Boy-with-gun pic causes uproar in N.J.

This undated photo provided by Shawn Moore shows his son Josh, 11, holding a rifle his father gave him as a birthday present, at their home in Carneys Point, N.J. / AP Photo

The ruddy-cheeked, camouflage-clad boy in the photo smiles out from behind a pair of glasses, proudly holding a gun his father gave him as a present for his upcoming 11th birthday.

The weapon in the photo, posted by his dad on Facebook, resembles a military-style assault rifle but, his father says, is actually just a .22-caliber copy. And that, the family believes, is why child welfare case workers and police officers visited the home in Carneys Point last Friday and asked to see his guns.

New Jersey's Department of Children and Families declined to comment specifically on the case but says it often follows up on tips. The family and an attorney say father Shawn Moore's Second Amendment rights to bear arms were threatened in a state that already has some of the nation's strictest gun laws and is considering strengthening them after December's schoolhouse massacre in Connecticut.

In this case, the family believes someone called New Jersey's anonymous child abuse hotline.

Shawn Moore said he gave his son Josh the gun as a present to use on hunting trips. The elder Moore was at a friend's house when his wife called, saying state child welfare investigators, along with four local police officers, were at the house, asking to inspect the family's guns.

Moore said he called his lawyer Evan Nappen, who specializes in Second Amendment cases, and had him on speakerphone as he arrived at his house in Carneys Point, just across the Delaware River from Wilmington, Del.

"They said they wanted to see into my safe and see if my guns were registered," Moore said. "I said no; in New Jersey, your guns don't have to be registered with the state; it's voluntary. I knew once I opened that safe, there was no going back."

With the lawyer listening in on the phone, Moore said he asked the investigators and police officers whether they had a warrant to search his home. When they said no, he asked them to leave. One of the child welfare officials would not identify herself when Moore asked for her name, he said.

The agents and the police officers left, and nothing has happened since, he said.

"I don't like what happened," he said. "You're not even safe in your own house. If they can just show up at any time and make you open safes and go through your house, that's not freedom; it's like tyranny."

State child welfare spokeswoman Kristine Brown said that when it receives a report of suspected abuse or neglect, it assigns a caseworker to follow up. She said law enforcement officers are asked to accompany caseworkers only if the caseworkers feel their safety could be compromised.

"It's the caseworker's call," she said. "It is important to note the way an investigation begins is through the child abuse hotline. Someone has to call to let us know there is a concern."

Carneys Point Police Chief Robert DiGregorio did not answer a call late Tuesday to his office.

[Ulgnud]

It is really a warning sign that government is so far out of control that they think they can walk into your home and start making demands like that with no probable cause and no valid search warrant. I hope he gets a good aggressive attorney and sues them so thoroughly they will never try an un Constitutional stunt like that again.

[BrianCsy]

Hussein's Waffen SS came up empty this time. They'll be back.

[JCupparo]

If this kid was standing over a dead dear this wouldn't even be an issue. He's 10. People hunt. I think people are making a big deal over nothing.

[MacPClinuxMIniMain]

I don't know what all the ruckus is about. It's a picture of a boy holding a big blueberry poptart in the shape of a 22-rifle self-defense weapon.

[MacPClinuxMIniMain]

A future soldier of America. Some kids are born soldier ants from the time they can p/u a toy pistol. Hope he joins the marine corp.

[winston2015]

The M16 shoots a 22 caliber round as well. The only real reason between the two weapons is that one is full auto and the other semi auto. I rather have a gun and not need it than need it and not have it. Thess guys are target shooters most likely. Dont knock it til you've tried it.

[routan1]

Well, the .223, (5.56 NATO) fires a .224 diameter 55 gr bullet out of a 20" barrel at around 3,100 feet per second. A .22 LR fires a 36 gr bullet at about 1,260 FPS. Energy wise, .223 produces around 1,350 ft. lbs of energy. .22 LR produces around 140 ft. lbs., so the differences between the two are significant. For comparison, a 30.06 with a 180 gr. bullet gives about 2,700 fps and around 2,900 ft. lbs. respectively.

[mgh9999]

All I have to say is the kid looks like he's holding an Anschutz model, very nice straight shooting gun. Excellent choice.

At his age my dad taught me shoot a bolt action 22, and 1903 30-06.

[MiMiLLL]

Is anyone really *SAFE IN THEIR OWN HOME*?????

Before you answer....check out the link below and really listen to what took place. The person being arrested was in a 3rd party residence...visiting in several counties from where he resides...the owners of the house asked to *view the arresting warrant*...the officers refused to show this to them....the homeowners then told the officers who had already pushed their way into the house that they would need to obtain a *search warrant*....that DID NOT HAPPEN EITHER...as one can see....listen really careful to what the arresting officer then states to the man being arrested....this kind of thing can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10zAtWiNWyM

[ihk888]

those who proudly live on the Second Amendment and American right, what did you actually for this country other than talk. speaking of Iraqi, Afghanistan or Vietnam War Vet, I respect your fulfillment of your obligation but if history tells the truth, these wars are manufactured by few politicians who has nothing to do with patriotism at the expense of American young lives. just look back when we had second Iraqi war, how many in key position at Bush administration ever served during the War. when was last time who was in commander in chief ever service in the Army. George H W Bush was last one.

[The_Bad_Ranger_Rides_Away]

Hey CBS!!!
What say you to us Vietnam Vets? This really pizzes me off !!!
I ride my Harley to the Wall over Memorial Day Weekend to visit 12 friends of mine of the 58,000 KIA on the Wall

I'm sure you'll boot me for posting this - then so be it - I won't back down!

"Bob Beckel, the liberal co-host of Fox News' "The Five," had some harsh words for the executives at CBS over the network's "idiotic" decision to air what some are calling communist propaganda disrespectful to Vietnam veterans.

CBS' "The Amazing Race" had its contestants travel to Hanoi, Vietnam where they learned communist anthems and were subjected to state propaganda. The contestants also traveled to Vietnam's B-52 memorial, the site of a downed U.S. B-52 bomber.

Roughly 60,000 Americans died fighting the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong in the Vietnam war.

"I am so outraged by this, I can't believe it," Beckel began. "CBS is idiotic, they're stupid. The idea that they would put something like that on the TV don't blame it on young producers. It had to go through somebody at the executive branch at CBS."

He went on: "If CBS can't do any better than that, to go to a memorial where Americans died, then you ought to get off the network. Take that show and shove it!"

Beckel also said CBS executives should apologize for the segment.

Beckel isn't the only one furious about the offensive episode of "The Amazing Race." In addition to Beckel's co-hosts, several other websites have condemned or acknowledged the controversial content included in the CBS show.

Media Research Center:
Unfortunately this singing wasn't the only tactless task. Later in the episode, the teams were required to go to the B-52 Memorial in Hanoi. This memorial is really just a wreckage site, which gloriously displays a shot down American bomber plane. One wonders if it was shot down using the prop from another of the communists' big propaganda moments, when Jane Fonda posed grinning on an NVA anti-aircraft gun.

Nearly 60,000 Americans died fighting the Soviet- and Chinese-backed North Vietnamese and Viet Cong. Hundreds of thousands of civilians were massacred in Southeast Asia in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal. For CBS to return to the scene and incorporate anti-American propaganda into a game is insensitive and disrespectful to all Americans who honor the lives lost in the Vietnam War.

Yahoo! TV:
However, the viewer vibe turned quickly from sad to mad when the Roadblock forced teams to watch a pro-communism song be performed and then run to another room during a five-minute intermission to search rows of political posters for the Vietnamese phrase revealed at the end of the number. Only Pam got it on take one, and it took two more performances, which one of the country blondes likened to "One Direction," for the rest of the pairs to put up the right poster. Later on, a clue was hidden at a memorial of a downed B-52 bomber from the Vietnam War. Reaction ranged from threats to quit watching to labeling it "a strange episode" and "disrespectful to Americans killed there."

Meanwhile, CBS News didn't acknowledge the potential for outrage:

"[T]he other teams were told to head to Gallery 42, where they're given a Roadblock. One member of each team had to watch a performance of a patriotic anthem, which included dancers holding up a phrase written on umbrellas. They then had five minutes to find that exact phrase in a room filled with Communist propaganda posters. Those who didn't find it in time had to watch the performance before they could search again"