NRA: Ban adoption agencies from asking about gun ownership

[Skunk]

NRA: Ban adoption agencies from asking about gun ownership

The NRA wants to stop adoption agencies from asking prospective parents about whether they own guns, saying the question is a violation of gun-owners' rights.

By Marc Caputo of the Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau

Posted on Thursday, November 5, 2009

The National Rifle Association is pushing legislation to ban adoption agencies from asking potential parents if they have guns and ammunition in the home.

NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer said adoption agencies are violating gun-owners' rights by asking about firearms in an adoption form. She said any request about gun ownership from an agency connected with government was tantamount to establishing a gun registry.

"Gun registration is illegal in Florida," Hammer said. "An adoption agency has no right to subvert the privacy rights of gun owners."

The issue flared up in Brevard County where a gun-owning couple took umbrage at a request from the Children's Home Society that they disclose if they had firearms before adopting a child.

The couple complained to a lawyer, who called Hammer. She said it would be easier to change the law rather than sue.

A spokeswoman for the Children's Home Society, Liz Bruner, said the agency asks about guns because it is required to by the Department of Children & Families.

"If they don't want us to ask about it, we won't," Bruner said. "We're trying to get an updated form to use, but there's a gray area over what [form] we can use."

Bruner said that because the state child-welfare system is privatized, Children's Home Society is a subcontractor for a subcontractor and, therefore, communication with the state agency can be challenging.

DCF officials say they are not sure about the form the society is using and plans to make sure that all subcontractors are using the same ones. Some of the newer adoption forms don't ask prospective parents if they own guns.

Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, said his bill will make it clear that asking about guns is not allowed. He is sponsoring the legislation at the behest of two constituents, whom he would not name for privacy reasons. The one-page bill would make it "unlawful" for an adoption agency to ask about gun ownership but does not specify any penalties.

If the gun bill is as successful as others pushed by the NRA in the Republican-led Legislature, it will likely pass.

Some longtime NRA opponents, like Democratic Sen. Nan Rich, said she did not like the idea of banning an agency from simply asking about gun ownership. "Parents frequently ask if other parents have guns in the home before their kids play there, so why can't an adoption agency just ask?" Rich said.

Marc Caputo can be reached at mcaputo@MiamiHerald.com

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/1317135.html

[Dee]

Why ban them? Isn't that another intrusion on freedom? Simply boycott them if you don't agree with their policy. We already have the government not letting smokers into restaurants owned by smokers.

[Skunk]

Dee, I don't think they are trying to ban adoption agencies. They want to ban the agencies from asking the potential parents if the parents own guns.

[Dee]

I understand the concept Skunk, my point is, do we need the government to legislate everything. If one doesn't not like an other's business practices, the solution is to go to an agency where one does like their business practices.
This NRA lobbying endeavor is for MORE GOVERNMENT, like it or not. It is somewhat hypocritical. Don't legislate our guns rights, but legislate our adoption policies? Where does it stop?

[Skunk]

I see what you're saying now Dee. My bad. I'm trying to put target sights on a 452 Lux and I guess I wasn't paying close enough attention.  

[wganz]

Why ban them? Isn't that another intrusion on freedom? Simply boycott them if you don't agree with their policy. We already have the government not letting smokers into restaurants owned by smokers.

The significant difference is that there isn't an amendment that states, 'The right of the people to smell up the restaurant air so that other people go home selling like a cheap bar and cannot enjoy the meal that they bought shall not be infringed.'

[Dee]

Why ban them? Isn't that another intrusion on freedom? Simply boycott them if you don't agree with their policy. We already have the government not letting smokers into restaurants owned by smokers.

The significant difference is that there isn't an amendment that states, 'The right of the people to smell up the restaurant air so that other people go home selling like a cheap bar and cannot enjoy the meal that they bought shall not be infringed.'

We're SHOUTING! OK! IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE RESTURANT OWNER POLICY ALLOWING SMOKING. HERE'S WHERE IT GETS HARD TO UNDERSTAND. GO SOME WHERE ELSE TO EAT!