<p>I think it’s hard to argue that kids face challenges by living in families of divorcing parents then having to blend with another family that was a result of a divorce and sometimes multiple divorces and in addition being faced with a brand new authority figure in their life and having to compete for the affections of the actual parent.</p>
<p>Some kids seem to be able to manage this kind of conflict and strife okay and some don’t handle it well. There are so many personalities involved with the kid, the parent, the new authority figure, the step-siblings, etc. that the end result will vary a lot as well.</p>
<p>Regardless, it definitely adds stress for the kid.</p>
<p>Yea see thats the problem in Philly. You have rising violence by gangbangers and the lovely lots, and you have Mayor Nutbag blaming it on guns. Typical politician. How long before Philly goes to the way of Chicago (murder capital of USA '08, TOTAL ban on guns…how do you explain that? wood and metal is wood and metal folks.)</p>
<p>I’m PA resident I know the laws. There is <em>NO</em> registry of any sort for any non Class III weapons in PA (the PSP maintains a bs sales registry despite it being unconstitutional via the state’s UFA).</p>
<p>Again, there is no <em>registration</em> of firearms, or licensing (save Class III) in PA.</p>
<p>Whoa, actually this isn’t too far from where I live. Well, about half an hour. Yea I don’t watch the news :(</p>
<p>Once the shock and horror of this hideous crime sunk in I had another reaction. Call me an overprotective, unrealistic, indulgent parent, but I have to wonder: why is this 11 yr. old child left to get himself and the girlfriends kids up, fed and out in the morning? From every news account I’ve read, the girlfriend was in bed asleep, dad at work and the son was in charge of getting the kids day rolling. Did he have unrealistic expectations placed on him which caused him more stress? I don’t know if we’ll ever know. My heart aches so deeply for this child, the lost mother and the unborn baby. Such a tragedy on so many levels.</p>
<p>Oh no doubt! Absolutely. And clearly it played a role here. </p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, I can’t imagine anyone wishing the trauma of divorce and subsequent relationships upon their child. Though I agree some parents just never put their kids first. </p>
<p>I just meant to say being a blended family is not in and of itself indicative of bad parenting. Sometimes it’s the best a parent could do, and better than the alternative (whatever that may be). It only takes one very dysfunctional, abusive, or absent parent to create that scenario.</p>
<p>I just think that when people are considering blending their families they need to pay very close attention to their kids and how the kids feel about it and make sure they address the issues before doing the blend since it’ll clearly have a major impact one way or the other on the kid’s life.</p>
<p>News reports indicate that the sheriff recommends that the kid be removed from the adult jail and placed in a facility more appropriate for children accused of crimes. Incidentally, does anyone remember the elementary school child in Michigan who killed a classmate a few years ago. The charges were eventually dropped because prosecutors believed that the child had no real perception of the gravity of what he had done.</p>
<p>Not that I’m accusing people here of this, but I’ve seen a certain amount of “Blame the blended family” sentiment in response to this story. This kid obviously had something else going on. You don’t kill your prospective stepmother unless there is something <em>seriously</em> wrong with you. You don’t kill someone because oh noes, your parents got divorced and one might be getting remarried and you have stepsiblings now, poor little you. I saw one “expert” speaking of this as something to be <em>expected</em> if there is a blended family and a loaded gun in the house, and I was horrified.</p>
<p>As a child of a blended family myself, it disgusts me. Even the sentiment that “Sometimes it’s the best a parent could do,” I find distressing, even though it’s well-meant. I love my stepparents, my stepsiblings, my little half-brother who was the product of one of my blended families. They are NOT the lesser of two evils.</p>
<p>Frankly, I doubt any of us have enough information to make an informed opinion as to the “cause” (and I use the term in a very non-scientific way, here) of this murder.</p>
<p>Weapons are not the root cause of crime. If that were the case, the military, police, CCW permit holders, and martial arts students would have the highest crime rates. It just isn’t so. </p>
<p>We cannot also just say “bad parenting” and have solved the issue. It is much more complex than that.</p>
<p>Of course, bad parenting and access to weapons may be significant factors in this case. However, we cannot simply blame one thing or idea and solve the case.</p>
<p>I’m not sure the kid legally possessed the shotgun. If you want to look, 18 USC 922 has the text that would most likely ban that sort of thing (1968 Gun Control Act).</p>