Mom Charged With Buying Teen Weapons

[Mrs Behavin]

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) - The mother of a 14-year-old who authorities say had a cache of guns, knives and explosive devices in his bedroom for a possible school attack was charged Friday with buying her son three weapons. Michele Cossey bought her home-schooled son a .22-caliber handgun, a .22-caliber rifle and a 9 mm semiautomatic rifle, authorities said. The teenager felt bullied and tried to recruit another boy for the possible attack at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, authorities said.

Acting on a tip from a high school student and his father, police on Wednesday found the rifle, about 30 air-powered guns, swords, knives, a bomb-making book, videos of the 1999 Columbine attack in Colorado and violence-filled notebooks in the boy's bedroom, Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce L. Castor Jr. said.

Cossey, 46, of Plymouth Meeting, bought the rifle, which had a laser scope, at a gun show on Sept. 23 and provided police with a receipt, investigators said in court papers. The teenager said the two .22-caliber weapons were stored at a friend's house.

The teen was ordered Friday to remain in juvenile detention.

His mother was charged with unlawful transfer of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a minor, corruption of a minor, endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of reckless endangerment.

Castor has said he does not believe and attack was imminent or would occur at all. He said Friday that the teen had a "disturbed mind."

"This was a smart kid that clearly believes he was picked on and was a victim," Castor said. "He had psychological issues and began to act out on those feelings."

Police, who searched home with the permission of the teen's parents, also discovered seven explosive devices Castor has described as homemade grenades: plastic containers filled with pellets to which gunpowder could be added. Authorities said one grenade was operable and the others had been in the process of being assembled.

The search did not turn up any ammunition for the most dangerous firearm in the bunch, the assault rifle.

The teen previously attended middle school in the district but had been taught at home for more than a year after voluntarily leaving school, Castor said.

The arrest came the same day a 14-year-old in Ohio opened fire at his Cleveland high school, wounding four before killing himself.

WJLA - Mom Charged With Buying Pa. Teen Weapons

 

[Peter Parka]

Jesus! I thought it was bad when people don't keep their guns securely locked away but what sort of terrible parent buys them for their kid??? Hope the mother is banned from ever being allowed to buy firearms again!:mad

 

[Reaver]

really disappointing. Only in America.

 

[Breath]

really disappointing. Only in America.

Or in countries where the kid stands on an American flag holding a gun and pointing it at the camera

 

[All Else Failed]

What in the.....

 

[Maritxu]

Or in countries where the kid stands on an American flag holding a gun and pointing it at the camera

Though you are evidently right, I always expect more from countries like ours which are democratic and modern.

 

[Mrs Behavin]

This really aggravates me especially after the book I just got thru reading. The book was about the Columbine school shooting. Why the hell would any parent buy their kids weapons????

 

[Maulds]

I bought my 9 year old son an Airsoft gun, but he can only shoot it with me and he has to wear glasses. Plus its an Airsoft and shoots plastic pellets.

 

[All Else Failed]

I mean, I have had a rifle in my hands since I was 11, but my father trained me on proper safety precautions.

 

[Haus]

Norristown is like 10-15 mins from me. crazy shit.

 

[AUDRAA]

I was wondering about that when I heard about this story

 

[GraceAbounds]

I bought my son his first rifle when he was 8. I see nothing wrong with buying your child a gun. In fact I think it is wrong if you don't buy a gun for your child, teach them gun safety and how to shoot it. Even if one does not believe in guns is a fact that over 50% of American homes have a gun in their home. I tell all the parents of my children's friends that we have firearms in our home so that they can make an informed decision. Most parent say 'wow that is really cool that you talk about that, I've never thought to ask'. I can't believe parents don't think to ask these things, but maybe they will next time.

My son's gun stays locked up in the gun safe with the rest of our guns for gun safety purposes.

 

[Peter Parka]

You see nothing wrong with letting an 8 year old use a gun but you think cigarettes and magic mushrooms should be illegal??? *Walks off shaking head* Its a different world!

 

[GraceAbounds]

You see nothing wrong with letting an 8 year old use a gun but you think cigarettes and magic mushrooms should be illegal??? *Walks off shaking head* Its a different world!

No, I do not see anything wrong with an 8 year old responsibly shooting a gun under the supervision of adult professionals.

He's been shooting for over 5 years now and guess what? He's still not addicted.

:24:

 

[Peter Parka]

Wow you really need to do your research on magic mushrooms if you really think they are addictive!

 

[GraceAbounds]

I was making a joke about tobacco ma' dear.

 

[Peter Parka]

Well I wouldn't give tobacco to an eight year old either and I guess its ok for people to use dangerous weapons what ever their age so long as its not addictive!

 

[Maulds]

My kids are educated about firearms, and they have seen me shoot a few so they have a respect for them and what they can do, but mostly so they know they are not a toy and to leave them alone.

Guns dont kill people, OJ Simpson kills people

 

[Peter Parka]

Guns dont kill people, OJ Simpson kills people

Haha! Reminds me of the lyrics from a song by Goldie Looking Chain -

Guns don't kill people, rappers do
I saw it on a documentary on BBC2

 

[Maritxu]

Never touched a gun in my life... I would not even closely buy a gun to my kids. Guns are not toys, and I don't want my kids thinking that.