Pink's husband Carey Hart pokes 'parent police' with video of daughter firing a rifle

USA TODAY

This time Pink's husband Carey Hart is calling out the "parent police" before they rush to criticize him.

In a video he posted on Instagram Wednesday of his daughter, Willow, 7, firing a .22-caliber rifle, he anticipated a parent uproar, writing he hasn't "poked the parent police bear in a few days."

Hart then explained why is daughter is shooting and why he thinks knowledge of firearms is important in his family.

"Willz and I shooting the 22 rifle. She is getting pretty good. Can hit a 12 inch pie plate from 30 yards. Started her shooting at 3 yrs old. For the record none of us hunt, just enjoy shooting for sport. I’m raising the kids with knowledge of fire arms, how to handle them, shoot them, store them, and avoid them in uneducated hands. #knowledgeispower."

Carey Hart decided to call out the "parent police" before they criticized him in a video of his daughter on Instagram shooting a 22 rifle.

Last year, he had a string of incidences that raised ire, especially from parents. Among them:

Being criticized for exposing his sick son, who had contagious hand-foot-and-mouth disease, in public.
Putting son Jameson, almost 2, on a dirt bike.
Threatening to shoot California wildfire looters 'on site."

So, yeah, Hart's had some push-back from folks in the past.

Support from like-minded fans

In the post, Hart explained his family shoots for sport and not to hunt and he gained support from like-minded fans.

@kelliekel47: "I think this is great. You two get to spend time together and you are teaching her about the guns and safely doing it. I like to shoot at targets but would never hunt, that’s just not my thing. Bravo to you."
@ttlshanson: "This is Great! We feel the same way as parents. Educate your kids on safety, and reality of damage done by bullets. No fairy tales, and our kids will know how to handle and safely store our weapons."
@sbiswurm: "As a wife of a police officer and firearms instructor I would much rather teach them to respect and be familiar with the guns than to fear them. Curiosity at one point will happen and thanks to proper education your girl will already have knowledge. Good for you! Now that said medical professional in me says bravo for the ear protection."

The reaction on Hart's Instagram was overwhelmingly positive, but there were some people who weren't impressed.

ashleighbiasi: "There is absolutely no reason why a 3-year-old needs to be shooting a gun. It is just indoctrinating the toxic American culture that guns are somehow 'cool'and a 'hobby'... Maybe actually try to listen to all the people flooding your comment with an open mind instead of telling them to unfollow or block them. That in itself is so (expletive) childish and change will never happen that way."
@cherylinoh: "Unless she loses control and shoots you in the face." To which Hart replied, "You are completely ignorant."

'I hope they do mimic me'

Finally, one fan questioned how Hart is using his celebrity and his support of guns. The poster said people "mimic you" and the message in the wrong hands can be dangerous.

Hart answered: "I hope they do mimic me! I hope they spend quality time with their kids, teach them life skills, and education. I’m not sure where you live, but in America fire arms are legal and not going away. So I choose to embrace it. Take the taboo out. Educate them so they don’t become a statistic. Many forms of shooting are an OLYMPIC sport."

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