Pictures of gun held to head on Myspace

[sojourner]

I periodically check my child's myspace and also peruse other kids' site who have direct or indirect contact with her.

I came across a set of pictures posted by another child on his own myspace.........both of my kids know him.

In the picture there is a lot of smoke and one child is holding a gun to another child's head (neither kid is mine!). The caption reads something like........"now I am even holding gun's to my friend's heads." Oh! and he is also holding the gun to his own mouth in another:eek:!!

I am disturbed to say the least, yet I don't know how to proceed. These are troubled kids who already know me as a major "pain in the a$$" Mom. I fear retribution toward my own kids (they really do not run directly in the same circle) if I would take this to the next level, and they would find it was me who turned them in. I frankly am scared what these kids might be capable of!

So I am just looking for some facts and opinions here:

1. Is a picture like that evidence of a possible felony? The gun looks real, but what if it's a toy?
2. What is the best way to let authorities know (school, police, parents?) anonymously?

Opinions here:

Am I just a nosey Nelly who should mind my own business? or Should I take this seriously and proceed?

Thanks for any help

[BJJVad]

Can you post the state you live in? That will help guide us to local state laws.

IMO:

Fear should never stop you from doing the right thing. I would contact local authorities and report the photo's. They at the least should be able to fill in a incident card for the boys residence. That will help in the case there are future calls for his residence.

California

417(a)(2)

Every person who, except in self-defense, in the presence of
any other person, draws or exhibits any firearm, whether loaded or
unloaded, in a rude, angry, or threatening manner, or who in any
manner, unlawfully uses a firearm in any fight or quarrel is
punishable as follows:
(A) If the violation occurs in a public place and the firearm is a
pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon
the person, by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than three
months and not more than one year, by a fine not to exceed one
thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(B) In all cases other than that set forth in subparagraph (A), a
misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not less
than three months.

[sojourner]

Thanks so much for your response! I am in Illinois.

[Samuel]

ummm How about NOT letting your kids use MySpace and maybe NOT letting them interact with kids of suspect upbringing/morals??? :confused:

[txinvestigator1]

You could go to hotmail, create an email account using ficticious information, then send the police dept a link to that MySpace page.

I second not allowing kids to have myspace pages or even go to that website.

[BP348]

A phone call to the local PD would also cover it.

However, even if the police check it out how do they prove it's a real gun?

Hate to say it but I third the don't let your kids hang out on myspace. But I do relize how hard that would be to inforce.