Expected KY bill would hold parents responsible for children’s intentional gun crimes

A Republican state lawmaker said Tuesday she is filing a bill in the 2025 Kentucky General Assembly that would help hold parents responsible if their children used firearms negligently.

“I am trying to encourage safe gun storage and use. I am trying to get parents to pay attention to their child in relation to their household weapons,” said Rep. Kim Banta, R-Fort Mitchell.

The 2025 Kentucky General Assembly begins Jan. 7.

Under the proposed bill, “any negligence or willful misconduct of a minor shall be imputed to a parent, guardian, or other person legally responsible for the minor, in his or her care, for civil damages for any injury to the person of another proximately caused by the discharge of a firearm by the minor if the parent, guardian, or other person legally responsible. “

The parent or guardian will be responsible if they permitted the minor to have the firearm, knows that the minor has previously been adjudicated delinquent of an offense that would be a felony if the minor had been an adult, knows that the minor has a propensity to commit violent acts; or knows that the minor intends to use the firearm for unlawful purposes.

“Parents should engage with their children, set boundaries and know where they are both physically and from a mental health perspective,” Banta said.

“We are losing too many kids to snap decisions and bad social media players.”

This story was originally published December 24, 2024 at 11:14 AM.