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Does becoming a foster parent mean you have to give up your Second Amendment rights? Perhaps, at least in some states.
Rod and Kristi Beber had been model foster parents in Nevada for years, taking in more than 100 children, until their kids were ripped from their home in April.
The controversy began after some angry neighbors appeared on their lawn. Kristi called 911, and Rod grabbed his legally owned gun and stood ready to protect his family while waiting for the police to arrive.
“Let me tell you something, my hands were shaking,” Kristi Beber told KSNV-TV, recalling the night the neighbors converged near her home.
Law enforcement officers resolved the disturbance without incident or arrest, Rod never fired his gun. The foster parents were grateful the situation had ended peacefully and thought their ordeal was over. Unfortunately for the Beber family and the foster children they care for, they were wrong.
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“You want to protect your family and your house,” Rod said. “As a (concealed carry card) holder, one of the first things you want to do is take control of the situation.”
Three months after the visit by both neighbors and law enforcement, the Beber family was informed that their foster parent status had been revoked. The Department of Family Services (DFS) felt Rod had made a poor decision when grabbing his gun to protect his family.
“The incident did not describe an adult exercising sound judgment,” the foster care parent revocation letter from DFS said. The document also cited a law which forbids the guardians of foster children from possessing a loaded weapon in their home, KSNV reported.
The rule has led some to believe that the government agency does not feel foster children deserve the same right to be protected in their home as biological and adopted children.
Kristi Beber was distraught at the thought of the three foster children she was caring for being suddenly sent to an area group home.
“I said, ‘Don’t make me drop them off at Child Haven. If you’re going to revoke me, revoke me, but don’t make me drop those kids off at Child Haven,’” Kristi told KSNV.
Ironically, the law banning foster parents from keeping a legally owned gun in their home changed shortly after the Bebers had their status revoked.
Nevada lawmakers were propelled to pass the law after another foster care family in the state pressured their elected officials about the gun ownership regulation.
But the new law went into effect after the Bebers’ incident, meaning it doesn’t automatically impact their situation. They are going to fight DFS to keep their children.
“[Rod] said, ‘You know what, Kris, we’re not going to close this case. This isn’t right, we’re not going to let this happen,” Kristi told the station.
What do you think? Should foster parents be allowed to use guns? Share your thoughts in the section below:
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