Lobbyists, Guns and Babies: NRA Pushes Adoption Bill

NRA: quit asking prospective parents if they have guns & ammo

By BRIAN HAMACHER

Updated 3:41 PM EST, Thu, Nov 5, 2009

Print Email Share TWITTER FACEBOOK

Getty Images

Do you have enough weapons and ammunition in your home to make the Terminator blush? Would you like to adopt kids? If so, the NRA said it's here to make it easier for you pistol-packin' 2nd-Amendment lovers to make like Madonna and start adopting like it's hot.

A new bill being pushed by the rifle-boosting group wants to make it illegal for adoption agencies to ask prospective parents whether they have guns in their homes, according to the Miami Herald.

"Gun registration is illegal in Florida," NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer told the Herald. "An adoption agency has no right to subvert the privacy rights of gun owners."

The gun question is included on adoption forms by most agencies because it's required by the Department of Children and Families.

LOOK

Famously Large Families: Duggar's Expecting #19

"If they don't want us to ask about it, we won't," Liz Bruner, with the Children's Home Society, told the Herald.

The gun question wasn't an issue until a couple in Brevard County make a stink after being asked about their weaponry by the Children's Home Society. They contacted the NRA, which now wants to make it illegal to ask about gun ownership.

At least one Florida politician said it's not unreasonable to ask what kind of hardware is in home sweet home.

"Parents frequently ask if other parents have guns in the home before their kids play there, so why can't an adoption agency just ask?" said Sen. Nan Rich.

First Published: Nov 5, 2009 8:50 AM EST

Print Email Share TWITTER FACEBOOK

0 Comments

{"totSize":6,"payload_type":"json","status":"1","results":[{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"434889_69276897","adminTags":null,"views":850,"createdBy":9314122,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Lobbyists, Guns and Babies: NRA Pushes Adoption Bill","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2653583,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"5 Nov 2009 14:49:41 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"Steve1976","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1188328","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"I think its a great idea to ask if there are guns in the house and find out how they are stored. Guns in a home pose a greater risk to the families who live there then swiming pools. Gun owners are far more likely to shoot themselves or other members of the household, then they are to get shot by any intruder. Guns in the home make familes less safe. thats a fact the NRA is working hard to conceal."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"434889_69276897","adminTags":null,"views":850,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Lobbyists, Guns and Babies: NRA Pushes Adoption Bill","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2653583,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"5 Nov 2009 18:27:30 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1190164","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"In 2005, for true children (age 0-14) the rate was 1.31; 404 children were killed by firearms in 2005 for all intents, an average of slightly over one per day. There were 895 children (0-14) that died in swimming pools. So for true children, that is an incorrect statement. Now if you consider minors under the age of 20 as many like to do, and include gang banger homicides, robbery, and etc. then of course you can interpret a lot more. Bottom line, lock up your guns and ban swimming pools."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"434889_69276897","adminTags":null,"views":850,"createdBy":14107220,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Lobbyists, Guns and Babies: NRA Pushes Adoption Bill","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2653583,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"5 Nov 2009 20:56:04 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"KyleGeib","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1191537","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"Having guns in your home is about as dangerous as having knives in your kitchen drawer. This shouldn't be a question."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"434889_69276897","adminTags":null,"views":850,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Lobbyists, Guns and Babies: NRA Pushes Adoption Bill","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2653583,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"5 Nov 2009 21:04:50 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1191604","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"" Gun owners are far more likely to shoot themselves or other members of the household, then they are to get shot by any intruder. Guns in the home make familes (sic) less safe. thats (sic) a fact the NRA is working hard to conceal."<br /><br />Unsubstantiated BS... What about people that are raped, beaten or otherwise threatened by another? If you're calling all the people who buy or use firearms for suicide "gun owners" then you twisting facts to suit your agenda.<br /><br />Do they ask parents if they have swimming pools too?"},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"434889_69276897","adminTags":null,"views":850,"createdBy":9314122,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Lobbyists, Guns and Babies: NRA Pushes Adoption Bill","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2653583,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"6 Nov 2009 15:27:47 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"Steve1976","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1196442","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"the fact remains that households with guns are far less safe then households without guns. Any adoption agency that ignores or falls to investigate any legitimate safety concern about a prospective adopting family would be negligent and face considerible liability issues. All adoption agencies should perform due dilligence with regard to child placement. "}],"error":"","totPages":2}