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May 2012 Moms
I just want to say don't judge me..
Ok so yes I carry a gun, I do it because my hubby is a poilce officer and it makes him feel better, I pray I never have to use it EVER but yes I carry a gun. My co-workers know because I asked them (after my boss of course) to make sure no one felt uncomfortable with it, I work in a small office so I did it out of respect because if any of them said they felt uncomfortable i would leave it in my car, its not like I wave it around I literally have put it in my purse in April (when i got my permit to carry) and have never even touched it, any ways, I have a co-worker that is on my back and keeps asking me if I'm going to carry it when baby gets here, I said yes of course, why wouldn't I? Of anytime I wouldn't carry it now of course I am going to protect us both, but she is on me about safety and the baby, the baby is not going to be near it, its in my purse, in two different pockets in a holster with the safety, my purse is never on the ground i always hang it in my closet when i get home, its just like people who have guns in the house, if you lock them up and teach children the purpose and safety behind them.Idk why it annoys me so bad, its like she's making me feel as if I'm putting my kid in harm. ....might be the hormones why I'm getting so annoyed but anyways just had to vent blah! lol you get a cookie if you read all of this random babble!
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Re: I just want to say don't judge me..
It's not something I would do, guns scare the crap out of me, but I respect your decision to carry a gun for your protection. I would just be careful when the baby comes, at least when it's a little older.
A gun locked up somewhere in your house is a lot different than in a zipped pocket in your purse.
Good for you! Yes, guns are dangerous but if you take the necessary precautions it's nothing to be afraid of. When took DH took me shooting, I cried because of how scared I was. Ten minutes later, I was feeling great about it!
Personally, I think people who smoke around their children are putting them more in harm's way than you ever could by carrying a gun in your purse.
Exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this made my day because the girl that keeps bugging me does smoke!! LOL on a postivie note all the firearms we have in our house are locked, we have a gun case becuase we have a small neice that I would never forgive myself if anything happened too! We're very safe when it comes to them, I know accidents happen all the time but i also beleive if you teach your children to respect them it makes a difference as well
It might be something you have to worry about when she gets older. Toddler age kids like to go through stuff and I guarantee she will get into your purse and pull everything she can find out.
My husband is purchasing a gun, not my decesion, but it will not be kept anywhere near the floor of the house, more than likely up in the top of a closet, and will not be taken out of its permanent location.
With that said, it is your decesion where you keep your gun when your child is around.
I was raised in a home where gun safety was taught from a very young age, because my father collects guns. He always stored them unloaded in locked cabinets/display cases. I was taken to the firing range at age 4 so I would understand why not to play with guns; my step brothers experienced the same.
Despite their best efforts, my brothers managed to find the keys and play with the guns a few times a year. If our parents slept in on a weekend, they'd start looking for the keys. If one parent was not home and the other went out to the backyard to start the grill, they'd start looking for the keys. A few times, they managed to load it and everything before anyone caught them, and despite severe punishment, they continued to do it. They didn't stop until one of the guys we knew from the gun shows was robbed in his home and shot with his own gun--he survived, but his children had to listen to it all happen while they were locked in the closet (where the burglar put them) and were pretty traumatized, as they thought their dad was dead and had to wait over an hour before anyone outside the home realized something was wrong and called the police. Seeing a family friend undergo surgery then have to go limping around and taking his traumatized kids to therapy, combined with the severe punishment they got when they actually broke an antique weapon, was the only thing that did it.
Then there are people who are just stupid with guns:
https://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/6859362/new-york-jets-plaxico-burress-reveals-more-shooting-prison
Certainly if you are going to have guns around your children, practice good safety protocol and educate them. At the same time, don't expect that to keep them safe or stop them from doing foolish things. My two cents....
I agree with others. LOL, as her if she plans to quit smoking forever after she has a baby in order to keep him/her safe. Maybe that will shut her up.
I've never been a big fan of guns but had an oppurtunity recently to have a discussion with some men at a work training who all have fire arms in their homes and kids. It really opened my eyes to things. basically, one of the take home messages I got was that you can control what goes on in your home but not necessarily what goes on in other people's homes once your child gets older and goes to friends' houses. If a child who has never seen a gun or even been talked to about guns who finds a gun somewhere in a house is going to be curious whereas a child whose parents have talked about guns and gun safety is far less likely to be curious b/c they have learned about guns. Food for thought and something that's been on my mind.
It's all about safety... if you are trained and know how to be safe around your gun and teach your children the same thing than good for you! It doesn't make sense to carry a gun to protect yourself but then not want to have one to protect you AND your child. I grew up around them, proper safety was taught and there were never any problems in my house. There are LOTS of ways that children can hurt themselves in any household and the key is to TEACH them how to be safe, not try to ban anything from the house that they could possibly hurt themselves with. (You would need to get ride of knives, cleansers, baseball bats... the list is endless).
It is very unfortunate that people love to pass judgement on this issue and I am sorry you are going through that. All I know is that if someone breaks into my house with the intention of hurting my family, I would be very sorry if I did not have the means and do every thing in my power to protect us. And luckily I live in a society that DOES give me the right to protect my family...
I wouldn't feel bad. I think instead of hiding our children away from potential dangers, that we have a bigger responsibility to teach them the dangers and the proper safety systems that went with it. It wasn't that long ago (just two generations actually) that parents would send their 5+ year old out into the woods with a rifle or pistol and expect them to come back with a rabbit or squirrel for supper.
My Granddaddy was one of those (like I said just 2 generations). At age 5 or 6 in Kentucky,(1940's) he was given a gun, three bullets and was expected to being back 3 forrest critters for supper. He knew the dangers, but he also knew how to do so safely even at such a young age. He even taught me how to safely handle guns and knives at a young age.
Granted, there have been a lot of changes since the 30's and 40's, but the premise is still the same. Parents who take the time to teach their kids the dangers and how to handle them instead of wrapping them in bubble wrap and Germ-X tend to have more grounded kids. IMHO
People who are licenced and carry are not the ones out killing people with guns or having their children shooting people. It's the idiots out there that are not educated who are. I'm glad that I'm lucky to live in a society where responsible people DO carry. The least safe places to be are the places where guns are not allowed and snuck in.
2012
I hate guns and personally see no reason to carry one. Especially in my fragile-ness. If someone was coming at me with so much intent that I felt a gun was necessary, that gun would be more likely to be ripped from my hands and pointed at me than for me to actually shoot them. I'm a weakling, unfortunately.
However, It's our constitutional right to own and carry one. Therefore, I fight for that and I do not judge nor attack anyone else for doing so. The ones I give the side eye are the ones who handle them irresponsibly.
ETA: My FI can't wait to take our kids hunting and so one of the things we're doing is enlisting the use of toy guns. However they don't get to just run around with them. They will take them out to the back of the house, "shoot" cans and birds, and then lock them up in the gun case with daddys guns. Help them learn very early on that guns are not toys. I once threw away a toy gun at my churches nursery. Stupidest toy I've ever heard of...
I grew up with no guns anywhere. I don't know that I had ever seen a real one (other than on law enforcement) until I met DH. He's a hunter and took me to the shooting range on one of our first dates. This may sound crazy, but it was as much to make me more comfortable with it than anything. He is an avid hunter, so we have multiple guns in the house. It has taken me a long time to get used to (though they still make me nervous when I really start thinking about it). That being said, I totally respect him and his sport. I have no problem with someone who wants to carry doing so (except my FIL who still makes me nervous with his concealed carry permit, but that's a different story
).
I think it was very kind of you to ask your coworkers and being respectful of their comfort levels. I think they owe you at least enough respect to keep their offensive opinions to themselves. I'm sorry you are dealing with this! You will obviously put your child's safety at the top of your priority list and shouldn't worry about that one person's opinion.
Oh geez. I've lived around guns all my life. We have a 9mm and a 10g shot gun, and DH is planning to get some sort of assault rifle with income tax as well. I prefer to have guns around, because it makes me feel more safe. We also plan to get our concele and carry this summer. I don't feel the least bit that my children are in danger because they are in a safe place, and our children won't be able to get to them...and when they are old enough they will be taught the safety of them.
That co worker needs to shove it.
Let me make this analogy. This is my logic.
"I'm not comfortable sharing the grocery store with an off-duty officer."
Nobody thinks that way, because there is an assumption of responsibility and duty. Why not realize also that anyone carrying has been vetted, educated, and trained appropriately? Fearing these citizens is fearing an ally. Taking away the right to bear arms would only empower criminals who don't care what the law says.
I say this without growing up with guns, without carrying myself, and knowing nobody that does. I just know that I would appreciate someone shooting a bank robber in the leg if I'm in the bank at the time.
Educating kids about all kinds of safety is the only way to protect them. Bubble wrap only goes so far...
If you hold a concealed carry permit, you do not have to share this information with anyone except law enforcement. I understand that you would be uncomfortable but that is most likely because you are not educated. Both my husband and I have concealed permits that are applicable to 30plus states. He carries everyday, no matter where we go, unless firearms are forbidden in the establishment or he plans on having a drink. I rarely carry because where I work doesn't allow it and I don't feel the need to if I am with my armed husband. Only a few of our friends are aware of this and the general public, including people he works with, do not know a thing. In my mind, and what I was taught in my concealed carry classes, the only reason someone should know you conceal carry is if there is ever an instance to use your gun. This doesn't mean be afraid of everyone you meet, it just means maybe instead of deciding guns are bad, think about how many lives they can save while the whole time ignorance is your bliss.
DS #1 born 05/25/2012
BFP#2: 06/12/2013 ---- loss
DS #2 born 4/08/2014
BPF#4: 2/1/2016 --- 2/23/2016 suspected molar pregnancy--- 3/15/2016 D&E - diagnosis MM
BFP#5 - 9/22/2016
* formally bornmommy
What? I'm sorry, I was on board with the whole anti-judgment theme of this post, even though I am opposed to guns, because it is your right and if you are following the laws for guns in your state etc then it is none of my business.
But implying that those of us who are opposed to guns or don't like them are "ignorant" is absurd and equally judgmental in my mind. Some people like guns. some people don't. Thankfully, the 2nd amendment does not force me to carry a gun, and it allows you to do so. win-win.
and being "uncomfortable" with your co-worker carrying a gun has nothing to do with a conceal permit and everything else you mention in your post. If I know my co-worker has a gun and its not due to the fact that they had to use it at work or when I was with them, then that has nothing to do with education and everything to do with the person who has the gun talking about it.
People don't like guns for a variety of reasons, and they are not all because of ignorance or a lack of education.
I think it's all about how you teach your children! My husband has one and grew up in a household with them. He is quite the stickler for gun safety so I really don't worry too much.
I was not saying that you are ignorant. I was saying that you are ignorant to the fact that people are carrying. As in, you do not know that people are. Sorry if that came off differently.
DS #1 born 05/25/2012
BFP#2: 06/12/2013 ---- loss
DS #2 born 4/08/2014
BPF#4: 2/1/2016 --- 2/23/2016 suspected molar pregnancy--- 3/15/2016 D&E - diagnosis MM
BFP#5 - 9/22/2016
* formally bornmommy
Sorry, but I am very educated, have been handling guns since the age of four, and I would not be ok with this. I wouldn't say rude things to a coworker the way OP's coworkers did, but I would be pretty nervous.
Accidents happen--they happen hunting, they happen in the military, they happen among police, and they happen even during gun safety classes. I arm myself with pepper spray, and would carry a taser if it were legal in my state, but not a gun. (Yes, I live in a state where you can own an assault weapon, but you cannot own a taser unless you are police. WHAT.) This is because I KNOW what a gun accident looks like (have a friend who has a great scar from accidental friendly fire during a military training exercise), and I know what a pepper spray accident looks like. If my pepper spray accidentally goes off in my purse, I ruin my purse and have to be careful not to touch my eyes for a while. If you forget to check the safety on a gun and it accidentally goes off in your purse, the consequences can be much greater. Every time I saw a coworker rooting around absent-mindedly in her purse without looking, the way women do every day and the way men do with their briefcases and laptop bags, if I knew she had a gun in it, I would want to give her a lot of space.