Dear Eric: My nephew has three teenage children living at home. I gave him money to help my family with summer activities. He used the money to buy guns for his children, including an AR-style rifle, which is heartbreaking.
As far as I know, guns are only minimally secure.
The parents, who are professionals and otherwise take good care of their children, are deeply enthralled by the allure of gun culture. I am very concerned because one of his children has serious mental health issues and is hospitalized. They have dark fantasies and sometimes post photos with their faces painted to look like they are dripping with blood. I am at a loss because I fear that severe mental health stress could lead to catastrophic events. I don’t live in the same state. Is there someone I should warn?
– Related relatives
Dear relatives: If you have knowledge of a specific threat, you should contact local authorities and your nephew. It’s not clear from your letter whether dark fantasies fall into that category, so use your judgment and caution.
If your concerns primarily relate to your child’s mental health, you should make sure your nephew is aware of your posts. Having a mental health problem is not a crime. It is best to avoid treating it that way. Make it a priority to keep your child in a safe environment.
I know it’s difficult to reconcile the presence of a rifle in the house with your positive impressions of parenting your nephew, but joining the discussion won’t help anyone for now. Being a responsible gun owner is also not a crime. Keywords are responsible. Express your concerns and ask specific questions about gun storage.
According to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, “Even a small increase in the number of American households that securely store guns would reduce nearly three-thirds of youth gun deaths due to suicide or unintentional gunshot injuries.” Many states have child access protection laws that set guidelines for keeping guns out of reach, especially in households with minors. can visit giffords.org Find out if your nephew’s state has one and discuss it with him.
Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or PO Box 22474 (Philadelphia, PA 19110). Instagram Sign up for our weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.
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