Question for parents who are gun owners:

[Orrex]

Specifically, parents of still-young children.

How would/do you react if the parents of your children's friends ask whether you keep guns in the house and/or if you keep them safe?

[DissedByBush]

1. Yes, and they're in safes n/t

[benEzra]

2. Yes, we own guns, and they'd be in the safe unless one was on the person of an adult.

I'm hoping the questioner would be polite and reasonable, and not condescending or passive-aggressive. Of course, most parents we know own guns, so the "do you own..." part is somewhat moot around here. The "safe for nosy kids" question can be apropos, though.

I hope any parent asking about guns would also ask about pools...

[gejohnston]

3. when my kids were small,

we lived on base. Where I grew up, a house without guns were probably the exception and not the rule, so non issue.

[aikoaiko]

4. Yes, but they are not in a safe. They are locked in cases or lock boxes.

Or on my person.

I might ask if their cleaning chemicals, tools, and pharmaceuticals are locked up in return.

[OhioBlue]

5. Personally, I would appreciate the concern.

I have the same concerns. We do have guns in the house and they are locked up in a gun cabinet. Guns in the home is NOT my decision... I don't personally like guns all that much. I don't hunt, I don't shoot, I don't like them. My significant other is a hunter and comes from a family where it is tradition to hand down guns... Our compromise was that he had to buy something to lock them up in. We have friends that have a boy around 9 that hunts with his dad, he (the boy) has his own guns, his own cabinet in his room and has access to the key 24-7. they also have a loaded gun at the back door that the dad uses to shoot groundhogs or something. My son doesn't go to that house without us. Never will.

[tortoise1956]

8. I understand your concern,

and I agree with your answer to the situation. I don't like the idea of leaving loaded weapons out where anyone can get to them, at least not without a compelling reason like an imminent threat.

Personally, I was raised around guns and learned gun safety almost from the time I stopped wearing diapers. However, when my grandchildren reach the age where they can get into trouble, they will not have access to the weapons in my house, because I don't know what, if any training they will have received. Besides, it's better to be safe now than sorry later. Death is pretty permanent.

I do have a question. Is your significant other giving your son any type of safety training? If not, I highly recommend it. Even if you don't want him using weapons, it might come in handy in a situation where someone else around him is acting stupid. Think of it as preventive measures.

[OhioBlue]

26. No safety training yet. My son isn't quite 4 and I don't think it

is appropriate at this age. Your suggestion is a good one. I will discuss the issue with him. If you have any links handy on age appropriate discussions, i would welcome them.

[tortoise1956]

27. Whoops!

For some reason I assumed your son was older. No wonder you don't want him at the other house without your supervision. Please tell me that their son is older than 4...

I'm afraid I don't have much info on gun safety training. However, I'm sure that any number of posters here would be happy to help you out. In any case, 4 years old is probably just a bit young to start firearms discussions - wait until they're at least 4 and a half. (just kidding, honest!)

[OhioBlue]

29. Yes, their son is around 9 or so. He started going "hunting"

with his dad around age 6 - tho I don't think he was allowed to shoot until around 8 or so. It was quite a surprise when he took us in his bedroom to show us his new gun. It was in a locked cabinet, but he jumped on a milk crate, grabbed the key and got the gun out. The mom, is super friendly and has offered to babysit multiple times. But, I don't feel comfortable leaving my son there.

We've had overall safety discussions with my son... never go in a pool unless you're with a grown up, when crossing the street, hold a hand, stop and look both ways twice, guns, knives, daddy's tools - don't touch.

[Orrex]

6. Good answers, all. Thank you.

In real life I've encountered the "mind your own fucking business" mindset on this issue once or twice, so I'm gratified to discuss it with gun owners who are more aware of others' concerns.

[tortoise1956]

7. Hey Orrex,

I am a grandparent of four small grandchildren, one of which is reaching the stage where it will no longer be safe to leave my defensive weapons where she can get to them. That means I will soon be buying a safe to lock most of them up, as well as my hand loading supplies, and probably get an easily accessible lock box for the bedroom.

As far as being told off by some posters, don't worry about it. Most of us here are more than happy to answer honest questions concerning guns and the second amendment. We do, however, get a little touchy when we encounter willful ignorance and/or blatant attempts to incite us. your post is obviously not in the latter category.

Any other questions, bring 'em on.

[aikoaiko]

12. For me, the issue of this question is one coming from a friend of the family as opposed to ....

...a stranger or a professional.

Strangers or professionals get the MYOFB reply for sure.

[rl6214]

9. What I keep in my house is none of your business.

[Orrex]

10. Well, at least your answer is consistent with what I've found prior to this thread.

[krispos42]

11. "We keep all potential hazards safely stored". n/t

[aikoaiko]

13. That's a nice answer.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

20. We have used that and similar ones in the past

Today when I have a range on my property, it is a little harder do side step.

[ileus]

14. Everything is locked up except what is on my person.

[slackmaster]

15. My stepson is grown up. He had many friends, but no parent ever asked me such a personal question.

I would consider it rude.

[Atypical Liberal]

16. I have had this conversation.

I told the neighbors that all of our firearms are kept locked up.

[Kolesar]

17. My teenage neighbor shot and killed one of my classmates

...in the basement. Gary went to prison for minors. Bill is dead.

[DonP]

18. This is relevant to "still young children" how?

Every home in my neighborhood growing up had firearms, all were safely stored and nobody was hurt. But I'm not simple minded enough to think that every neighborhood is like mine was, are you?

[Kolesar]

19. Orrex asked a question in the original post. That is how it is relevant.

Everybody liked Bill. He was the newspaper boy.

[eqfan592]

23. Your story is still not relevant by itself.

Given the fact that the question was about gun owners and how they might respond to a question about their gun ownership by another parent and not about if you decide to keep a gun in the home or not, or even a question of the possible consequences of an unsecured gun, then the story by itself lacks relevance to the question at hand.

[Orrex]

25. Thank you for your response

IMO the terrible situation that you describe does indeed address the underlying issue of my question, even if I was focussing more specifically on small children rather than teenagers.

How very said for Bill's family.


Thanks again.

[virginia mountainman]

21. In most areas of the nation..

It is "assumed" that practically all the neighbors are armed.. As the parent of two teenagers, I have NEVER been asked this question, and to be frank, if I where asked I would chuckle, and respond with "Your not from around these parts are you?"

it is much better to "gun proof" your kid, with education, and the opportunity to see and use a firearm in a responsible mannor...Much better for you or another adult to teach them, instead of the TV or a video game.

Like the big knives in the kitchen, they grow up seeing them properly used, and understand that one can cause great bodily harm, their is no mystery their to them.

The problem arises when well meaning parents, go the extreme tact of "completely" keeping their kids away from guns...They have a natural curiosity, and if they ever come across one, it is all "new, and mysterious" and people sometimes get hurt..

I have a rather extensive military gun collection, when my kids where younger, I made it a point to have a rifle, or handgun propped up in the corner of the living room, it would be one needing a minor repair, or one that needed cleaning. No ammunition was anywhere near it or unlocked. So my kids grew up seeing a rifle, or pistol out all the time. Now as they are older they don't even notice, and my daughter has asked me questions about why, one of her friends parents are so "nuts" about guns being around. My daughter finds this perplexing, because she, views them as just another tool...like the knife in the kitchen..

They are just "their"...

[jeepnstein]

22. I consider it an opportunity.

I am always quite eager to discuss gun safety and especially storage issues with folks who are interested.

[Remmah2]

24. I tell them they are kept under lock and key (and they are).

Visa versa, I ask the same question of households where my kids visit. In addition I engage my kids in regular discussions about being safe around others firearms (quad runners, horses, cattle, electricity, water, agricultural chemicals, machinery, power tools, flammable liquids, drugs etc.) We have no problems and most other parents have no problems w/us.

There is communication, education and honesty in dealing with the issues instead of creating an environment of fear, mistrust, misconceptions and dishonesty.

Problems seem to occur when parents are not active in raising their kids.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

28. yes. they are locked up and hidden where no child can find them.

[diveguy]

30. Yup,

Most firearms are in the safes in my playroom, or in a safe at the firing range. With exception to the MP-5 and shotgun in the drawers under the bed. Only my wife and myself have access to the bed guns thru biometric locks. Oh, and whatever i have on me at the time guns on the top shelf of the closet when I'm home

[Cid_B]

31. I remember...

as a kid growing up with guns around.

At my parents home they were in the closet or possibly somewhere in my folks room but I knew it was instant death from the wrathful God (if I touched em.)

My Grandfathers house was the next step up with guns spread throughout the home (at the bar, fridge, kitchen and every other room and then the actual gun room)

Again, instant death if I fiddled and I knew it. My grandpa hated the idea of other kids showing up cause hed have to run through the house with an armful of pistols before they came because we seemed to be the exception.

I have the biometric safe that is tuned to me and my wife.