Last Update- Safety Issue at Kid's Gym (Sensitive Topic)

JoJo716 · February 2014

So in our area there is a gym for little kids that has open play time and offers classes. A person in a moms group I belong to informed everyone that a parent is attending the gym with his child carrying a gun in a holster. I guess the gun is clearly visable.

When I first heard about it, it made me really uncomfortable. However, many moms brought up the fact that he could be law enforcement or have another valid reason to carry. Many moms also said that they would feel more comfortable with having a person armed at the gym. My concern is that I would want this person's credentials validated if they are openly carrying a weapon.

How would you feel if you saw someone in a kid's gym with a gun?

DiFazette · February 2014

Assuming he's got an open carry permit, he's been background checked, etc. I look at it like this, if he's open carrying, he's gone through the right steps to get licensed. It's not the people openly toting guns I worry about because you don't carry a gun openly unless you have a legal firearm and have gone through the appropriate checks an balances. It's the people who don't do this that worry me.

Just my opinion, you probably have a conservative, second amendment worshipper who has been shooting his whole life, taken many gun safety hours and knows how to be responsible with a firearm. Of course he could also be an off duty something or other.

It wouldn't worry me, but speak up to him if it's a matter of comfort. He's got a gun in a closed area where your baby is playing.

CNJ4EVA · February 2014

mishy2006 said:
Honestly, I'm not worried about the people who visually display their guns.

This statement said it all, IMO. Very good point.

That said, if verifying that the person is properly licensed will put your mind at ease, then try to do it. Maybe even get the gym manager involved since the person may be more inclined to provide info to the facility.

JoJo716 · February 2014

I have not been to this particular gym but I was just thinking about the safety of having a gun around little kids. i have always heard that many gun shots are results of accidents rather than purposeful shots. I guess I would feel like if the person had the credentials, there would be less of a chance of an accident. However, I agree, if he is openly displaying the gun, then he probably is legit and probably well versed in gun safety.

Eta- the mom who originally posted said she was going to speak with the management of the gym. However, as pp's said, due to the law, I am not sure if they would be able to do anything.

blush64 · February 2014

KateRN08 said:
This would be a huge deal in Canada to see someone with a gun so I'm not much help but I guess I would ask to see the license

This is what I was thinking.

I would want to know he was properly licensed but even then I would not be comfortable with that.

Even if he was properly checked accidents happen. Also, some people who are properly licensed still make bad choices.
Edit

Shoegal36 · February 2014

KateRN08 said:

This would be a huge deal in Canada to see someone with a gun so I'm not much help but I guess I would ask to see the license

Definitely this.

KLJ3 · February 2014

I have an unrestricted carry permit, which means that I can carry open or concealed, and would gladly display my license if someone asked to see it.

That being said, I choose not to carry openly unless I'm at a range or hiking. I live in a conservative area, but there are plenty of people out there that would be very uncomfortable if they saw a gun on my hip. I wouldn't even bring my gun into a place like OP described.

I agree with PPs, though. If the guy is carrying in full view, he's probably not one you need to worry about, even considering "accidents.". If he's an appropriately vigilant gun owner, an accident isn't an option.

Edited to fix typo.

fancefpp · February 2014

What if everyone is assuming he has a license to carry and no one is asking him? He could be a crazy person carrying a gun who thinks he won't get caught because no one will ask. Far fetched but you never know.

KLJ3 · February 2014

5953fpp said:
What if everyone is assuming he has a license to carry and no one is asking him? He could be a crazy person carrying a gun who thinks he won't get caught because no one will ask. Far fetched but you never know.

I'd like to think that'd be the first question out of management's mouth when this guy walked in, but indeed, you never know. That's why OP should ask.

Boo0512 · February 2014

I personally would introduce myself to the individual. I would let him know that I respect his right to have a firearm but since my child plays there I'd really appreciate seeing his permit. If he is legit, he probably would happily oblige. If he became agitated, confrontational, etc. I'd speak to management about it.

PumpkinAndThePeanut · February 2014

Personally, I absolutely hate guns and would not go back if the guy was a regular there and always had the gun in view.

huzzahuzza · February 2014

I'm with @pumpkinandthepeanut. But I'll also add that I'm not worried about the people that have gun licenses and go through the proper channels. It's the crazy parent that's going through a nasty divorce that wants his/her child right now that sees that properly licensed gun on someone else's hip and acts irrationally that worries me!

snowgirl427 · February 2014

JoJo- in our lovely state, there is not a law for average citizens to carry a handgun unconcealed. The only licensing (except law enforcement etc) is for concealed. To get this you must get finger printed and have a background check. You absolutely can not walk around all willy nilly with your firearm. In fact, even if you have it under a shirt but can tell it's there, it is not considered concealed.

Additionally, any store, gym etc can post that weapons are not permitted and gun owners must abide by that. While it is my right to own and carry a weapon, business owners have the same right to say "not in my store".

I would imagine he is law enforcement, otherwise he is breaking the law in a big way and if he were that brazen, I would not want to be around him.

Eta typo

kmcd23 · February 2014

Even if he was licensed, off duty, whatever. It would make me uncomfortable. A gun in a kid's gym? No thanks. If he was always there when I was, I'd switch times, or switch locations.

snowgirl427 · February 2014

^ open carry is not permitted in our state... So if he's doing it as a regular citizen, it's illegal.

MAdams728 · February 2014

As someone who carries, it wouldn't bother me if he is legally carrying and it was properly holstered. It would definitely bother me if he, and it, wasn't. I always assume a properly licensed owner is carrying for the same reason my husband does; to protect those who may need it as well as ourselves, should the situation arise. We don't have open carry in my state, but it would probably surprise many people if they knew exactly how many people are concealed carrying in public at any time.

Oohgurl · February 2014

From a law enforcement perspective (me)..I highly doubt he is a cop. We carry, but you wont see it and if we did, our badge would be clearly displayed next to it. Although, again, unless it was a rookie (MAYBE) we don't walk around in full display like that off duty.

Many states you only have to have a permit if it is concealed. So in his case, depending on the state, he doesn't need a permit. This is probably some idiot that is just using bad judgement and forcing parents to have to explain it to their children. But that is his right as an American. On a personal note...I effing HATE people like that. If the mgmt wanted, they could put a sticker on the door that said no firearms inside. That is also their right, as Americans.

I have no idea why my font changed.

snowgirl427 · February 2014

^ in our state it is illegal to carry openly

Oohgurl · February 2014

snowgirl427 said:

^ in our state it is illegal to carry openly

Are you in the same state as the OP?

JoJo716 · February 2014

Oohgurl said:

snowgirl427 said:

^ in our state it is illegal to carry openly

Are you in the same state as the OP?
Yep. I am going to make sure the mom who mentioned it follows through with contacting management. I have never been to this gym, but if I saw it, now I would definitely ask.

snowgirl427 · February 2014

Oohgurl said:

snowgirl427 said:

^ in our state it is illegal to carry openly

Are you in the same state as the OP?
Yes.

surpriseaddition · February 2014

I agree that there are many more guns around then most people realize. I'm an elementary teacher, and I have a student whose mom is an FBI agent. Each time she comes into school for lunch, etc she has a concealed gun on her. Also, my state passed a law that staff members can be authorized to keep guns at school with them, in case of a school shooting situation. In America, guns are everywhere....and I agree with PP it's not the legal ones you need to worry about.

megandscott07 · February 2014

Wouldn't the kids gym have a 'no guns' policy? Like a PP mentioned, carrying is allowed here with a permit but many businesses don't allow them.

KLJ3 · February 2014

I'm kind of curious now as to how this will be resolved. If OP is in one of the five non-open-carry states, she may be in one of the two "our laws are vaguely written so that the exceptions are unclear" states (I'm in one).

Let us know how it works out, OP!

JoJo716 · February 2014

@klj3 I will ask the mom for an update once she speaks to the gym

emmy236 · February 2014

Yeah just because you have a license doesn't mean you can carry anywhere. I live in the South in a state that isn't hard to get a carry permit. That being said, most places that would have children have clearly marked signs saying no weapons allowed on the premise. Like the medical buildings my obgyn and pediatrician are in. Second, a place like that that offers classes and made for children probably falls under the "school" designation which means it should be illegal for him to carry a gun there unless he is active duty law enforcement. Active duty meaning he's actually on the clock.

Besides that, what an awful message to send to kids. They are at a place that is supposed to be where they have fun and play. That person bringing a gun there is like telling a little kid, I brought me toy here. A 1-2 year old isn't going to understand how serious it is.

JoJo716 · February 2014

Small update- so the mom who originally posted the concern did talk to gym management. She said that they believed it was against policy to have a gun on premises unless on active duty. However, because it is a national chain, they would need to ask corporate and get back to her. It sounds kind of weird to me because I would think they would know the policy and no matter what their corporate offices say, they have to abide by state law, which is no open carry. She said she will update again when she knows more.

snowgirl427 · February 2014

Thanks for the update!

fancefpp · February 2014

I may have missed this, but did anyone ask why he had gun at a baby gym in the first place?

JoJo716 · February 2014

@5953fpp Not to my knowledge. I am not sure why because I would think that would be the first approach.

coffeeandbooks · February 2014

I would not be comfortable seeing someone with a gun around a group of kids unless they were law enforcement. It would really bother me.

JoJo716 · February 2014

Last update- the gym spoke with the man and he is law enforcement. I guess someone did ask him whether or not he was law enforcement before and he evaded the question. His wife said that he usually does not disclose his job. However, they did get verification and he is legit.

PumpkinAndThePeanut · February 2014

Even if he is law enforcement, unless he's on active duty, he doesn't need to carry his gun around. I'd still be really uncomfortable.

And if he is on active duty, what's he doing at a baby gym?

snowgirl427 · February 2014

Well that's good.

KLJ3 · February 2014

Thanks for the update! Sounds like a strange situation, but I guess you never know.

emmy236 · February 2014

See that still makes me super suspicious. I come from a 3 generation law enforcement family. My brother is a cop and an army special ops reservist and he'd never have a gun around any children. I've never met a cop that would. If by law enforcement does he mean like private militia? Not joking, some places have extremist groups like that.

JoJo716 · February 2014

@jgp13 sorry! I reread my op and should have added a comma.

JoJo716 · February 2014

emmy236 said:

See that still makes me super suspicious. I come from a 3 generation law enforcement family. My brother is a cop and an army special ops reservist and he'd never have a gun around any children. I've never met a cop that would. If by law enforcement does he mean like private militia? Not joking, some places have extremist groups like that.

From what the mom said, he works for the city police department. I agree, it's kind of strange.

Oohgurl · February 2014

JoJo716 said:

emmy236 said:

See that still makes me super suspicious. I come from a 3 generation law enforcement family. My brother is a cop and an army special ops reservist and he'd never have a gun around any children. I've never met a cop that would. If by law enforcement does he mean like private militia? Not joking, some places have extremist groups like that.

From what the mom said, he works for the city police department. I agree, it's kind of strange.

I am shocked by this. Unless he is a young rookie, it seems strange. There are people that are "on duty" but not working. This is people like FBI/DEA/ATF types that have to be available on duty since they don't work 24/7 like regular cops. I know many of these people and do not know one that would have their weapon displayed like that. They will have it, but not displayed.

watuzzigal · February 2014

Even though he is law enforcement, I think I probably wouldn't go there any more, and I would file a formal letter.
I've learned quickly that kids are fast and do all kinds of weird stuff you wouldn't expect them to. It just doesn't feel safe in that environment.

Schell2013 · February 2014

This whole idea no matter how I look at it bugs me big time. I would be out of there and not returning so fast your head would spin.

Note I live in Canada and our gun laws are strict. I'm licenced to carry but never would I just can't figure out a good enough reason that it would be necessary in that type of setting.

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