Influencer couple says death threats over abortion drove them to keep a gun by their bed

An influencer couple who shared a heartbreaking decision to terminate a pregnancy online has revealed they now keep a loaded gun at their bedside because of the death threats they have received.

According to TMZ, Jesse and Ashley Ridgway of New Jersey say that the hate has come thick and fast "since announcing they terminated a pregnancy because their unborn child had Down syndrome."

They also told the site that they have been flooded with anger "from people they know personally to religious critics telling them they're going to hell and that Ashley doesn't deserve to be a mother."

In a lengthy post earlier this week, Jesse announced the decision and explained why they made it.

"When I first confronted this news, I was shocked but optimistic. If they’re a little slow intellectually, then we’ll make it work. I signed on to be a parent, come what may ... but I just didn’t fully understand what Down Syndrome entailed," he said, explaining that 75 percent of people with the condition have impaired hearing, half have impaired vision or heart defects, and half of Down Syndrome pregnancies end in miscarriage. Ultimately, he noted, 90 percent of pregnancies with this diagnosis are terminated.

"To all of my fans who have weighed in on this topic who have Autism, Down Syndrome or any other conditions ... we appreciate you," he wrote. "You matter a lot and we’re glad you’re here. I commend you and your families for having the strength and courage to push forward. As for us, we made a difficult decision that we believe in the long-run will be beneficial for our family. Thankfully, we had a choice."