Ok this is a new one…adult DSD wants to buy a gun

[Anonymous]

DSD age 22 lives with me and 8 yo sibling in NOVA. She’s “launched” and works FT, will shift to PT to attend grad school, is in a great job with room to grow. Has her own social life, I’d respectful of house rules, and helps out. Today she said she wants to open carry a handgun for protection “while she still can”. DSD is attractive and gets a lot of male stares and I guess she’s afraid of stalkers etc in parking lots. Personally I think this is the dumbest thing in the world, that she will never be able to achieve a level of agility with a weapon that it could actually help her, and in no way would I feel comfortable with her level of responsibility to properly store a gun in our home with an 8 yo child present. I would not even want to ride in a car with her while she has a gun. Like, I’m laughing and cringing simultaneously as I think about this. So, I just said “I don’t know the laws here but I think they aren’t very strict”. I guess if she mentions it again I’ll tell her she can’t have it in the house or the car, and just see if this is a fleeting thing that she never follows up on?

[Anonymous]

What is a DSD? Step-daughter?

Just say no. She can do that when she gets her own place. Does her dad have an opinion?

[Anonymous]

I would insist that she becomes an expert markswoman and takes self-defense classes before she buys her own weapon. Japan, for instance, requires potential buyers take a shooting test and get 95% accuracy to pass. I am for a total gun ban, but hey, if that’s not happening, then I’d insist on actual shooting skills!

[Anonymous]

I would not allow a gun in my house or in my car.

[Anonymous]

Your house, your rules. So she has to move out if she wants a gun and the gun isn't welcome in your house when she visits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would insist that she becomes an expert markswoman and takes self-defense classes before she buys her own weapon. Japan, for instance, requires potential buyers take a shooting test and get 95% accuracy to pass. I am for a total gun ban, but hey, if that’s not happening, then I’d insist on actual shooting skills!

Good idea and have the 8-yr-old take shooting lessons too for when the 22-yr-old accidentally leaves the gun laying around the house.

[Anonymous]

Nope. If she wants to participate in the gun culture, that's on her, but you don't have to allow it at your house.

She's better off in self defense classes than dealing with a gun.

I am at the point where I don't think anyone should be allowed to have guns.

[Anonymous]

I remember you from another thread.

Why are you so tentative about this grown woman who is living in your house??

Just tell her no, that for as long as she is living in your house, she cannot own a gun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your house, your rules. So she has to move out if she wants a gun and the gun isn't welcome in your house when she visits.

This

[Anonymous]

Not with an 8yo in the house. She can carry pepper spray if she’s worried about her safety. If she wants to own a gun she can get her own apartment.

[Anonymous]

1) send her to classes at the NRA in Fairfax
2) She will have to get a storage place or her own apartment since you don't allow guns around your child
3) sign her up for self defense classes.

[Anonymous]

No. It's fine she wants to buy a gun, but not in your house with younger kids around.

While she is living with you, has she investigated pepper spray or some other non gun self protection option? They sell.canisters you can hook onto your key chain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not allow a gun in my house or in my car.

+1

[Anonymous]

I am a huge supporter of gun rights. Grew up in the Appalachian Mountains. My three oldest boys were hunting when they were toddlers. But, I do not carry and I do not allow firearms to be kept in my home, with the exception of BB/pellet guns. When I was married to a law enforcement officer, he was not allowed to keep his service weapon in our home. He could have it on his person when he was on duty, but he had to keep it locked in his cruiser with the keys in his possession at all times that he was not on duty. If this were my offspring, I would straight-up tell them that if they wanted a firearm, taking a gun safety class/firearms training class is of utmost importance (my kids were required to have training. They are well-trained on how to handle firearms, because knowledge is power) and I would tell them that they must leave it locked in their vehicle or move out of my house, and there is no negotiation with me on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not allow a gun in my house or in my car.

This, it's a no brainer for me.

If she balks, just give her the statistics on accidental shootings and deaths in homes with guns versus homes without. Your odds of you (or her, or your DH, or your other child) dying immediately go up exponentially as soon as there is a gun present in the house.