Inconceivable! Home raided over innocent Facebook photo of child’s rifle

A bot and his .22. Photo credit Delaware Open Carry
A bot and his .22. Photo credit Delaware Open Carry

An innocent photograph posted on Facebook of a beaming, spectacled boy proudly displaying a birthday present from his father prompted a police raid befitting an al-Qaida terrorist.

New Jersey resident Shawn Moore, a National Rifle Association firearms instructor, range safety officer and New Jersey hunter education instructor, gave his son a .22-caliber rifle for his 11th birthday, according to Fox News.

This is a boy, by the way, who despite his age is qualified and certified — and sports a New Jersey hunting license and a recent hunter safety course certificate of completion.

A busybody saw the photo went bonkers and called the New Jersey Department of Children and Families — apparently alleging child abuse solely on the basis of the photograph, Fox News reported.

Unbelievably, family services officials agreed.

“It led to an incredible, heavy-handed raid on his house,” Moore’s attorney, Evan Nappen, told Fox News. “They wanted to see his gun safe, his guns and search his house. They even threatened to take his kids.”

At least four police officers wearing tactical gear, judging by the photograph taken by Moore, didn’t get what they wanted.

“We said, ‘No way, it’s not happening,’” Nappen said. “This is a guy who is completely credentialed, and his son is also credentialed.”

“If you look at the picture, his finger isn’t even on the trigger – which is proper,” he added. “If half of Hollywood could follow that rule, we’d be thankful.”

Family services spokesperson Kristen Brown told Fox News that the agency doesn’t search Facebook for photos of children holding weapons.

“In general our role is to investigate allegations of child abuse and neglect,” she said.

But Moore defied an “investigation” that turned into an armed raid on his residence and demands that he open his gun safe.

Instead of complying, he called his lawyer and handed the phone to the police.

Four officers in tactical gear
At least four officers in tactical gear greeted Moore. Photo credit Delaware Open Carry

“If you have a warrant, you’re coming in,” Nappen told the officers. “If you don’t, then you’re not. That’s what privacy is all about.”

While everyone was gathered in his home, Moore asked the New Jersey caseworker for her name. She wouldn’t give it to him.

“I asked for credentials and she wouldn’t show em,” Moore posted in Delaware Open Carry website. “I tried to take a pic of her and she turned around real fast and walked away.”

Everyone eventually left and didn’t return, although the officers threatened to come back with a search warrant.

“He has a Fourth Amendment right, and he’s not going to give up his Fourth Amendment right or his Second Amendment right,” Nappen said. “They didn’t have a warrant, so see you later.”

“To make someone go through this because he posted a picture of his son with a .22 rifle on his Facebook page is pretty outrageous,” the lawyer added. “Does that mean that anyone who posts a picture like that has to consent to a home inspection and a gun inspection? I don’t think so.”

Read more at Fox News.

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