Gov. Kristi Noem tells NRA audience granddaughter, 1, has a shotgun

Governor Kristi Noem has sparked controversy after she revealed how her one-year-old granddaughter already owns her own shotgun and a rifle.

The governor made the comments during an appearance at the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum in . 

In a video clip that was uploaded to , Noem spoke of her granddaughter who is almost two, Addie, and declared how she owns the weapons together with a pony named Sparkles. 

‘Little Miss Addie, who is almost two, and Branch who’s just a few months old, they have brought us so much joy.They’ve brought us purpose,’ Noem told the gathered crowd.

‘Now Addie, who you know — soon will need them, I wanna reassure you, she already has a shotgun and she already has a rifle and she’s got a little pony named Sparkles too. So the girl is set up,’ the conservative added.

Noem has long been a staunch supporter of gun rights and used her speech at the NRA event to sign an executive order aimed at further protecting Second Amendment rights in South Dakota. 

Her comments about Addie drew criticism online.

Addie is the daughter of Noem’s daughter Kassidy and her husband, Kyle Peters. 

‘I’m trying hard not to a be a «helicopter» grandma but it’s hard….I may have to give that idea up.Miss Addie and I have so many adventures to plan,’ Noem wrote on Facebook on the day of her granddaughter’s birth. 

‘What is the phone number for South Dakota’s Child Welfare Services? Someone needs to report this child neglect,’ said Jayme Ruimveld.

‘Absolutely sickening.How the hell is this real life in America?’ asked Chris Jackson. 

‘A 2-year-old who pulled the trigger on a shotgun he or she was holding to their shoulder would be knocked down and likely injured,’ noted Tom Mallory.

‘This can’t be real?!?What?!!?’ shared PJ Byrne with a note of skepticism.

‘These gun fetishizers are out of their minds. They act like guns aren’t even dangerous to just give a 2 year old yet they need an AK-47 to go to the drug store. No 2 year old needs or should have a rifle,’ added Lnonblonde.

‘Help me understand WTF a 2 year old would do with a shotgun and a rifle?I realize it was probably a gift from someone, but…wouldn’t a cute new outfit be more beneficial?’ tweeted Gary Orvold.

‘WOW. My 2 year-old grandson has puzzles, books musical instruments, hot wheels cars, and jumps off couches.Where have I gone wrong?’ added another grandparent. 

At the same event, Former President Donald Trump crowned himself as ‘the most pro-gun, pro-Second Amendment president’ in the nation’s history. 

‘I will be your loyal friend and fearless champion once again as the 47th president of the United States,’ he told the crowd, pledging to create a new tax credit to reimburse teachers ‘for the full cost of a concealed-carry firearm,’ as well as gun training ‘from highly-qualified experts.’ 

Trump’s appearance was his first public event since being arrested and arraigned in New York last week on felony charges stemming from a hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign. 

His Secret Service protection meant attendees couldn’t carry guns at the convention.

The former president made a few references to the numerous investigations he’s facing. Instead of the government going after hardened criminals, he complained, ‘The only one they want to prosecute is Donald Trump.’

The controversy surrounding Noem’s comments reflects the ongoing debate over gun control and the Second Amendment in the United States. 

The conference, comes not long after two mass shootings in the U.S.including a shooting at the Covenant school in Nashville, Tennessee, where three children and three adults were killed. 

Five more people were killed on April 10 in a shooting at a bank in Kentucky. 

Many Republicans argue the right to bear arms is a fundamental part of American culture and a necessary protection against tyranny, while Democrats and progressives believe that the proliferation of firearms poses a grave threat to public safety with stricter regulations are needed to prevent gun violence. 

The issue has become increasingly politicized in recent years, with both sides fiercely defending their positions.

The NRA-ILA Leadership Forum also featured former Vice President Mike Pence, who returned to his home state to address the crowd.

His appearance was met with loud boos from some attendees, although there were also some supporters in the audience with one person shouting, ‘I love you, Mike,’ to which Pence acknowledged.