pics of kid with a gun

[bubbapug1]

What is the law regarding taking a picture of a kid with a gun? I was going to take a picture of my daughter (age7) holding my mini Uzi (yes of course its not loaded). A few people cautioned me that if child services ever saw it they would come knocking on my door!!

Man does that sound like orwellian thought control to me.

I do a lot more dangerous things with my daughter than have her hold an empty pistol for a picture...like taking her for a car ride after dark on Saturday evenings or any holiday when people drink and drive.

Thoughts?

Case Law?

Experiances??

[Super Spy]

Find something and paint it orange and stick it on the end of the barrel so it looks like a toy gun......

[Acorn556]

I wouldn't worry. Its not against the law for them to hold the gun. You're in room. Maybe take one with you next to them. I've seen TONS of pictures of kids with firearms. Any way to have them hold it showing it's empty? Show the safety is on?

[bhaworth]

My son-in-law in SoCal let his six year old hold a BB Gun. She told the teacher and kids at school that she got to hold a gun. My daughter got a visit from Child Services and a deputy Sheriff. No problem with LEO when it was explained she had just held a BB Gun and he did not question further.

CPS during the visit decided that her home was too messy and gave her a week to clean it up. They then came back and visited again. They also asked about other guns and demanded to see a safe when my daughter confirmed they had other guns besides the BB gun.

[liketoshoot]

My son-in-law in SoCal let his six year old hold a BB Gun. She told the teacher and kids at school that she got to hold a gun. My daughter got a visit from Child Services and a deputy Sheriff. No problem with LEO when it was explained she had just held a BB Gun and he did not question further.

CPS during the visit decided that her home was too messy and gave her a week to clean it up. They then came back and visited again. They also asked about other guns and demanded to see a safe when my daughter confirmed they had other guns besides the BB gun.

Oh Big Brother!

[RandyD]

As an attorney, in my opinion, CPS is the single worst agency that tramples the rights of citizens and interjects themselves into our daily lives and private matters. If they ever knock on your door, DO NOT allow them inside. I have seen them take children into custody because of undone dishes, laundry, and not enough food in the house for children. They are like any other government agency, they need a search warrant unless you give consent to enter your house.

[RandyD]

As far as taking photos of a child holding a firearm. Understand that CPS can use such a photo as evidence to support their allegation that you are endangering your child.

[DVLDOC]

There was a thread here last month regarding kids+firearm and I'm sure no one was visited by CPS

[johnthomas]

At this point, I'm not a fan of putting any personal pictures on the internet, this forum or not. In this day and age, your setting yourself up for social service problems. Teachers have no problem with turning a parent in, many times it is a good thing, sometimes it isn't. If a picture find's it's way to her class, expect a visit. As always, make sure your gun's are locked up.
You put a pic on facebook, or a forum, someone know's you, forward's it to social services and problems happen.

[bubbapug1]

RandyD, thanks for the excellent advice. I think your spot on. I know some women who worked in Child services and they see abuse everywhere, perhaps its a self fulfilling prophecy which ties into a desire for job security.

I don't have much "kid" food in the house because the stuff they crank out for kids is usually high in sugar and fat!! I do feed my kids a fair amount of fresh yellowtail, white sea bass, and a lot of brocoli and fresh fruits...perhaps the brocoli could be construed as abuse!

I never thought of unloaded guns in safes as dangerous, but I do think an un-attended TV in the house is one of the most dangerous things we can expose our children to.

[TurboS600]

Check out you tube...

If you search kids with guns on youtube you will see videos of 5-7 y/o kids shooting .44 Magnums and .50 cals. It wouldn't scare me to post them since any visit at my home from Big Brother will result in a door being slammed in their face. If they somehow managed to get a warrant, all my weapons are either unloaded AND locked or in a safe. But these days...you never know.

YMMV.

[POLICESTATE]

If CPS ever knocks on your door you do have the right to refuse entry do you not? What would they need to force entry, court order? Search warrant? (which I assume would be served by police).

[bubbapug1]

I keep my guns locked up because:

1. Its the right thing to do to prevent them from being stolen and keeps them out of criminal hands.

2. Its the law.

3. It keeps them away from children who are naturally curious but not naturally safe.

4. I have an older daughter who might decide she doesn't want to wait for her inheritance!!!!!

[Lancear15]

My son-in-law in SoCal let his six year old hold a BB Gun. She told the teacher and kids at school that she got to hold a gun. My daughter got a visit from Child Services and a deputy Sheriff. No problem with LEO when it was explained she had just held a BB Gun and he did not question further.

CPS during the visit decided that her home was too messy and gave her a week to clean it up. They then came back and visited again. They also asked about other guns and demanded to see a safe when my daughter confirmed they had other guns besides the BB gun.

Really? My wife is a teacher in a low income school and can't get CPS to do jack, about real abuses.

[pachador]

hi Randy and other attys,

I just wanted to triple-check.. so the CPS will need your consent or search warrant to enter your home ? As in, if they knock on the door, I can say no they cannot enter ? if they have a search warrant, I would assume they would be accompanied by the police ? or can the CPS serve the search warrant without the police ? This is good info for future situations. you just never know.....