To answer affirmative to a parent that asked if you had guns in your house prior to their child coming over?

I think you have to

certainly

I would answer a question with a question. Do you own firearms? If they answer yes, then you can have a more open conversation. If they answer no, then my answer would be my house is secure.

yes, I have firearms in my home... Do you have straws, cause you suck!

of course I would answer yes..

I think the appropriate thing is to answer a question with a question:

 

Do they have bleach, ammonia, fertilizer, starting fluid, Reddi Whip, gasoline, spray paint, prescription drugs (particularly pain killers) in unsecured locations, knives, electricity, natural gas, dogs? ALL OF THESE ITEMS HAVE THE SAME (or more) CAPACITY TO KILL, MAIM, GET HIGH, ETC.

absolutely answer yes... and you should be prepared for a child entering your house while you have firearms present.

absolutely answer yes... and you should be prepared for a child entering your house while you have firearms present.

 

take the magazine out and make sure there isn't anything in the chamber, hide it somewhere up high.. that's all.

I think the appropriate thing is to answer a question with a question:

 

Do they have bleach, ammonia, fertilizer, starting fluid, Reddi Whip, gasoline, spray paint, prescription drugs (particularly pain killers) in unsecured locations, knives, electricity, natural gas, dogs? ALL OF THESE ITEMS HAVE THE SAME (or more) CAPACITY TO KILL, MAIM, GET HIGH, ETC.

 

+1 There are so many things that a kid can get into that can hurt and or kill them. You just need to be responsible.

People are just asking a simple question. You don't answer a question with another question. It's just plain rude. Don't be an asshole. Answer truthfully and move the conversation into the positive and use it as an oppurtunity to make the best out of the situation. No sense being a dick to someone just asking a question.

Yes Yes Yes

I think that's a great question. As a parent and a gun owner, I would like to know the answer to that myself if my child is going to a friends house. Nothing wrong with that. How are they secured should be the next question.

People are just asking a simple question. You don't answer a question with another question. It's just plain rude. Don't be an asshole. Answer truthfully and move the conversation into the positive and use it as an oppurtunity to make the best out of the situation. No sense being a dick to someone just asking a question.

 

 

How is that being a dick or an asshole? I wouldn't lie to them, and would tell them yes. But I would also tell them that I am safety conscious and would not let their child come to harm. Would they be able to say the same things based on the stuff in their house? Do you ask everyone your child hangs out with if their knives are locked up? Their cabinets with meds or chemicals are locked?

People are just asking a simple question. You don't answer a question with another question. It's just plain rude. Don't be an asshole. Answer truthfully and move the conversation into the positive and use it as an oppurtunity to make the best out of the situation. No sense being a dick to someone just asking a question.

 

 

How is that being a dick or an asshole? I wouldn't lie to them, and would tell them yes. But I would also tell them that I am safety conscious and would not let their child come to harm. Would they be able to say the same things based on the stuff in their house? Do you ask everyone your child hangs out with if their knives are locked up? Their cabinets with meds or chemicals are locked?

 

 

You answer a question with a question and your being a dick. Thats how.

Okay enough, your both being smucks. You both agree the answer is yes so leave it at that.

Interesting interpretations but I realize now I owe you all an explanation as to why I ask. It's not a trick so don't worry.

 

I don't have kids but I am right on the same page with damagedworld when it comes to no excuse for skipping a safe. My guns are in a safe with two locks, one lock is a key, that key is in a mini-vault. Both are bolted down from the inside, no one short of a safe cracker is getting to them. I am all about preparing for the burgalar when I am not home.

 

but I was at work the other day with a woman that I find has a VERY good head on her shoulders, a tech of sorts. We were talking about incidents with children (she worked at a news company) and I mentioned Bry@n's story about the sleep over mix up.

 

After some discussion, (we had work to do) she said she learned the hard way what to ask before letting her kids play at another persons house. Her questions were in this order;

 

1. Do you have guns in the house?

2. Are they secure?

3. How familiar are your children with the use of firearms? (!!)

 

 

This struck me as rather odd. She explained that her son went to a friends house, she had asked question 1 and 2 and was satisfied. What neither parent counted on was that the child that was so familiar with hunting rifles, and by all accounts very good with firearms and safety concious, suddenly took a big mental swing to where he wanted to show off to her son. Her son admitted that after he found out there were guns in the house, and that his mother knew about them and pproved the sleep over anyway, both kids both concluded that it was okay to handle them. They both got into a locked cabinet. Nothing happened but she got very upset when her son came home talking about how he got to handle a real rifle.

 

It got me thinking about a few different tangents. First off, I don't have kids, but I have a platoon of neices and nephews. None of their parents EVER asked if I had a gun but there is really no reason they should think I do not. I just don't want to volunteer the information.

 

As for my opinion, and I have been of this opinion for a while, is that if I have these guns in a safe, combination memorized, one key in existance and it is locked away so tight it would take a blow torch to get at it, Why admit you have guns?

 

It will be one more person in the neighborhood that knows, another gossip that could shoot their mouth off, another way for a criminal to gain intel.

This isn't so paranoid as it sounds. The next door neighbors have two beautiful kids about the same age as two of my neices and I could see them getting along well when they come to visit. But the father is this gangabanger wannabe that is abusive, a drug user and couldn't care less who knows he has a chip on his shoulder. Luckily he comes by once in a blue moon, lucky for me anyway.

 

I sure as hell don't want this guy knowing what I have. I am a firm believer in OPSEC.

 

That said, I don't think that you are required to answer a parents question about a gun in the house. I believe the law just requires you to keep them out of their reach.

 

The only problem I see, hence the question, is if I say no I am lying. Morally wrong, sure, but overall I have little issue with it.

Okay enough, your both being smucks. You both agree the answer is yes so leave it at that.

 

Wow so far tonight I've been told I'm a dick, an asshole and a schmuck And I wasn't even arguing, just stating an opinion. Someone asked a question and I answered what I would do. I didn't ask anyone's opinion, just responded to a question. Sorry it wasn't an answer that others didn't like I'll try to make everyone happy next time

I just tell them I am a hunter.

Okay enough, your both being smucks. You both agree the answer is yes so leave it at that.

 

Wow so far tonight I've been told I'm a dick, an asshole and a schmuck And I wasn't even arguing, just stating an opinion. Someone asked a question and I answered what I would do. I didn't ask anyone's opinion, just responded to a question. Sorry it wasn't an answer that others didn't like I'll try to make everyone happy next time

 

Thanks for correcting my spelling you putz! I'm only kidding bro, don't take it to heart.

People are just asking a simple question. You don't answer a question with another question. It's just plain rude. Don't be an asshole. Answer truthfully and move the conversation into the positive and use it as an oppurtunity to make the best out of the situation. No sense being a dick to someone just asking a question.

 

 

If you think its a simple question you are either naive or havent interacted with many parents on the behalf of your kids.........

 

 

Lets play paint a picture and let me show you the value of reservation in answering the question.

 

Tommy's parents are left wing liberal fearful typical anti's. They ask you if you own. You say yes I do. Tommy and your boy get into an argument in your front yard about who's red power ranger fell into the storm drain. In escalates and your kid says "you make me so mad I could kill you!". You fish out the power ranger and all is well for the rest of the day. Tommy's parrents pick him up and ask him how his day was. Kids, loving to be dramatic belts out it was great except when we dropped the red power ranger down the drain and Billy said he was so mad he would kill me. Now that phobia level fearful mind kicks into overdrive. The police get called because the parents fear Billy is going to bring a gun to school and get even because after all, Billys parents TOLD US they have guns in the house. The PO PO pay you a visit and take the oppurtunity to divest you of all that you own until it is sorted out. You will get to pick your stuff back up from the prosecuters office in Toms River in 6 months to a year.

 

 

If you havent learned this yet in life, you will. YOU CANT PUT RATIONAL THOUGHT AND LOGIC INTO AN IRRATIONAL MIND. In the world of parents, irrational minds are the norm, not the exception. If you think anything I have presented is far fetched, do your research, you will find it is not and has actually occured many times........

Where I grew up, it was assumed all houses had guns and if the old man wanted you to see them, he'd show you and maybe let you shoot it, but if you looked without permission, he'd kick your ass or shoot you.

 

I am not kidding. This was simply how it was where I grew up.

 

I remember going to friend's houses _WITH AMMO_ as a 12yo because we were going to go shoot the .22s and pellet guns.

 

So my answer to the question would be "Of course. Your kid will be protected if any bad guys show up". If their eyelids start twitching and they cancel the play date, oh well.

People are just asking a simple question. You don't answer a question with another question. It's just plain rude. Don't be an asshole. Answer truthfully and move the conversation into the positive and use it as an oppurtunity to make the best out of the situation. No sense being a dick to someone just asking a question.

 

Really? A simple question? And when they ask you your credit score, how much money you make, whether you are hetero or homo sexual would you feel the need to answer ANY of those questions?

 

The truth is that there is more chance in life that your child will have contact with a child molester than be harmed by a gun. You don't see these same sort of people asking anyone if they have ever been accused or convicted of being a child molester though...

 

But that's ok. I'm gonna change my name to Richard JUST so YOU can call me Dick... :evil:

If I was asked, I would tell em the truth. I like the way Tim made the hunter comment.

 

In the end, I would want to be satisfied if the shoe was on the other foot.

 

Tough call. I wouldn't be concerned about people knowing because a lot of people in my town have guns. It's like owning a pick up truck.

Ok, let me update my opinion. If you answer a question with a question then you are being rude and quite possibly a dick. Simple question or not it stands. Just answer it to your liking and if you have a question for them then go for it. No need to be rude just to prove a point. You ask a client/boss/spouse/friend/ child a question you are looking for an answer. Would you like if one of those people answered your question with a question? The answer is no you would not. Im not calling anyone a dick, but like I said answering a question with a question is a dickish thing to do.

 

...Tommy's parrents pick him up and ask him how his day was. Kids, loving to be dramatic belts out it was great except when we dropped the red power ranger down the drain and Billy said he was so mad he would kill me. Now that phobia level fearful mind kicks into overdrive. The police get called because the parents fear Billy is going to bring a gun to school and get even because after all, Billys parents TOLD US they have guns in the house. The PO PO pay you a visit and take the oppurtunity to divest you of all that you own until it is sorted out. You will get to pick your stuff back up from the prosecuters office in Toms River in 6 months to a year...

 

I can see your point about the situation getting escalated, but under what law/statue/obligation are the police allowed to confiscate your stuff?

If I was asked, I would tell em the truth. I like the way Tim made the hunter comment.

 

In the end, I would want to be satisfied if the shoe was on the other foot.

 

Tough call. I wouldn't be concerned about people knowing because a lot of people in my town have guns. It's like owning a pick up truck.

 

Exactly.. if the shoe was on the other foot I think you would want an answer too.

 

Me--Do you have guns in your house?

 

You--- Do you have bleach in your house?

 

Me--- (in my head) what the F is up this douches ass?

 

Seriously has society forgotten how to talk to people? In this scenario its your kids friends parent. No need to be douchy

People are just asking a simple question. You don't answer a question with another question. It's just plain rude. Don't be an asshole. Answer truthfully and move the conversation into the positive and use it as an oppurtunity to make the best out of the situation. No sense being a dick to someone just asking a question.

 

Really? A simple question? And when they ask you your credit score, how much money you make, whether you are hetero or homo sexual would you feel the need to answer ANY of those questions?

 

 

Be realistic man. Seriously

 

...Tommy's parrents pick him up and ask him how his day was. Kids, loving to be dramatic belts out it was great except when we dropped the red power ranger down the drain and Billy said he was so mad he would kill me. Now that phobia level fearful mind kicks into overdrive. The police get called because the parents fear Billy is going to bring a gun to school and get even because after all, Billys parents TOLD US they have guns in the house. The PO PO pay you a visit and take the oppurtunity to divest you of all that you own until it is sorted out. You will get to pick your stuff back up from the prosecuters office in Toms River in 6 months to a year...

 

I can see your point about the situation getting escalated, but under what law/statue/obligation are the police allowed to confiscate your stuff?

 

good question

To answer affirmative to a parent that asked if you had guns in your house prior to their child coming over?

 

I would be compelled to think what is wrong with these people.

 

When my sons were young and lived at home I don't think anyone knew. If I was asked, I would not answer. I think it is rude to ask that question. I would nicely tell them it's none of their effing business.

 

My kids are grown and have their own homes now.

 

Present time everyone knows I have guns and am extremely radical and dangerous. :violence-guntoting: