Baby 'Bubba' Gets State Gun Permit

Bubba Ludwig, 10 months old, cannot even say the word "gun" yet; but he has a gun and a license permitting use of that gun.

Bubba's grandfather bought him a 12-gauge beretta as a gift. And soon after, Bubba's father applied for and was given an Illinois State Gun Permit in Bubba's name: Howard David Ludwig.

"The card lists the baby's height at 2 feet, 3 inches, weight at 20 pounds and has a scribble where the signature should be."

I have serious issues with this. Granted, according to Bubba's father, the gun will not actually be given to his son until the age of 14. And I realize that the best way to protect your kids from guns is to teach them gun safety - but getting him a permit at 10 months old seems ridiculous.

According to Illinois State Police, there is no age restriction for applying for a state gun permit. But, they also state that the screening and permit process is used to make sure that convicted felons do not get a gun.

How are they going to be able to make sure that this is the case with Bubba? Granted, his parents may teach him responsible use of this firearm, to include his own safety. But there is still nothing saying that he won't "freak out" (for lack of a better phrase) and then what? He'll already have a legal gun with permission to use it. How effective is this system?

And I don't mean to imply that this "gift" will automatically mandate that Bubba will become some sort of monster or criminal just because he has a gun. But it doesn't seem as though the Illinois State Police Department, who oversees the states' gun permits laws and application process, is doing a very good job of screening.

If you're going to require permits and licenses to use things like guns, then there should be an age restriction, end of story. And, you should have to apply for its use yourself. My mother wouldn't have been able to go to the DMV and get me a drivers' permit at 10 months old. Why should the gun permits be any different?

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