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What do you guys think about this? I am having a little trouble seeing this dumb prank as abuse...but I don't know?



LAKE WORTH, Fla. - A Florida teenager faces a charge of elder abuse alleging he made his senile grandmother wear a black mask and hold a handgun for a video he made.

Police in Lake Worth, Fla., say the 85-year-old woman is seen and heard on the video threatening to shoot "all the pigs."

Authorities say 18-year-old Michael Alfinez was arrested Monday and charged with abusing an elderly person, discharging a firearm in public and improper exhibition of a dangerous weapon.

Palm Beach County sheriff's detectives seized the video during a traffic stop in January.

The teen's mother says it's all just a misunderstanding.

I could see it as abuse. Even if the punk beats that charge, the others should stick. just because a person is senile and doesn't object, doesn't make it ok.

How did he "make" his grandmother do these things? Was it under duress, against her will? Is she legally designated as "senile" or have dementia?

I would consider it elder abuse, if I did such a thing with my husband. (that is how it would be classified legally) But it is more than a "prank," unless she was a willing participant, used firearms regularly, knew the proper safety of such devices, was known to refer to law enforvement officials in this manner, etc.

RedGlitter;846052 wrote: alleging he made his senile grandmother wear a black mask and hold a handgun for a video he made.




Putting a gun in somebody's hand who may very well be untrained in using it, or even unaware that it it is a real gun is stupid, and should result in charges. Using a real firearm as a prop is irresponsible.

I'll bet the gun was illegal anyway, and I'll also wager it had been used in criminal activity.



I say charge his punk ass.