Controversial Priest Targets Nerf Guns in Easter Baskets: They Lead to Violence
- Posted on March 16, 2012 at 10:54am by
Buck Sexton
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Father Pfleger, the controversial priest who shot to national prominence for his defense of Rev. Jeremiah Wright during Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, has taken up a new cause: the crusade against toy guns.
Below are selections from a letter Pfleger wrote in a March 9th Chicago Sun Times piece in which he railed against the inclusion of toy guns in Easter baskets at Kmart :
“I am writing to express my concern and outrage that Kmart is selling Easter baskets, which are obviously for children, with toy guns in them.”
Pfleger didn’t leave any doubts about his feelings, as he astonishingly tied gun violence in Chicago directly to children‘s’ familiarization with weapons through pop culture:
“With the increasing gun violence in Chicago and across this country, I am amazed that you would choose to offer toy guns to our children to make them comfortable with playing with them. I am asking you to remove any baskets with toy guns in them from your store’s shelves immediately.”
Some of you may be wondering, how realistic are these toy gun replicas?
About as fake as fake gets.
The guns in question are neon colored, styrofoam shooting, Nerf guns. According to Hotair.com, the Easter baskets that have received Pfleger’s ire contain nothing more than:
(credit: Scott Stewart for the Chicago Sun Times)
“Plastic water guns or Nerf dart shooters in sizes ranging from pistol- to nearly rifle-length, contained in Easter baskets sold by the retailer for prices starting at $9.99.”
Pfleger went ever further, laying out his case that a child who plays with a Nerf or water gun will inevitably grow up to be an adult who also points real guns at people.
“But equally important is that any psychiatrist will tell you a child who gets comfortable playing with toy guns and pointing them at people as a child becomes comfortable picking them up as an adult.”
Ed Morrissey of Hotair.com takes Pfleger to task for making such outlandish comparisons, all the while failing to address an issue where the priest could offer more constructive thoughts.
“As a Christian, he’s offended by the inclusion of violent toys in this ‘celebration of life,’” Morrissey writes, “but as a Catholic priest, shouldn’t he be more offended by Easter eggs, Easter bunnies, and the commercialization of the holiest day on the Christian calendar? Isn’t that his day job?”
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Comments (124)
natebub
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:13pmGuess this jerk would get offended seeing my 9 year old son shooting my AR15 and my Glock.
Report Post »db321
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:21pmANY Pastor defending Rev Write is a sell out to God – I would walk out of that Church so fast and find one that is teaching from the Bible not from a Radical Nut Cases. Unless you like the taste of Jim Jones Juice.
I think it is time to add to our Weapons arsenal – when whack jobs like this are telling us what we are doing is wrong – it’s time to do the opposite.
Report Post »ACLUHater
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 1:53pmThis tool is losing his marbles.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:55am“As a Christian, he’s offended by the inclusion of violent toys in this ‘celebration of life,’ maybe this “priest” hasn’t read the first half of his bible, you know where the people of God armed themselves to protect what God had given them.
Report Post »brickmoon
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:51amWell, he does have a point; you never know WHAT those kids might grow up to be.
http://www.bagnewsnotes.com/2012/01/war-games-2/
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:49ammy son has about 20 nerf guns. he also has done the nra eddie the eagle program and shocker, has a real firearm locked up in the safe. you see my family we shoot for sport and for protection, the mystery of guns has been taken away from my child leading to a responisble attitude with the firearms. if more families did the eagle program and taught their children gun safety, the kids would be better off and safer around firearms.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:10pmWord!
Report Post »Therightsofbilly
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:18pm@HORSECRAZY
Unfortunately, liberals will not understand your logical thought process.
And Father Pfleger has not kept up with the latest crime statistics.
Report Post »Mapache
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:49amWhile I think he is a nut-job, on this issue I also would question the inclusion of any type of gun (even chocolate) in an Easter Basket.
Report Post »jay1975
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 2:44pmI would question the existence of an Easter basket, bunny and eggs in the first place.
Report Post »CobraBill
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 7:08pmI have to agree, why put a toy gun in an Easter basket?
Report Post »I have no problem with kids playing with toy guns. Even shooting real guns when mature enough with adult supervision.
I just don’t get the Easter gun connection.
What happened to Easter eggs, jelly beans and bunnies in the basket?
T-2
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:48amnext they will band farming toys
Report Post »bigmel754
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:40amI think at this point in history, maybe learning about guns isn’t a bad thing!
Report Post »colt6920
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:30amHe dead right….I played with toy guns…a lot….and I grew up to point real ones at people…of course those people were criminals and I was a cop….but still the man has a point.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:18pmWhen I was growing up I played “Cowboy and Indians”, I played War and we used scrap wood and made our own guns. I do not own a gun yet and I keep wavering between buy one to not buying one. For one thing at this point in time, it is a lot of money for me to spend now. I might have to bite the bullet and do so anyway and cut back on food purchases.
Report Post »SuttonShimai
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 6:58pmYou’re right. My husband taught my two oldest boys how to shoot when they were little. One is now in the Army and the other is in the Army Reserves, he’s an NRA pistol instructor, and he’s in law enforcement.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:22amThank you, moral authority! Thanks for once again telling the great unwashed masses how to spend their ducats!
Report Post »Left/right, religious/spiritual… beware any tool with THE ANSWER. Because the man with THE ANSWER is always about to tell you what you can’t do and then must do to please him.
Go away, Father Intolerance! Your pseudo psycho babble is played out.
Easter’s message: Christ died for your sins!
This idiot’s message: I‘ve got a partisan bee in my bonnet and I’ve got the microphone… so you will listen!
Popp40
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:22amSome will say that I am reading more into it when they read this statement, however, there is a pattern here:
Demonize guns and make them so they are feared by kids so when they become of age they are easily manipulated and vote for banning guns. Classic brainwashing tactics and the first step of getting rid of guns.
Why is it so hard for these people to realize that if you take guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens that the only people who will have guns will be the criminals and the government….oh wait they believe that once they are outlawed then these criminals will be so willing to hand over their guns….after all they wouldn’t dare to break the law…..right! And the government would never force its will and take advantage of their subjects, oops I mean citizens even more than they do now.
But hey, take away our ability to protect ourselves…after all we all know that when a crime takes place and your life is in dager and when seconds count…cops are only minutes away!
Report Post »LouC57
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:59amPOPP40, you’re spot on.
Report Post »raybojabo
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 1:46pmRight on POP. Why carry a gun? Because a whole cop is too heavy.
Report Post »tricia
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:21amHe’s right the children in Chicago who have learned not to respect their own life let alone others might.
Report Post »But you would think his fight would be with the Obamas, Jacksons, Farrahakans, and Rev Wrights of
Chicago who continually blame whitey for the black culture’s violence All the while becoming millionaires and gaining prominence with their reitoric. By their fruits you shall know them.
rockmanlinux
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:17amThis guy will make me give my kids nerf guns for Easter now. The older ones may get another real gun actually. Not violence…protection dude.
Report Post »9111315
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:36pmPut bullets in the plastic eggs. They will sound like Easter rattles.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:13amGive away most of your money, and you will find your true love.
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 2:36pmGive .away any sense of reality, and you will be just like Tim. A babbling idiot. Happy easter Tim.
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 3:55pmTell that to George Soros girlfriend and see what she tells you Tim.
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:12amMy 10 year old and 8 year old granddaughters and 8 year old grandson are coming over this weekend. I think it’s time for another lesson in gun saftey. Happy Easter!
Report Post »s0ck_monkey
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:12amBanning toy guns because they promote violence is equivalent to banning the Catholic faith because it promotes child molestation.
Ummm, wait…nevermind ;)
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:19amI guess you just don’t understand what Jesus meant when he said to Peter that Peter is his rock and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. If something is your rock, it is your strength.
Report Post »Grasshopper42
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:21amGood one, Sock_Monkey!
Report Post »Grasshopper42
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:27amITSJUSTTIM, it‘s you who doesn’t understand the scriptures. Peter=little rock. Christ=the Rock upon which His church shall be built. Read Matthew 13:13-19.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:28amHere I’ll break it down for you like Sesame Street style. Peter is unto Reuben, Reuben was Jacob’s Strength. Peter denied Jesus at first defiling his bed and couch. Peter is the anchor of the “Word.“ Peter is the main target of Satan because Peter is the anchor of the ”Word.” Therefore the gates of Hell tries to break open in the Catholic Church, but it will not prevail.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:35amGrasshopper42,
Report Post »Alright there Mr. Stumbling block. How can you understand the things of Heaven when you don’t even understand your own sacred family? A father and mother has their first born child, and is the strength because of the first-born, and yet the father will begin to enact the same mistakes of the grand-father, and maybe even the grand-father will be tempting the first-born. You are casting out coal and calling it diamonds.
s0ck_monkey
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:34pmI‘ve said it before and I’ll say it again – if you’re gonna ban guns, even toy guns, then you should ban forks and spoons for making people fat…
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:11amI object to Easter baskets
Report Post »Thay lead to false doctrine.
3 Days-3 Nights
Friday eve. Sun AM
just dont fit.
That was the match,let us see the fire.I can take it………
Gonzo
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:20pmNo fire but, He was dead on Friday (1 day), He was dead on Saturday (2 days), He was dead on Sunday (3 days). He came out of the grave sometime AFTER midnight on Saturday. It says 3 days, not 72 hours.
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 2:28pmWhat ??? If he died on Friday and arose just after midnight sat
Report Post »what type are you using
then as now the new day starts at sun down
First day of wk. sunday ,came to town.
Second day
ran money changers out of temple
Third day
went to wallmart to get bread and wine for Last supper with friends
Forth day wed. Some time between midnight and sun up.
Arested-tried-convicted-sentenced-exicuted-and burried all befor sundown
the beginning ofthe
fifth day PASSOVER a high SABBATH day
So put in the tomb Wed eve I have to get my fingers out here, OK
Wed night,thur,thur night,fri (fri night,sat(weekly sabbath)
3 nights 3 days hey your right Sometime after sunset sat night
Its all in the history book an the Bible
NickyLouse
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 10:07pmI object to a celebration that begun as a worship of Ishtar – a goddess of fertility who came down from heaven in an egg, whom priests sacrificed children for and dipped eggs in their blood as a ritual. No thanks, I will stick to observing the Lord’s Feasts – everlasting ordinances.
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:10amWhat a loser. And a wuss. And a lib.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:01pmWow .. imagine if they were SUPER SOAKERS !!! .. .my son had them and at 35 years old .. never been arrested or violent! He also had Nerfs .. same result!
Report Post »justangry
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:13pmYou know his flock is eating this crap up though.
Report Post »OldGuy66
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 5:30pmNot to nitpick, but those three terms are redundant.
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:08amGo to youtube.com and search for Ted Nugent on PBS, and listen to his defense of the 2nd Amendment. It would put this poor excuse for a priest into an apoplectic state! Get ‘em, Ted! Lefties know they cannot have their way with America as long as we have a 2nd Amendment right to keep & carry, so they want to start to break us as children. Not going to happen as long as Ted, me and others of like-mind take breath!
Report Post »GoodCook
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:08amNote to Bishop defrock this numb nuts. As a Catholic he gives us a bad name.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:14amWhy don’t they boot some of these guys? Honestly, what does it take?
Report Post »proliance
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:46amHe was temporarily suspended last year. I suspect he’ll be defrocked permanently before too long.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:08amWhat a dork. I’ll bet the Boy Wonder and his wo ok ie in the White House think this guy is just groovy…..
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:08amI’m sure Michelle will have a problem with the candy in the Easter baskets so, we should do what’s best for the country and just cancel Easter all together. We’ll just have “Obama Day” instead and we can give our kids celery and carrots and sing praises to the new savior of mankind…Barack Hussein Obama, MMM, MMM, MMM!
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:15amMMM MMM MMM borack Insane Obama
Report Post »MMM MMM MMM he’ll do you and your momma
biohazard23
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:34amI think that’s one of those surprises we have yet to discover in the behemoth loving known as Obamacare….. Thank you, Princess Nancy!
Report Post »spirited
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 1:07pm@GONZO: Clever!
;^>There is O’Green Day in some schools –already
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:04amNo “Father” (even though you shouldn’t be called that) the thing that leads to violence is refusing to give up the level or style of life one is living (also called evil) – Hey that defines the motivation of Progressives.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:05amEven the Lord in Heaven will leave his comfort zone, and so who the hell do you think you are?
Report Post »SoupSandwich
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:12amMeds dude, don’t forget your meds with a full glass of agua.
Report Post »LouC57
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:00amOh B.S.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a Nerf gun like the one pictured. I’ve shot the TV many a time.
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:05amB.S. is right……….i played cowboys and indians when i was a kid and watched the DUKE ……….i now own a 45 with western holster and have a carry permit……never been arrested for anything and still believe in god ,guns and country………………..
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:25amAn excellent idea, I‘m going to go grab my grandson’s, should make tv WAY more fun. Maher, here I come! (sorry I still can’t watch that jerk)
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 10:59amMy exhusband decided at one point that any guns were evil so our kids weren’t allowed to have them. The boys would go outside, pick up sticks and “shoot” at each other. My ex eventually gave up that idea. He even has a job now that requires him to carry.
Our kids never pointed a real gun at anyone or shot them. This preacher is a dumbazz.
Report Post »T-2
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 10:58amis he still a priest?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:10amYea, I think that fat, ugly lesbian goes to his church for communion.
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