Why aren't parents charged more often in school shootings?

The case against a 15-year-old accused of shooting and killing four classmates at a Michigan high school is a rare one for law enforcement experts.

Two parents- Jennifer and James Crumbley are charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter.

"It is a parent's responsibility. This should be a wake-up call that they can be criminally charged," said Dr. Roy Taylor.

Taylor is a law enforcement consultant.

WRAL News spoke with Taylor about why few parents are charged when children use their guns in school shootings.

He WRAL News it’s all situational and likely varies on how the child gets access to the firearm.

"People have gun cabinets or they have gun racks where the guns are displayed as just, you know, part of their family life but they really need to reassess that," said Taylor.

The prosecutor in this case believes the handgun used in the shooting was purchased by the father days before. She said it was stored in an unlocked drawer at home.

"There's no excuse for not securing that weapon," said Taylor.

Gun safety advocates said these charges against the Crumbleys should set an example for other gun owners.

"We feel that people should be responsible and accountable like they are to all of our laws that are supposed to keep people safe," said Becky Ceartas, the executive director of North Carolinians Against Gun Violence.

Taylor told WRAL News in NC it is a class one misdemeanor for a parent if they allow a child under 18 to come in contact with a gun and take it to school-displaying it in a hostile manner or commit a crime