The parents of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin offered a rare glimpse into the familial dimension of the Tea Party favorite and potential presidential contender's life in an interview with the BBC published online on Monday.
Chuck and Sally Heath talked with the U.K.-based outlet in their home in Wasilla, Alaska.
Speaking on their daughter's rise to political superstardom within the conservative community, Palin's parents addressed how some of the less favorable aspects of her fame have come to impact their lives. They said that the entire family has faced death threats.
ABC News reported in January that an aide to the former governor said that security threats had increased in the wake of the tragic shooting in Tucson, Arizona in which numerous victims were left wounded or killed. Palin's response to the incident sparked a firestorm of controversy.
"As a mother I do have concerns about her safety and that of the kids... she knows how I feel, that it's risky," said Palin's mother on the prospect Palin could mount a 2012 campaign. Her father confessed, "We sleep with the guns."
Palin herself told the BBC, "Our family is pretty thick-skinned." She added, "For the last 20 years in political office our family has put up with a lot of flak. We're still standing and we're doing well, so we're not worried too much about the pressure."
The interview comes amid buzz over the possibility Palin could run for president in the next election cycle. During an appearance on Fox Business last week, the potential candidate signaled, however, it could be months before she announces whether or not she plans to launch a campaign for the White House.
"I still think it's months away before people need to be lining up and making announcements as to what to do," she said. "In the meantime, I'm going to keep chiming in on the issues that are important in this day."
Click here to watch video of the remarks Palin's parents made to the BBC and for more details from the interview.