Get ready everyone because the photo of a baby holding a rifle is going to dominate news programs and talk radio for at least the next day. Maybe more if it’s a slow news week.
A picture of a sixth-month-old baby girl with a rifle in her lap taken by her old man, Christopher Duffy, on a trip to the local trading post in Woodbridge, Connecticut. The father and the store owner say it’s just a picture. LET THE INTERNET AND COMPLETE STRANGERS BE THE JUDGE OF THAT SIR!
That picture, then posted by Duffy on Facebook, which then ended up on Woodbridge Firearms page putting a lot of people in a frenzy.“Other people being upset about it? I don’t force their kids to do anything. I don’t force them to do anything,” said Duffy. “My hand was on it, the bolt was open, it was safety checked. I’m not sure how wide the picture is. She’s clearly in her seat just sitting up, one hand on the scope, one hand on the barrel.”
The picture was on Facebook, people saw it, survived the “shockwaves” it sent through social media and now everyone is giving their opinion about how Duffy should raise his kid. How about we concentrate on how the kid should hold a gun?!? What poor form!
Here’s the thing — Duffy is the father of that kid. He can pose her any way he feels. Rifles are bad but are they any worse than making a kid do this shit? Does the kid want to be known as the “rifle girl” or “peapod number 3” to her friends? The rifle at least gives her future bullies a second thought about screwing with her and her old man.
Duffy’s allowed to take his kid to a trading post, pose with a gun and put it on Facebook. Everyone is allowed to love it or hate it. It doesn’t make him a terrible father or an NRA member pushing an agenda. Everyone chill.
Better yet, everyone mind their own business.