“On Sunday, September 13th the 8-year-old victim and several family members arrived at the church for Sunday services,” abc7ny.com reports. “Prior to the mass beginning, police say Father Carter asked to see him in one of the rectory rooms.” Note: it’s not what you might think but still not entirely advisable behavior. Just sayin’ . . . “Once in the room, Father Carter allegedly had the victim stand against a wall. He then retrieved a [functioning civil war style musket] from nearby and pointed it at the child with an indication that he would shoot him. Police say this was witnessed by several people that were standing outside of the room.” Cops arrested Father Kevin Carter, despite the fact that . . .
The episode appears to have been a prank over football.
The Giants were scheduled to play the Cowboys later that night; prosecutors say the priest was apparently disappointed when the boy said he would be rooting for Dallas.
But the charges are serious and a major embarrassment for Father Carter who was sworn-in earlier this year as the chaplain of the Little Ferry Police Department.
Simple rule: never point a gun at something you’re not willing to destroy. Otherwise you run the risk of destroying the wrong thing. In this case, Father Carter’s rep. Still, it could have been worse. It always could be worse. Until it isn’t. Shudder.
That said, we’re glad that a new Jersey priest – of all things – appreciates our country’s firearms history. Let’s hope that the gun gets returned and the IGOTD hardware headed his way becomes a similarly important educational artifact.