Kentucky lawmakers are set to review a bill that would hold parents legally responsible for gun crimes committed by their juvenile children. Introduced by Republican State Representative Kim Banta, the legislation draws parallels to existing laws holding parents accountable for property damage and vehicle accidents caused by their minor children.

Banta emphasized that the bill's purpose isn't gun control, but rather to underscore parental responsibility. "I'm simply trying to make parents aware that…they need to know what their children are doing, and they need to exercise caution," she stated in an interview.

The proposed law would attribute a minor's "negligence or willful misconduct" with a firearm to their parents or guardians, making them liable for civil damages resulting from injuries to others. Factors influencing parental liability would include whether the parent provided the child access to the firearm, knew of prior gun law violations, or believed the minor had violent tendencies.

Banta cited a recent Kentucky case involving teenagers and a disagreement that escalated into a shooting. She argued that minors lack the mature judgment of adults, making unsupervised gun possession particularly risky. The bill would exempt foster parents from liability.

With Republican control of both legislative chambers, the bill has a strong chance of reaching Democratic Governor Andrew Beshear's desk. If passed by committee, a full floor vote is highly probable. Governor Beshear had not commented on the proposed legislation at the time of reporting.

This bill aligns with similar legislation in other states aiming to curb juvenile gun violence by increasing parental accountability.