Saturday Morning Controversy

Manda-Kay · June 2013

So of course the one night I don't turn my phone on silent, DH sends me a message in the middle of the night. I didn't read it until just now. He would like to buy a gun to commemorate his time overseas. He said it will be double locked and secured in place where little hands can't get it. You see on the news how parents do have guns locked up but somehow their kids find a way to get it. In our state we had a boy shoot and kill his younger brother on accident. It makes me sick to my stomach to think about having a gun on my house. I'm going to tell him no. Am I being over paranoid?

I don't want to start "a right to bear arms" debate. Since we are all mommies, I want to know your thoughts on having a gun in your house with your kids. Anyone already have one in their house?

Manda-Kay · June 2013

natalie8784:
We have multiple guns in our house. nbsp;Hand guns, hunting guns, etc. nbsp;I don't like it, but I know DH was raised in a house with guns, and has been taught wonderful gun safety his whole life. nbsp;It does make me nervous, and I would rather they not be here, but DH knows they will have to be properly locked and secured or there is no way in helll that I will let them stay in the house. nbsp;I will sell those puppies in a heartbeat if I find them dangerously kept. nbsp;

Neither one of us were brought up in a house with guns which is why is makes me extra nervous to have one.

Crossingfingers · June 2013

We have them in our home. DH was raised with them around, and so was I. We have a large gun safe that I honestly have a hard time getting into, so I am not worried at ALL about the kids getting them.

However, I think you both need to be on the same page about it. Do some research about it. My concealed carry is a Walter p22, and one thing I love about it is that not only does it have a traditional safety, but it also has a "backup" safety. Even if there is a bullet in the chamber, it will not fire unless the magazine is in place. I have let my kids shoot this one at the range before and they can't even pull back the slide.

If he does decide to get a gun, PLEASE look into gun safety classes. For you and him, and for children in the future.

ETA: Walther, not Walter. Dumb auto correct.

SpruceGrouse · June 2013

Trigger lock, gun safe and ammo stored separately locked away. That on top of education about how it is dangerous and not a toy, talk about it with your kids a lot to be sure they understand.

If you really are uncomfortable, perhaps take a gun course yourself to help get yourself educated and more comfortable.

If you still are not comfortable then your DH should respect that.

Manda-Kay · June 2013

I just messaged him about taking a gun safety class first before we make any decisions. I really like that idea so we shall see what he says.

cedenton · June 2013

Both DH and I were raised around guns. We have them in the house because he's LEO.

Whittyone12 · June 2013

Manda-Kay:
natalie8784:
We have multiple guns in our house. nbsp;Hand guns, hunting guns, etc. nbsp;I don't like it, but I know DH was raised in a house with guns, and has been taught wonderful gun safety his whole life. nbsp;It does make me nervous, and I would rather they not be here, but DH knows they will have to be properly locked and secured or there is no way in helll that I will let them stay in the house. nbsp;I will sell those puppies in a heartbeat if I find them dangerously kept. nbsp;

Neither one of us were brought up in a house with guns which is why is makes me extra nervous to have one.

We have multiple guns in our home, and my dad collected guns as I was growing up so we had a lot. We were raised to respect them and we were always told if we wanted to look at them we could, but only with an adult. It taught us that we didn't need to sneak around to look at them so we were safe.

Education is key to gun safety, maybe you could take a class on gun safety as a couple. They are usually free.

mindymaske · June 2013

Heres what I don't get. Guns in the home are mostly for safety right?

Well how will they protect you if you have to unlock them and go get the amo from another locked location? Hasn't the invader already had time to kill you?

But for safety the need locked up. So since I feel like them being locked up won't help (because of time) and because they can't be not secured, I see NO point in having them

I do understand that some guns are for hunting/recreation...so obviously those don't count in my theory. Obviously those are fine being locked up.

Crossingfingers · June 2013

mindymaske:
Heres what I don't get. Guns in the home are mostly for safety right?
Well how will they protect you if you have to unlock them and go get the amo from another locked location? Hasn't the invader already had time to kill you?
But for safety the need locked up. So since I feel like them being locked up won't help (because of time) and because they can't be not secured, I see NO point in having them
I do understand that some guns are for hunting/recreation...so obviously those don't count in my theory. Obviously those are fine being locked up.

We (my family) have guns for many reasons. Hunting, recreation, competition, collector items, and personal protection. To be completely honest we aren't worried very much about an intruder. Super, super long driveway, rottie, I mean, not a huge concern for us. However, I cc in public occasionally and dh does almost all the time. For us, that is where personal protection comes into play.

jessalynn521 · June 2013

I believe that if gun safety is followed that it isn't a bad thing to have a gun in the home. My parents did for protection. However they had gun and ammo locked up in different cases, and it had a fingertip lock. Like their thumb unlocked it, and no one else's would. I wouldn't tell my husband no if he wanted one, but we would invest in something similar.

halvorsonl00 · June 2013

I had an awesomely long response and C#2 hit my keyboard and deleted it Crying

So here goes my 2nd attempt. We hunt, so we have multiple weapons in our home (guns, bows, arrows, various hunting knives). We keep everything locked up in a safe and honestly, C#1 has no idea where the safe is and she's 5. She knows we have these things as she comes with us to the range when we shoot our bows (she is taking an archery class this summer too) and we talk to her about safety with all weapons.

It's all about education. I guarantee most of the stores you read on the new about siblings accidently shooting each other, there was something that wasn't being done right. A safe that wasn't locked, a gun being stored with the bullets in it, bullets being stored with the guns, things like that. I recommend taking a gun safety course. Maybe go to the range a few times and get comfortable. I browsed the other responses quick and someone said to get a gun you can shoot too. I totally agree.

As S grows up, its a good idea to teach him about gun safety too.

sdlaura · June 2013

We will never have a gun in our home, nor do I plan to allow my kids to play at a home with guns. I don't think that should be an issue in our area though - I don't know anyone who owns a gun.

Crossingfingers · June 2013

L12541:
We will never have a gone in our home, nor do I plan to allow my kids to play at a home with guns. I don't think that should be an issue in our area though - I don't know anyone who owns a gun.

I am absolutely not being snarky, but how will you know? It isn't like I wear a shirt that says we have guns at home. Will you only let your kids have play dates with children of your own friends? Will they not be allowed to have sleepovers at a home where a parent is a police officer? When you walk into my home our safe is not on display and I know that we have friends who have no idea how many guns we have, or that we have any at all. As a parent of an older child who does go on play dates and sleepovers alone, and who has had many different friends over and sleepovers, I have never asked or been asked if guns were in the home.

shakinros · June 2013

L12541:
We will never have a gone in our home, nor do I plan to allow my kids to play at a home with guns. nbsp;I don't think that should be an issue in our area though I don't know anyone who owns a gun.

This. No way for me either. I'm also with mindy in that it makes zero sense to me why people would say guns are for protection again intruders when a safe gun owner also has multiple safeguards in place to prevent immediate firing.

BUT i am now starting to understand the recreation and hunting point others made. I also like what PP said about always being able to look at them if an adult is present. That makes a lot of sense for taking away the appeal of looking at the guns in secret, and reduces accident risk.

I'll never think guns in the home are 100 percent safe but I'm now seeing more reasons why you would have them anyway. Good job on a reasonable debate, A12!

vic8504 · June 2013

We have 2 different hand guns in our house, and will always have guns. They clips are loaded and ready to go if we would need to use them for anything.

I grew up in a house with a ton of guns of all kinds. My parents could not afford a gun safe so we didn't have one. The shot guns and riffles (unloaded) stood up behind their bedroom door and the pistol (loaded) was on very top of their dresser mirror which was about 6 feet high. My sister and I were taught they were not toys and we never touched them.

SBmomma · June 2013

We don't own guns nor do we plan on it. But I have cousins who go duck hunting and have 3 kids all under the age of 7. They have a gnarly safe they keep everything in. And I have a brother in the Army who loves weapons of all sorts.

But in our house, no way.

mamahawk12 · June 2013

We own several guns and I am very comfortable with them in the house. As the kids get older they'll be educated in gun safety, it won't be some big secret that we have guns. I think dispelling the mystery about them helps quell a lot of the curiosity.

That said, I think if YOU are uncomfortable with them in the house, you should talk to your husband about the options. It's a decision that you both need to make together. It sounds like you're pretty uneasy over the idea, which would be a no-go if it were me.

MommyMelRN · June 2013

Crossingfingers:
L12541:
We will never have a gone in our home, nor do I plan to allow my kids to play at a home with guns. I don't think that should be an issue in our area though - I don't know anyone who owns a gun.

I am absolutely not being snarky, but how will you know? It isn't like I wear a shirt that says we have guns at home. Will you only let your kids have play dates with children of your own friends? Will they not be allowed to have sleepovers at a home where a parent is a police officer? When you walk into my home our safe is not on display and I know that we have friends who have no idea how many guns we have, or that we have any at all. As a parent of an older child who does go on play dates and sleepovers alone, and who has had many different friends over and sleepovers, I have never asked or been asked if guns were in the home.

Exactly why, when DS is old enough, he will be taking a gun safety class. We live in TX, I'm sure most of his little friends here will have guns in their homes. I'd rather him learn to respect them than be sorry!

fastcarsandfreedom3319 · June 2013

As PP's said, take a safety course, and shoot one yourself. Know how to use it and you won't be as scared of them. But this is not a decision to rush into, for sure.

And can I just say I think it is totally awesome how some of you cc? That is so bada$$

sdlaura · June 2013

Crossingfingers:
L12541:
We will never have a gone in our home, nor do I plan to allow my kids to play at a home with guns. I don't think that should be an issue in our area though - I don't know anyone who owns a gun.

I am absolutely not being snarky, but how will you know? It isn't like I wear a shirt that says we have guns at home. Will you only let your kids have play dates with children of your own friends? Will they not be allowed to have sleepovers at a home where a parent is a police officer? When you walk into my home our safe is not on display and I know that we have friends who have no idea how many guns we have, or that we have any at all. As a parent of an older child who does go on play dates and sleepovers alone, and who has had many different friends over and sleepovers, I have never asked or been asked if guns were in the home.

it's a valid question, and I think at this point we'll cross some of these bridges when we come to them. I do plan to ask whether there are guns in the home whenever my kid goes on a play date or sleepover. We don't know anyone now who is a police officer, though of course that's a possibility in the future, and I'll have to think then about whether to change my mind.

Andreabks · June 2013

we have 2 hand guns in the house, in drawer safes at all times. one in the front room, one in our room. both are loaded, but not chambered.

we have a multitude of "his and hers" hunting guns out in a safe in the garage.

as long as you and your husband follow proper gun safety there shouldn't be an issue. make sure if you are going to have one in the house, that you (not just yh) shoots it. you need to be familiar with it as well.

and teach your kid that guns are not toys. we take LO out with us when we go target shooting in the mountains, just keep her a hundred yards or so back until we can get her some good muffs. teach them safety young.

anyway, that's just my 2c.

SpruceGrouse · June 2013

L12541:
Crossingfingers:
L12541:
We will never have a gone in our home, nor do I plan to allow my kids to play at a home with guns. I don't think that should be an issue in our area though - I don't know anyone who owns a gun.

I am absolutely not being snarky, but how will you know? It isn't like I wear a shirt that says we have guns at home. Will you only let your kids have play dates with children of your own friends? Will they not be allowed to have sleepovers at a home where a parent is a police officer? When you walk into my home our safe is not on display and I know that we have friends who have no idea how many guns we have, or that we have any at all. As a parent of an older child who does go on play dates and sleepovers alone, and who has had many different friends over and sleepovers, I have never asked or been asked if guns were in the home.
it's a valid question, and I think at this point we'll cross some of these bridges when we come to them. I do plan to ask whether there are guns in the home whenever my kid goes on a play date or sleepover. We don't know anyone now who is a police officer, though of course that's a possibility in the future, and I'll have to think then about whether to change my mind.

You can definately ask but not all gun owners want to share this information. If you don't know them too well, they might want to keep it to themselves because of the threat of word getting around and that information getting into the wrong hands.

NewMommyKelsey · June 2013

Crossingfingers:
We have them in our home. DH was raised with them around, and so was I. We have a large gun safe that I honestly have a hard time getting into, so I am not worried at ALL about the kids getting them.
However, I think you both need to be on the same page about it. Do some research about it. My concealed carry is a Walter p22, and one thing I love about it is that not only does it have a traditional safety, but it also has a "backup" safety. Even if there is a bullet in the chamber, it will not fire unless the magazine is in place. I have let my kids shoot this one at the range before and they can't even pull back the slide.
If he does decide to get a gun, PLEASE look into gun safety classes. For you and him, and for children in the future.
ETA: Walther, not Walter. Dumb auto correct.

This is us exactly. Both DH and I have/own guns and they are in a huge safe in our garage. We both have permits as well to carry. I could have wrote this post exactly!

As a mom you are always going to worry, says the mom who worries about everything!

NewMommyKelsey · June 2013

L12541:
We will never have a gun in our home, nor do I plan to allow my kids to play at a home with guns. I don't think that should be an issue in our area though - I don't know anyone who owns a gun.

Just curious but not in a snarky way but how do you know who owns guns and who's carrying? When your kids are older and going on play dates to other homes are you going to ask the parents if they have firearms in the house?

NVM - Looks like crossingfingers wrote right below what I was thinking also.

austenfan919 · June 2013

natalie8784:
We have multiple guns in our house. Hand guns, hunting guns, etc. I don't like it, but I know DH was raised in a house with guns, and has been taught wonderful gun safety his whole life. It does make me nervous, and I would rather they not be here, but DH knows they will have to be properly locked and secured or there is no way in helll that I will let them stay in the house.
I will sell those puppies in a heartbeat if I find them dangerously kept.

Pretty much this for us, too. I think we are down to one in the house because I felt slightly better about that. Fewer guns = less chance one of them will be stored improperly.

I also like what a pp said about being able to ask to see the guns with an adult growing up so that they didn't have to sneak around to try to see them. I will probably suggest that to DH, too.

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