May v. Goulding

This case involves the common-law rule that a parent may be found guilty of actionable-negligence for having intrusted — or having made-accessible — a firearm or other deadly weapon to his-mentally deficient child. Restatement’s comment, on clause (c) of section-877 (4 Restatement of Torts, pp 442-444), portrays the general rule:

“d. A person who has voluntarily taken charge of an insane or otherwise dangerous person, a prison guard or officer having custody of or a duty to control a criminal or other person who he has reason to know will cause harm if he escapes, a parent having a minor child…