 18.. that is a crime??