Questions have been raised about whether parents should be held criminally responsible for gun crimes committed by children in the United States.

A six-year-old boy has been taken into custody after shooting his teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Virginia.

The teacher suffered life-threatening injuries, but is now in a stable condition.

US correspondent Richard Arnold told Tim Dower that the crime has sent shockwaves through the community.

He says there are questions about how a child of that age can access a gun, let alone take it to school to shoot a teacher.

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