Tommy Jordan, Laptop Shooting Dad, Appears On 'TODAY' Show To Discuss Daughter's Punishment (VIDEO)

One month after Tommy Jordan's controversial clip was posted on YouTube, the father who shot his daughter's laptop appeared on NBC's "TODAY" to discuss the video that riled parents across the nation.

Jordan, who has been avoiding media attention since the incident, spoke with Matt Lauer about his actions, saying that although he's been scrutinized by thousands, he still stands by his actions.

For the first time, daughter Hannah Marie also weighed in on the video.

"I think he overreacted a little bit, but I understand," the 15-year-old told Lauer.

In February, Hannah posted a message on Facebook complaining about her parents. Jordan found the note and said he took to the public to show Hannah the consequences of her actions.

"I got down on her level," Jordan said. "She put it on Facebook; I put it on Facebook."

Jordan explained that several other methods proved ineffective in the past, and finding the teen's note was the last straw. But Jordan was quick to point out that he loves his daughter.

"I have a great daughter," Jordan told Lauer. "She made a mistake that day; I made a mistake that day."

Days after Jordan's video made its rounds on the Internet, the gun-toting father took to his Facebook page to say he'd do it again, though with a few minor tweaks: He'd ditch the cigarette, retract calling his daughter an "ass," change hats and shine his boots.

In addition, the past few weeks have taught the entire family how powerful -- and public -- the Internet truly is, the Associated Press observes.

Hannah remains grounded to this day, and no, a new laptop isn't coming her way in the near future. However, Jordan did reveal he removed the hard drive that holds Hannah's data and photos before he shot the device. When the time comes, he said he'd give it back.

Watch a clip from the interview above then head to the "TODAY" website for the full video.

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Comments

[JaeJaeIs2Cute4U]

11:09 AM on 12/18/2012

Why do people think this is parenting? This is NOT parenting. This is humiliation and being a child yourself. If she was screwing up, then it's as a result of 15 years of HIS parenting. Home should be a place of structure and discipline, but it should also be a place where you are safe to fall when you make mistakes. He was just mad because she told the truth and embarrassed him.

[Yuan Tao]

11:24 PM on 07/15/2012

This teaches the kid to fear him, but not to truly respect him. Is he and his supporters really too dumb to know the difference?

[princessveena]

07:20 AM on 04/27/2012

Dang....she looks about as old as he does. Can't believe she's the daughter. She can pass as their sister!

[Johnangry]

10:40 PM on 05/16/2012

No, she's just fat with glasses.

[jordanp321]

08:29 AM on 04/21/2012

meg griffin

[Dragonlupin]

02:34 AM on 05/24/2012

It's mean, but she does look a little like Meg Griffin.

[Joshua Kaanaana]

02:38 AM on 04/21/2012

Lol, anyone else notice how he kept blaming his daughter before he took any responsibility?

[emulsifier]

07:15 PM on 04/20/2012

I am unsure about my feelings to this particular incident.

But from what I see, it's like a very common thing amongst teenagers to bad mouth their parents. I went through high school surrounded by kids like that. It's just, everybody does it, so it's the norm.

But I don't understand if the kids are incapable of forming thoughts, or incapable of processing the thought they uttered. Do they know what they're saying? Do they feel it?

I never went through that infamous rebellious teenage phase, albeit I grew up with strict disciple early on (not the time out, grounding stuff. I am talking real discipline :P ) and self disciplined through my teenage.

But it depends on the child. And type of parenting. If there is no discipline or too much discipline or disciplining methods are not being delivered properly (i.e. without reasoning).

[femanist]

05:36 PM on 04/20/2012

I expect that she'll probably get a job and buy her own laptop, as he said she should. And she'll hate him. She'll pay him the $130 of software he bought, to promptly shoot a day later. And she'll hate him. She'll even pay back the $6 he demanded for the privilege of having him expend six bullets on her laptop. And she will hate him for it.
Parents today need to learn that, while they are allowed to do these things by law, they are more immature than their children if they can't take criticism, and then go and call their kids "stupid", "ass", "lazy", etc. He's a complete hypocrite and solipsist who is raising his daughter to be as closed-minded and mean-spirited as him.
What if parents realized that their children are human with minds of their own and tried to negotiate and nurture, and allow their children to negotiate and nurture back, instead of try to overbear, dominate, and suppress them?
I thought these people were supposed to love each other? I don't care how easy the word is to say, especially for cameras, if your response to a person's critique of you, even if it is completely unfounded, which I doubt this is, is to insult them and discharge a firearm at something that they consider their property, you do not love them. And unless they are crazy, they do not love you.

[Johnangry]

10:42 PM on 05/16/2012

Uh, did you not notice they were in the south? This means this was mainstream.

[jusasweethrt]

09:43 PM on 03/12/2012

lol.....after seeing this guys daughter......he should be glad his she has ANY friends on facebook....lol...well...my daughters ALOT prettier...but kudos to him for what he did....

[shortguy54]

01:33 PM on 03/12/2012

Actually, I found both of them reasonable and reasonably contrite. Both were over the top, both realize that now. What a great teaching moment for both of them!

[VA Jill]

01:30 PM on 03/12/2012

Oh for pete's sake! Kids talk ugly about their parents. They probably have from time immemorial. It doesn't constitute "seriously out of control" unless you're a total control freak, which apparently this dad is. He needs to get over himself.

[Veluriel]

02:26 AM on 03/12/2012

I wasn't aware that posting on FB constituted being "dangerously out of control." Good grief, it's not like she was peddling drugs to toddlers.

And the point that us "bleeding hearts" are trying to make is this - the level of punishment should suit the transgression. Using a weapon primarily used in killing, no matter how rationalized or calmly executed, is setting a poor example both for the daughter and anyone who watches the video.

If you teach people (kids) that violence of any sort, even against an inanimate object, is okay when you're upset, they will absorb that. My boyfriend cheated on me? I guess it's okay to key his car, as long as I calmly explain to him why he deserved it. Does it matter that he's her father and he's disciplining his daughter? Absolutely. Because that daughter (or any other kid) will absorb her lesson as such - if you are wronged, it's okay to destroy property. It's okay to use violence. It's okay to use a gun for something other than its intended purpose.

[Uzer Nolaski]

01:43 PM on 03/24/2012

Amen. Even though the dad wants her to learn a lesson, violence never solves anything. And for those bigots who say we are weak for saying that, We just prefer to not go "barbaric" on how to punish our kids. They are kids/teens, not prisoners/slaves/parasites. Psh the guys calling some parents "soft" are probably teaching their own kids with a harsh physical beating or have their kids taken from them over the charges of "child abuse". I rather be "soft" than in legal issues imho

[Mara Tdo]

08:55 PM on 03/11/2012

sorry he just want to be famous why would real dad do that. if he was doing that to my daughter I would kill him cause what he is teaching is when u mad git gun..

[Ossit]

12:20 AM on 03/11/2012

To justify his idiocy he's got to now shoot off his mouth. This man is dangerous. Anger management problems + gun = trouble.

[nikkiejanee1972]

04:21 AM on 03/11/2012

i know..right
when he gets mad...he's first thought is to bring out his gun
i mean....it's almost like he wanted to hurt his child physically
but took it out on the laptop instead
i hope the dog doesn't tick him off

[Rfrufus]

11:02 PM on 03/10/2012

Seems to be a lot of bleeding hearts here wanting to stick thier noses in another mans dicipline technique, that looks suspiciously successfull. the juvinile "system" here is clogged with young people who have never had any dicipline, if you think spanking is going to hurt thier little personalities what part of thier psyche is prison going to affect, think about it

[GFRich]

10:01 AM on 03/11/2012

Sometimes it takes something drastic to get results. I wouldn't have destroyed a perfectly good piece of equipment, though. Especially after the upgrade that he mentioned in the video.

[Rfrufus]

11:10 AM on 03/11/2012

I work in a major oil refinerey doing equipment upgrades, the things we throw away after our work is done, any poor boy refinerey or third world country would be proud to have, and we throw the stuff in the trash. a man junking out a $500.00 laptop, his house his stuff.

[gkparks1]

12:35 PM on 03/11/2012

Forget all those abused and starving children in the projects. Here's a chance to hassle a middle-class gunowner. Save this girl, before her iPod gets shot, or some other thing too horrible to comprehend!

[Rfrufus]

12:53 PM on 03/11/2012

With the money we have spent in the middle east, wall street, GM, Fanny Mae, cash for clunkers and Eric Holders salary we could have fed, bought a laptop and a new car for every person in this country,, just saying

[Esteman]

01:59 AM on 03/10/2012

He couldn't just take it away from her?
Let me guess, he's from the south?
Some of these guys just have to clutch something phallic to feel manly.
So to show everybody what a man he is, he has to shoot something.

[gkparks1]

12:23 PM on 03/11/2012

That's his privelege.
That Fluke witch makes her sex life everyone's business, and when people comment they're told it's none of their business. So apply that here: he posted his method of discipline, and if you don;t like it, tough.