People are divided in their opinion on whether a child learning how to shoot a firearm is a solid life skill they should have or perhaps careless of the parent.
Alecia Beth Moore professionally known by her stage name Pink, is always making headlines for her opinions. Similarly, her husband Carey Hart is known to stir controversy as well.
Hart is a professional motocross competitor and clearly loves a thrill. He recently posted a video of his 7-year-old daughter Willow on social media firing a .22 rifle. Willow is 11 years old now, and the video was posted in 2019.
It seems like he was already expecting backlash because he captioned the video, “Haven’t poked the parent police bear in a few days. Willz and I shooting the 22 rifle. She is getting pretty good. Can hit a 12 inch pie plate from 30 yards. Started her shooting at 3yrs old. For the record none of us hunt, just enjoy shooting for sport. I’m raising the kids with knowledge of firearms, how to handle them, shoot them, store them, and avoid them in uneducated hands,”
He ended the caption with a hashtag, #knowlegdeispower. And of course, people took the bait just like he expected. The video features his 7-year-old daughter Willow, she asks her father “Can I go?” to which Hart says to fire whenever she is ready. She hesitates and asks, “Wait, is the safety on?” Then, she goes on to fire the rifle.
Anf of course, people were furious at the 47-year-old father of two for allowing his daughter to fire such a weapon. To this, Carey Hart brought up his second amendment right to a firearm.
Then there were people who chided him for letting his daughter use a firearm when she was just 3 years old. One person commented there was no situation that warranted a 3-year-old using a firearm and that Hart did this just because of the gun culture in America and to look “cool.”
He responded to that criticism by saying, “That is your opinion. I never slam people for speaking their opinion. I enjoy debate and shedding light on subjects that are sensitive like this. Now when you disrespect my country or ‘culture’ I feel I have every right to get nasty. I think this is an extremely important topic of education,” he added. He also plans on getting a bow and arrow for his daughter.
People also pointed out that there will be parents who mimic his behavior with his children, something Hart said he hopes happens. He replied to this criticism by saying, “I hope they do mimic me! I hope they spend quality time with their kids, teach them life skills, and education. I’m not sure where you live, but in America firearms are legal and not going away. So I choose to embrace it. Take the taboo out. Educate them so they don’t become a statistic. Many forms of shooting are an OLYMPIC sport.”
Hart is no stranger to controversy, there is a reason he all but expects it to come his way now. He often upsets people with his parenting style. In the past, he has come under fire for taking his toddler son on a ride on this dirtbike. And exposing the public to his son when he had a contagious disease. And once for saying he would shoot looters “on-site” during the California fires.
And of course, where there are critics there are also fans. A lot of people applauded him for his initiative and for spending quality time with his children this way.
Other fans hoped more people would follow in the couple’s example and applauded them for their parenting style.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion since it is a free country!
What do you think of Carey Hart teaching his children how to use firearms? Let us know in the comments. And share this article to learn what your friends and family think.
