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Texan Jurors Fail Victims: Gunman's Parents Liable
Once again, the legal system and jury have failed us. The parents of the shooter, who enabled the shooting at Santa Fe High School, have walked free. The justice system has failed to hold people accountable and send the message that gun violence will not be tolerated. The negligent parents of the shooter have caused immeasurable harm and are now getting off scot-free, while the survivors and victims' families are left to pick up the pieces.
Published August 20, 2024 at 9:42am by Alexis Simmerman
Texas jury rules in favor of Santa Fe High School shooter's parents, sparking outrage over gun violence and accountability
https://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-jury-rules-santa-fe-high-school-shooters-parents/story?id=89031915
Texas, USA - In a shameful display of apathy toward gun violence and its victims, a Texas jury has ruled that the parents of Dimitrios Pagourtzis, the teenager who killed 10 people and wounded 13 others in the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, are not financially liable for their son's heinous acts. This decision is a slap in the face to the families of those impacted by this tragedy and sends a dangerous message about accountability.
The Defense's Shameful Tactics:
The defense attorney, Lori Laird, had the audacity to claim that Pagourtzis' mental health struggles and violent intentions were a complete surprise to his parents. She argued that the family's guns were locked up and that Pagourtzis' parents bore no responsibility for his actions.
"The parents didn’t pull the trigger, the parents didn’t give him a gun," Laird stated, blatantly disregarding the impact of lenient gun laws and easy access to firearms.
The True Victims:
The civil trial was initiated by grieving family members seeking justice for their loved ones. The families of the victims and survivors bravely shared their stories and ongoing struggles, pleading for accountability and change.
Trenton Beazley, a survivor of the shooting, pointed out the noticeable changes in Pagourtzis' behavior, questioning how his parents could have missed the warning signs.
Farah Naz, the mother of Sabika Aziz Sheikh, a 17-year-old exchange student from Pakistan who was killed, shared her heartbreaking story of finding out about her daughter's death.
Flo Rice, a substitute teacher who was shot six times and survived, described the traumatizing experience and the long-lasting impact on her life.
A Disturbing Trend:
The Texas case bears an unsettling resemblance to the Michigan school shooting, where the parents of the shooter were sentenced to prison time. However, the Texas ruling raises concerns about the inconsistent accountability of parents in such tragedies. Legal experts fear that this decision could hinder efforts to hold adults responsible for the foreseeable actions of their children.
As the nation continues to grapple with gun violence and mass shootings, this ruling serves as a painful reminder of the urgent need for stricter gun laws and greater accountability. The victims and their families deserve better; they deserve justice.
Read more: Jury finds parents of Texas gunman not liable in 2018 school shooting rampage