The above photo showing members of Come and Take It – Ft. Worth and some local cookie purveyors is getting heavy play on the internets — and causing panties to twist. Kathy Perkins (second from left), head of Moms With Guns Demand Action and a Come and Take It member, told me how the photo came to be taken . . .
Kathy said the local chapter of Come And Take it was engaging in their usual business of civic education by taking a walk in the area. While they were doing so, they saw the Girl Scouts selling cookies. Figuring a Do-si-do would hit the spot, they decided to buy a few.
She told me the Girl Scouts were interested by the open carry of rifles and liked the idea of people exercising their rights. That’s why they agreed to a picture with the CATI members. Kathy posted on the CATI site, someone else saw the photo, posted it and it was off and running.
A local TV station picked up the story and as a result, the local Girl Scout council felt obligated to remind everyone that they do not get involved in political issues.
Girl Scouts is not a political organization and we do not advocate on any position. Further, neither girls nor volunteers are allowed to promote another organization in their role with Girl Scouts. When working in an official capacity, both girls and adults are to uphold the Girl Scout Promise and Law in all they say and do.”
Not too long ago, this picture wouldn’t have been considered political. You used to be able to buy guns through the mail, and the government encouraged such purchases. A Boy or Girl Scout troop that posed with adults holding rifles would merely have been seen as a fun photo opportunity. But decades of Second Amendment infringements have resulted in the current situation.
It probably won’t surprise you to hear that Kathy said that she’s been subject to numerous personal attacks on the Internet because of the photograph.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.