Pittsburgh Steelers Shooting Party Photos Draw Criticism

Photos have been released of members of the Pittsburgh Steelers playing around with guns at an event held by the Pennsylvania State Police. The photos, which were taken in 2006, have been circulating on the internet for a while and were recently investigated by the Philadelphia Daily News. The photos have raised plenty of questions about gun safety and the judgment of Pittsburgh Steelers players and the police.

The photos were taken at a shooting party with Pennsylvania State Police troopers at the Greensburg barracks. Many are questioning why police gun ranges are used for social events.

State police, however, note that they regularly host firearms-safety instruction for members of the public. They also denied that any firearms that were considered evidence were used during the party and that no state police munitions were used.

However, the Pittsburgh Steelers gun party photos show an evidence tag on one of the guns and boxes of police-issued bullets are visible in others. The photos also show Pittsburgh Steelers players violating all kinds of safety rules. There are even a photo of a Steelers player jokingly pointing guns at each others heads.

So which Pittsburgh Steelers players were in the photos? Ike Taylor, James Harrison, Max Starks, James Farrior, Brett Keisel, and former Steelers Najeh Davenport and Joey Porter all make appearances in the photos.

You can see the Pittsburgh Steelers gun party photos here.