"Do you own a gun?" asked of parents who want to adopt

[ericire12]

http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/11/16/adoptive_parents_fuming_over_gun_question.html

TALLAHASSEE - Get set for a mountain of paperwork if you want to adopt a child.

You'll have to go through a rigorous screening process.

It's aimed at giving kids the best parents possible.

Florida's gun rights advocates say it's gotten way too personal.

Ron And Fran Fahs went through stacks of paperwork and hours of interviews to make this a complete picture.

One of the questions many parents have to answer: Do you own a gun?

The Fahs aren't necessarily gun supporters, but they do think the question goes too far.

"Let's just stay with responsible parenting and issues that are involved in that, and not get down to specifics like, 'do you have sharp nails in the house', or, you know, "are your knives all put up above children's reach," the Fahs said.

The issue's got the adoption agencies staring down the barrel of a powerful political weapon, the National Rifle Association.

The group's already pulled the trigger on what could be a potent debate here at the capitol.

Marion Hammer heads the Florida chapter of the NRA pushing for a law.

"This is almost a profiling of adoptive parents," Hammer said. "They don't want to be profiled, they don't want to be treated differently because they choose to exercise a constitutional right."

The Fahs say they agree with the NRA and support the passage of a law banning the gun question.

"Plenty of people have guns, are responsible about how they store them, and those type of things, so i wouldn't want it to be a take-or-break type of issue," Ron Fahs said.

Making it easier for gun owners to become parents...well, that's well within the *scope* of compromise.

At least one of the adoption agencies, the Children's Home Society, tells us they've temporarily stopped asking about gun ownership.

An agency spokesperson says they're waiting on clarification from the department of children and families about whether the question is legal.

[Johnny Bravo]

Right. We all know if someone owns any kind of "GUN" they aren't good roll models and could never be acceptable parents. They couldn't ever be law abiding citizens. WHAT KIND OF CRAP IS THIS???

[ericire12]

Right. We all know if someone owns any kind of "GUN" they aren't good roll models and could never be acceptable parents. They couldn't ever be law abiding citizens. WHAT KINF OF CRAP IS THIS???

Yep, but ask the question "Are you gay" and the ACLU will file a lawsuit faster then Quaker can pull the lever for Obama on election day. (No thread drifts, please).

[tombogan03884]

Another click

[TAB]

While I agree with asking if they have a gun and is it stored in a safe manor.  it should go no further then that.

I'd also ask Qs like, do you own any power tools, chemicals, etc, etc... 

[Sponsor]

[Pathfinder]

While I agree with asking if they have a gun and is it stored in a safe manor.  it should go no further then that.

I'd also ask Qs like, do you own any power tools, chemicals, etc, etc...  

TAB, do you understand just how far beyond the pale you are with comments like that? It's like the ATF form that asks if I am an illegal alien - absolutely pointless other than to be able to add "lying on an official form" to a list of charges.

This organization has no right or authority to ask this question. None. At all! They have no more right or authority to ask this than if they were to ask if I had sex in any other position than missionary, what church I go to and why, which newspaper I read, or which party I voted for in the last election.

Besides, If I'm law-abiding and my weapons are stored safely, then answering it truthfully puts me in a position of being denied for exercising a well-known right. If I'm illegally possessing a gun - guess what - I lie!

Would it be OK if your kid's pediatrician asked little Johnny or Susie if Daddy kept bad evil guns at home? Seriously?

One last thing - it will not keep anyone safer. Most of the murders in the Chicagoland area where a foster child or adoptee were involved involved knives or the ever so popular beatings, scaldings, and in at least one case - hanging by a curtain rod cord - intentionally!

Camel's nose in the tent and all that.

Here's a simple rule - just say no to any gun-grabber notion, idea, proposal or action. Just say no. We'll help you figure out why here on DRTV after you say No!

[TAB]

so its ok to send a troubled kid into a house where guns are laying all over the place?  having had my 12 year old niece live with me for several years after she was violently sexually abused, if she had gotton hold of one of my guns, she would have used it to kill herself.  she tired several times, with other house hold items.  luckly none of them where dangerous.  The chances of surving a sucide attempt with a firearm are extremly low.

so yes it is a very valid Q. 

[ericire12]

so its ok to send a troubled kid into a house where guns are laying all over the place?  having had my 12 year old niece live with me for several years after she was violently sexually abused, if she had gotton hold of one of my guns, she would have used it to kill herself.  she tired several times, with other house hold items.  luckly none of them where dangerous.  The chances of surving a sucide attempt with a firearm are extremly low.

so yes it is a very valid Q. 

However, its all about the context...... As you point out they dont ask questions like do you have power tools, chemicals, matches, second story windows, etc. They only ask if you own a gun -- Hell, they dont even ask if it is even kept in the house let alone if it is secured.

The fact that they feel the need to go down this road shows that they either are ignorant as hell and believe that guns are the root of all evil or they have an anti gun agenda that they are trying to push because they believe that guns are the root of all evil. 

Its just not an effective question to screen out bad applicants.

[TAB]

Asking if its properly stored, would be a CYA q. 


I went a few rounds with the social workers... more then once, I backed them into a corner about policy vs law.  I don't play games.  after the 1st "inspection", I cut the crap and went strait to the top.  The lady would not pass me as I did not have a CO detector( policy, not law)  I was all electric and didn't have a fire place.  so there was no need to have one.  kind of funny the day after a short blurb on the local news station about my case, I got a phone call saying I was approved and I had a new social worker.


I don't play games.   

[MikeBjerum]

While I agree with asking if they have a gun and is it stored in a safe manor.  it should go no further then that.

I call BS on your comment!

It is none of their damn business if you are exercising your Constitutionally guaranteed Rights!

Any couple that can't keep their fly zipped and skirt hem down can breed all they want no questions or conditions.  A couple that wants to take in a homeless child is treated like a criminal.  F*** em all!

We've been through the process, and the only thing I can think of that is worse is going through fertility testing.

This is nothing more than an attempt to infringe on the rights of citizens, and it needs to be tossed with last weeks fish!