Gillibrand moves guns after outcry
posted at 11:37 am on February 17, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
After gun-control activists criticized Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for keeping pistols under her pillow, the new appointee dutifully moved them to an undisclosed location in her home. Did Gillibrand agree that the guns posed a risk for her children or pander to defuse a potential primary threat — or both?
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) has moved the two rifles that she kept under the bed to protect her upstate New York home, her spokesman said Monday.
“Given that the location of the guns has been disclosed, they have been moved for security reasons,” Gillibrand’s spokesman Matt Canter said.
She relocated the guns over the weekend while upstate to endorse Democrat Scott Murphy in the March 31 election to replace her in the 20th District, he said.
He also said Gillibrand, mother of a 5-year-old and an infant, kept the ammunition separate from the empty guns, and then later called to add that the rifles were locked in a case while stored under the bed. She had refused to describe her gun safety measures.
Full disclosure: while I enthusiastically support gun rights and ownership, I do not own a firearm myself, nor have I since being married. The First Mate had serious reservations about having weapons in the same house as a curious young boy, although I myself grew up with guns in the house, including pistols, a shotgun, and a rifle. The Admiral Emeritus carefully explained that the guns could cause me great bodily harm, ie, if I touched them, he’d kill me and replace me with another one just like me. As firearm-safety classes go, that was very effective.
It sounds as though Gillibrand took gun safety in the home seriously. She kept the ammunition separate from the weapons, and locked the rifles at least. As long as she did that, the firearms represented no threat to her children. Maybe the pillow isn’t the most effective hiding place, but for people concerned about overnight burglaries, it’s less a hiding place and more of a quick-access location.
This sounds like a retreat based on pandering, and it’s a shame, because it represents a lost opportunity to remind people that a safely-stored gun is no more dangerous than a steak knife. Obviously Gillibrand faces a challenge in being an NRA member for a statewide election in 2010 that will heavily rely on convincing gun-banners in the Big Apple to support her, but her retreat makes it look like she thinks she did something wrong, rather than defend common-sense gun ownership.
Blowback
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She never should have acknowledged the armaments/ammo in the first place. Which I think this hints at
I still don’t read her statement as a “retreat”…
Gillibrand: “um, about those guns, um, well, thing is see, I was foolin’… they’re not under the bed, as a matter of fact we sold them all” (to our kids, who keep them under our bed…)
WTF?
dragonlord on February 17, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Was at the grocery store, and I hate leaving things hanging!
We’re looking into that, but more for Tim (he didn’t grow up in a gun-friendly house like me). And thank you… it’s my first gun as an adult! Good to see you around, hope everything’s okay with you.
For right now, with my twins at least, it’s easier just to keep them away from it (they’re young, and with their verbal skills being what they are, explaining gun safety to them would be pretty useless). My older daughter has been getting gun safety lessons from my mom – but I’m still wanting to hold off letting her handle it until she’s a little more mature and can physically hold the rifle properly(she’s 6). Just because I was shooting a rifle at that age doesn’t mean I think it’s best for my daughter. I do appreciate the advice, though.
On the other hand, maybe it’s time to tell the kids Daddy’s lightsaber isn’t a dangerous weapon….
Anna on February 17, 2009 at 4:24 PM
First-New York liberals suck…don’t like guns… then move to England…
NRA Lifer on February 17, 2009 at 4:34 PM
There are all kinds of gun safety classes for kids now. Did you know that hunter education courses are more based towards children then adults but they know that an adult has to be in the class with the child so it works out both ways.
6 yrs old is actually a great age to start them out yet. Tim and your daughter should both go to one. NRA hold one… I don’t remember what State you are in or I wiuld give you a link! :)
upinak on February 17, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Sounds like the First Mate doesn’t trust the Captain to be responsible enough to deal with the situation.
Lawrence on February 17, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Locking up your guns and storing the ammo in another location?
Wait Mr. Rapist…I need to unlock my case, get my gun, cross the room, find my ammo, load my gun, then defend myself.
Our sons have fired every gun we own, under their father’s STRICT supervision. Their curiosity has been removed. They have a healthy respect (and fear) of the power of any weapon.
Don’t get rid of your guns…get rid of stupid parents who raise dangerously curious kids who think the handgun in mom’s purse is a toy.
rightwingmom on February 17, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Well, it isn’t entirely foolish. I have a pretty awesome safe for all my weapons. Everything stays in there until evening and then I just move the pistol to a nightstand in my bedroom. That was just a habit I developed when my daughter was growing up that I still observe.
Your family sounds like you have it exactly right as far as exposing the children to the firearms.
hawkdriver on February 17, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Unloaded pistol = hammer
Unloaded rifle = club
serenity on February 17, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Back bones always did terrify democrats.
locomotivebreath1901 on February 17, 2009 at 5:43 PM
midway.com is completely out of primers,..not even on backorder. armsandammo is the only one of several I can find that has powder/primers available.
a capella on February 17, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Why is she even telling them in the first play? What business is it what you have and where it is? Not just guns but you checkbook, jewelry, other valuables? This story makes NO SENSE whatsoever. This must be the best they can do to smear her….. pathetic
torrejranne on February 17, 2009 at 5:50 PM
hawkdriver ~ ditto on the gun safe.
My point is if my sons see a gun, they don’t have a desire to pick it up and play with it.
They know the “fool” holding the gun is the danger!
rightwingmom on February 17, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Sounds like we are watching a Dino circumvent the New York libs who believe in the strictest of gun controls. Gillibrand is too intelligent and too attractive to be a real dimocrat anyway.
volsense on February 17, 2009 at 6:42 PM
coward & turncoat.
Wade on February 17, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Virginia.
Anna on February 17, 2009 at 7:09 PM
What Lib was slithering around under her bed in the first place. No person in the US has the right to ask what she has under her bed or pillow and what was she thinking when she either was “outed” (I feel an investigation and maybe answering questions to a Senate Committee) or offered this priceless gem of information to anyone hmmm….. All you New Yorkers might feel safer in Canada, not too far away.
guspapa on February 17, 2009 at 7:51 PM
We should end all restrictions on gun ownership.
Libertarian Joseph on February 17, 2009 at 8:17 PM
Do you agree?
Libertarian Joseph on February 17, 2009 at 8:18 PM
I just got into it with my lib-tard mother-in-law because I just bought a gun safe. (I have four kids) She attempted to grill me about the usual lib-tard anti-gun $hit until it ended with a “Well, I hope no one in your house becomes a statistic”. I ended with “Well, I hope you never have to call the police to remove your body from the crime scene that used to be your house”.
Claypigeon on February 17, 2009 at 8:39 PM
Although I do laugh a bit because my current state has a minimum age of 6 for ‘big game’ hunting. I have seen so many pictures with little Sally and her 12 point buck taken with her .30-06 (the rifle is as tall as she is).
I will be starting turkey hunting with my 10 year old this year. We have been shooting at the range for a couple years now (.22) and he has a nice trigger pull down. I picked up a Mossberg 20 ga youth turkey gun that should be perfect for him.
Bunsin on February 17, 2009 at 8:55 PM
Nor are they a threat to someone intent or killing, raping or kidnapping her or her children. Try finding your ammo and load with a burglar already in your’s or your kid’s bedroom in the dark.
wepeople on February 17, 2009 at 9:09 PM
Like some of you, did not grow up with guns until I met my husband who is a member of NRA, hunter, goes target-shooting and owns several rifles, handguns that I’ve lost count. He has taught me and our 4 daughters how to respect and use guns safely. We have a gun safe that is bolted down to concrete floor. My oldest daughter (27) has her own handgun and my youngest (13) has her own rifle for target-shooting and enjoy it very much.
Because we live in very blue state of NJ, our far-left political morons continue to pass more anti-gun laws. So, in 2007 attended Free State Project movement in New Hampshire, bought property and will move there in 2010, become pro-liberty activists, continuing to fight for our freedoms, liberty & pursuit of happiness – Live Free or Die!!
corvettelady on February 17, 2009 at 9:20 PM
That’s pretty much the same firearm-safety class I got from my Dad. He’d keep his pistols in his nightstand drawer and my brothers and I all knew without a shadow of a doubt he’d beat us within an inch of our lives if we ever touched them. Once grandkids came along, though, he started locking them up.
CMS2004 on February 17, 2009 at 9:58 PM
The guns, I mean. Not the grandkids. Heh.
CMS2004 on February 17, 2009 at 9:59 PM
Idiot!
congma on February 17, 2009 at 10:10 PM
Yeah, that seems to be a problem, those guns have a habit of procreating.
/not that there’s anything wrong with that. <— First time I’ve had the opportunity to use that and mean it.
AZfederalist on February 17, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Pistols can be stored in a small easy to open strong box that can be secured to your furniture. This will keep it out of the hands of your children, and any uninvited guests that happen upon it. Several friends, and customers have told me that they have begun to carry at all time, because of the upswing in home invasions here in Vegas.
Paulyllama on February 17, 2009 at 10:43 PM
With the proposal of HR 45 in the House of Representatives, written by Black Pather, Bobby Rush who served a sentence for firearms violations, the attack on the Second Amendment has begun.
HR 45 would required a National Biometric I.D. to possess a firearm and National Registry of all firearms. HR 45 would require all gun owners to have their medical records placed in a National Database and would endanger ANY gun owner from possessing a firearm if they had EVER suffered a traumatic experience that could possibly lead to PTSD.
This bill would also require ALL gunowners to surrender their 4th Amendment and 5th Amendment rights because it would allow enforcing agents to search and seize a gun owner’s residence or vehicle, at ANY TIME, without announcement or search warrant and would cause gunowners to surrender possible incriminatinating evidence, i.e. medical records, that would prohibit them from possessing a firearm and could lead to the manditory fines and imprisonment imposed in HR 45.
In all, HR 45 would violate the Full Faith and Credit Clause, the Commerce Clause, the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth and Tenth Amendments and is probably the MOST Unconsitutional Bill in U.S. History.
Gillibrand will cowtow to the left, that is what most Democrats do and if you actually think that a Democrat supports the Second Amendment for all American Citizens, you need to have your head examined.
nelsonknows on February 17, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Maybe she should move the cookies and the donuts too.
canklespotter on February 17, 2009 at 11:55 PM
I had a discussion with an anti gun person, age about 22 and I mentioned zip guns of the 50′s. He laughed and laughed and when he got his breath he said I was full of sh*t. When I explained how to make one he howled and said I was crazy. That was the end of the conversation. His friend with him thought charcoal was mined some where near Buffalo, NY. They are out there folks.
mixplix on February 18, 2009 at 7:40 AM
I’ve got guns under my bed too…
Come in my house in invited and your a dead man…Don’t like move to the Republic of Kalifornia or New York…
NRA Lifer on February 18, 2009 at 8:54 AM
I remember my sons complaining because while we were out in the mountains on the hunt, I would keep asking them if they had a shell in the chamber and the rifle on safe. Now about 20 years later, hunting with one of my sons and his two young sons, I laughed as my son kept asking my grandsons over and over if they had a shell in the chamber and the rifle on safe.
Gun safety, either hunting, or protection is taught…and any honest gun owner knows that if one takes the mystery out of the guns, teaches safety and skill with the weapons the kids won’t mess with them. And that is the way it has always been since the beginning of the Republic….but with the One’s administration and the drug addled, empty headed flower children running Congress and the Senate, we are in deep ….uhhh, doo doo.
norm1111 on February 18, 2009 at 10:59 AM
LMFAO wow you are an idiot.
Have you ever taken a NRA Hunter Education course? I doubt it because if you had you would know they do not let anyone shoot with anything but a .22 long rifle, bolt action.
My friend’s 6 yr old DAUGHTER is and has been going with us hunting jack rabbits with a .22 so she gets use to the gun. She is a better shot that I am at getting them.
Jesus, WTF are you thinking?
upinak on February 18, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Captain, you really need to talk to the first Mate about the armament you have onboard your “ship”;)
There are plenty of ways that we can have guns both accessable and safe from children. You can get a special gun safe that has a simple to use code that you punch in or even fingerprint recognition to open, making it impossible for anyone but you to access the gun.
We don’t own guns because they are a simple marker of Conservatism, but rather because they protect ourselves and our families. The Liberal mindset has always seemed naive to me–simply hope that crime doesn’t happen, or if it does you blame it on THEIR guns.
The American public usesguns to protect themselves over a million times a year. And quite a few of those occasions never require the guns to be actually fired, but often only brandished. In the case of choosing our lives over the criminal’s, I have to say I favor my own.
darkmetal on February 18, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Four 12 gauge shotguns, Mossberg pump, two New England single shots, a Stoeger Coach Gun 12 gauge….Browning .308 lever action (my baby), Remington 7mm, Winchester 30/30, ancient bolt action .22 (love this rifle), Ruger 10/20 .22, Ruger .44 Blackhawk, Chinese SKS (semi), Russian AK (semi)….hmmm, any of the One’s minions reading this?
norm1111 on February 18, 2009 at 12:22 PM
norm1111 on February 18, 2009 at 12:22 PM
You are sick. Get some help.
Blueneck on February 18, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Nope, just a normal gun owner living in rural western America. Most of my friends, neighbors and family have more guns than I……I have sold many of them because I am getting a little older and don’t want to take care of them as much.
norm1111 on February 18, 2009 at 12:50 PM
How is he sick?
Is this a problem by owning guns… or are you just being a sniveling little snot rag?
upinak on February 18, 2009 at 12:55 PM
You are sick. Get some help.
Blueneck on February 18, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Wait – why is this sick?
Otis B on February 18, 2009 at 1:02 PM
norm1111 on February 18, 2009 at 12:50 PM
How many guns do you need to shoot up highway signs and beer bottles in Idaho?
Blueneck on February 18, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Blueneck on February 18, 2009 at 1:11 PM
As many as he wants?
Most of the guns he listed sound like collector’s items, I can’t imagine any beer bottles or road signs being blasted away here.
Otis B on February 18, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Dear Otis B:
Bless your heart. You must be new to HA. You are much too reasonable, measured and thoughtful for these threads. I recommend you use keywords like libtard, moonbat and Obamaiac when addressing comments like mine. Otherwise, nobody will pay any attention to you. And that’s why were all here…right gang?
Blueneck on February 18, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Ok here I go with transparency… I carry most of the time here in MN. it is always concealed and I tell no one, not even my wife when I do and don’t. Gillebrand pandered big time.
MNDavenotPC on February 18, 2009 at 2:11 PM
I own a Remington 870 shotgun 12 ga. , a marlin 30 30 lever action, a S&W series 65 3 in barrel revolver with 38P/357 capability ( my personal carry piece)
MNDavenotPC on February 18, 2009 at 2:13 PM
I don’t shoot bottles…uhh, unless they happen to have a blueneck.
And it is Utah……
norm1111 on February 18, 2009 at 2:28 PM
You really need to go back and read what I wrote again before stepping on your crank mate.
– Yes
– True
–
I specifically did not take out my kid at 6 with a gun larger than him for exactly the reason you seem to imply. He has been at the range with a .22 and does fine. He is ready now to safely use a larger cal weapon and engage targets in a dynamic environment.
I was implying that IMHO a 6 year old is not capable of properly taking large game (not rabbits) in a hunting scenario with a gun that is so long that it does not fit them.
Sheesh
Bunsin on February 18, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Only a couple…one of my brothers is the collector…1894 Winchester .370, reconditioned Yellow Boy 45/70, Colt 1873 Single action……among others.
His neices and nephews make him haul them all out on family parties…..
norm1111 on February 18, 2009 at 2:38 PM
To test my oldest I had him carry an unloaded gun on a short pheasant hunt around grandpa’s farm. He was never really interested in hunting (the other 3 are) and so it was a good test to see if he could respect the gun and the other hunters. He did ok but it took a lot of reminders… He did much better the next year.
Bunsin on February 18, 2009 at 3:16 PM
First off I am not your mate.
Second you might wanna make it more clear.. not to yourself but others.. before saying something snide like you have.
upinak on February 18, 2009 at 4:52 PM
True you are definitely not my mate.
As for snide, how you take it is your own issue. It was pretty clear from my end. You called me an idiot and made lots of assumptions without understanding the situation.
Sure sign of immaturity or drunkenness
BTW I am an NRA member, lifetime hunter, and former light infantry so I dare say I have enough experience with shooting to understand the implications.
Bunsin on February 18, 2009 at 5:43 PM
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