Texas NRA Leader Says Parents Should Not Ask About Gun Safety Before A Playdate
With child shooting deaths reported in the news, sometimes everyday, gun safety is an issue. The NRA doesn’t see child deaths as a serious problem, apparently.
On one side advocating for gun safety at home is Kellye Burke, a Houston mother of two, who is a spokeswoman for Moms Demand Action. She suggests making sure the parents of the child your child has a playdate with, has their firearms secured, according to the Austin-American-Statesman.
Alice Tripp, Texas NRA
[su_center_ad]“Would I rather make myself be slightly embarrassed or find out my kid shot himself in the head?” Burke asks.
On the other side is Alice Tripp, the Texas State Rifle Association’s legislative director, who chuckled when asked whether parents should be asked whether their guns are stored properly. “I wouldn’t ask it,” she said. “I would not think of it. It’s like asking, ‘How do you handle your bug spray or a sharp, pointy knife?’ I teach my children and grandchildren gun safety. That’s the best insulation.”
She said supervision should be questioned instead. “Are children left alone? That would bother me most of all,” she said.
But because kids are naturally curious, Burke says teaching kids gun safety is not enough. Even after a gun safety class, Burke said “We have overwhelming evidence that kids still check it out, still pull the trigger, still point it.”
Gun safety, she said, “is the only aspect where we rely on the kids to take responsibility for it.”
“How many times have you told your child not to jump on the bed and they jump on the bed?” Burke said. “This is an adult responsibility, not a kid responsibility.”
In August, a 9-year-old girl fatally shot her firearm instructor with an Uzi. I wonder if Ms. Tripp chuckled then, too.
Big thanks to my tipster out there who shall remain anonymous. [su_csky_ad]
edmeyer_able September 15th, 2014 at 4:21 pm
If that isn’t enough proof of a disconnect from reality that the nra abides by I don’t know what is.
TexTopCat September 16th, 2014 at 4:48 pm
Yes, anyone that listens to the statements of Kellye Burke (or any MDA member) does not have enough understanding to have kids or guns.
M D Reese September 15th, 2014 at 4:24 pm
I don’t want to have a country that teaches gun safety to children but not sex education, physical education, nutrition, science, logic, factual history…
Arch Stanton September 17th, 2014 at 2:58 pm
It is a dnagerous world with or without guns. I think children should be taught safety regarding anything that can be found in the house that can do harm….like mixing bleach and ammonia from under the kitchen sink.
M D Reese September 17th, 2014 at 3:18 pm
Yeah–there are lots of ways to kill ourselves and others. Guns are just uniquely designed to make it so much more efficient. You don’t even have to take the caps off of two bottles and pour–just point and shoot. Quick, easy, and convenient.
Maxx44 September 15th, 2014 at 4:30 pm
The NRA must have a “Department of Illogical Arguments” akin to the “Ministry of Silly Walks”.
ChrisVosburg September 15th, 2014 at 7:04 pm
Well, the pythons did have an “Argument Clinic” sketch in which Michael Palin pays to have John Cleese disagree with everything he says (even the duration of the session he’s paid for, and whether or not he’s paid up for it yet).
So yeah, reminiscent of the NRA’s knee-jerk reactions to even the simplest and least onerous common-sense gun safety recommendations.
Arch Stanton September 17th, 2014 at 2:56 pm
How about the antis knee-jerk reaction to every shooting incident (intentional or not) and all the hype about banning every form of firearm ever invented or limits/restrictions based upon some cosmetic features rather than the functionality of the arm? Anti keep saying “reasonable” and “common-sense”. Well, they aren;t “reasonable” and they make NO “sense”, especially when the infringements do nothing to stop to incidents being addressed, nor keep arms from criminals nor prevent criminals from using arms to kill, rob and otherwise do harm.
ChrisVosburg September 17th, 2014 at 3:17 pm
Arch writes: How about the antis knee-jerk reaction to every shooting incident (intentional or not) and all the hype about banning every form of firearm ever invented or limits/restrictions based upon some cosmetic features rather than the functionality of the arm?
Didn’t see anyone here advocate for that, so I’ll just remind you, Arch, that none of us can hear the voices screaming in your head.
neworleans878 September 15th, 2014 at 5:02 pm
When my children were growing up, I never ever had a problem the couple of times I was asked about where I kept my guns…even insisted that the parents see the gun safe for themselves for their peace of mind.
If you’ve got such a thin skin, maybe you shouldn’t own guns.
Larry Schmitt September 15th, 2014 at 5:47 pm
Or have kids.
juicyfruityyy September 15th, 2014 at 5:46 pm
Alice Tripp, the Texas State Rifle Association’s
She is part of the problem. Evidently, gun safety in the homes. Needs to be taught.
neworleans878 September 15th, 2014 at 6:00 pm
NRA won’t be happy ’till there’s many guns in every pot and several rifles in every garage
TexTopCat September 16th, 2014 at 4:42 pm
Would any of us want people to ignore their responsibilities? It is no one’s responsibility to protect you (and your family) but yours. The victim is always the first responder.
Arch Stanton September 17th, 2014 at 2:51 pm
The NRA does not advocate that everyone own a gun. But it does fight for OUR and YOUR RIGHT to own and use them, should you wish to exercise that right.
Kris Weibel September 15th, 2014 at 5:54 pm
Yeah, I would ask, and if there was a gun in that house….my child would not be there.
Idiots.
Bob Cronos September 15th, 2014 at 11:22 pm
Would you ask him for his driving record, proof of insurance, and a tire inspection before you let him take your kid to a soccer game? In general, we should trust other adults to take reasonable safety precautions with all the dangerous things that we all have in our houses, just like you do… Unless we have a good reason not to…
TexTopCat September 16th, 2014 at 4:40 pm
My kids would not be in a house where the adults were not responsible enough to protect the family from violent criminals. So, if the parents were not armed and trained, then they are not people that my children should be around.
Bob Cronos September 15th, 2014 at 11:49 pm
“Gun safety, she said, “is the only aspect where we rely on the kids to take responsibility for it.” — WHY? “This is an adult responsibility, not a kid responsibility.” — DUH?
So teach your kids about gun safety! Even if you hate cars you still teach your kids how to cross the street without getting hit right?
Mr. Black September 16th, 2014 at 6:16 pm
Yet, we don’t let them drive until they’re 16. Why is that?
Bob Cronos September 17th, 2014 at 1:16 am
you still teach your kids how to cross the street without getting hit right?
Mike Rapert September 17th, 2014 at 8:06 am
Checking out the parents & their level of responsible behavior in general is first. Second, is yes, having taught your kids from an early age about firearms, what they do, and the real consequences of firing a loaded one… at ANYTHING. Once you get through to a child’s mind that firing a gun is something you can’t take back, and that you can make a person dead even If you didn’t MEAN to, their respect for the danger of handling them grows exponentially. My dad had a gun repair business in our basement before I can remember, had dozens of weapons around, but never loaded, and ALWAYS taught, then reinforced to me and my brother, what can happen when someone ‘plays’ with a real weapon, or handles it irresponsibly, and that weapons are NOT toys, and are NEVER to be played with. Lastly, teach them to leave immediately if a playmate gets a weapon out, or even talks about getting a parent’s weapon out.
Arch Stanton September 17th, 2014 at 2:47 pm
It could also be a security question. I don’t know if I would want my kid’s friends knowing that I owned guns. Not intentionally, but the other kid could tell all his friends that I have guns in the house, they tell two friends and those friends tell two friends…next thing I know, I have people trying to break into my house to steal my guns.
ChrisVosburg September 17th, 2014 at 3:19 pm
Arch writes: next thing I know, I have people trying to break into my house to steal my guns.
Great, more paranoia. This isn’t the way to get better, Arch.