Do you let your kids have playdates in homes with guns?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Unless they're real cretins, in which case you probably wouldn't have your kids over there, they most likely have the guns safely stored. My husband owns three guns. They are on a shelf in our closet so high I can't even reach it without a chair, none are loaded, and some are not even fully assembled. No kid is getting to those things. My kids don't even know he has them.

This is alarming. Everything else sounds responsible. But this last part is highly irresponsible and alarming.

Agree with this. Our children know we have guns (locked up) and what they should do if they ever see one. (They are extremely dangerous; Do not touch it; find an adult immediately.). We have allowed them to see and even touch an unloaded gun in part to make them less exciting and attractive to them should they ever come across one. I wouldn't be offended to be asked if we have guns in the house but I would think you are silly if you then decided not to let your kid come over. There are so many things that can be dangerous and even lethal to children if they are not supervised properly or if these items are improperly stored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Unless they're real cretins, in which case you probably wouldn't have your kids over there, they most likely have the guns safely stored. My husband owns three guns. They are on a shelf in our closet so high I can't even reach it without a chair, none are loaded, and some are not even fully assembled. No kid is getting to those things. My kids don't even know he has them.

This is alarming. Everything else sounds responsible. But this last part is highly irresponsible and alarming.

Not PP, but my DH has guns, we don't keep ammunition in the house (he buys it before he goes to shoot at the range) and they are in a locked box. We still don't tell any of the boys they exist in the house. He boys have a standard fascination with guns - not going to let them know they're here. Not weird at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Unless they're real cretins, in which case you probably wouldn't have your kids over there, they most likely have the guns safely stored. My husband owns three guns. They are on a shelf in our closet so high I can't even reach it without a chair, none are loaded, and some are not even fully assembled. No kid is getting to those things. My kids don't even know he has them.

This is alarming. Everything else sounds responsible. But this last part is highly irresponsible and alarming.

Not PP, but my DH has guns, we don't keep ammunition in the house (he buys it before he goes to shoot at the range) and they are in a locked box. We still don't tell any of the boys they exist in the house. He boys have a standard fascination with guns - not going to let them know they're here. Not weird at all.

Me again. This doesn't mean we haven't trained the kids on what to do if they ever come across a weapon - we have. You never know what people will find.

[Anonymous]

Only a few people have ever asked if we have guns, and since I think it's none of their business, we just lie and tell them 'no, never.' The guns are safely locked away, so there's no reason to worry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Unless they're real cretins, in which case you probably wouldn't have your kids over there, they most likely have the guns safely stored. My husband owns three guns. They are on a shelf in our closet so high I can't even reach it without a chair, none are loaded, and some are not even fully assembled. No kid is getting to those things. My kids don't even know he has them.

This is alarming. Everything else sounds responsible. But this last part is highly irresponsible and alarming.

My kids are 2 and 5

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Unless they're real cretins, in which case you probably wouldn't have your kids over there, they most likely have the guns safely stored. My husband owns three guns. They are on a shelf in our closet so high I can't even reach it without a chair, none are loaded, and some are not even fully assembled. No kid is getting to those things. My kids don't even know he has them.

You don't lock them up?!

No, because as I said, they are on a shelf just below the 12 foot ceiling in our closet. In the incredibly unlikely event a 4 foot child could put a stool on a chair and then stand on both to hope to reach this shelf to grab the guns, they would then also have to know to assemble the gun and load it with ammunition, which is kept in a separate place, which they would also have to find, and then guess as to which bullet goes in which gun, to make the gun fireable. It's not gonna happen.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely No!!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Wow. Thank you for everyone's responses. I guess I have learned that I should definitely ask if a family has guns in their house and how they are secured. I would think that a gun safe for the guns and another safe for the ammunition in a separate location is the safest way to go. I fear that no matter how many times children (especially boys) are trained not to touch guns, they are mesmerized by them and cannot help but tinker with them.

[Anonymous]

We live in DC, so this isn't really an issue outside of LEOs, who are required to have their weapons properly secured when at home.

Otherwise, this just isn't something I have ever asked other parents and no one has ever asked us.

My father owns guns and I most certainly allow my children to go to my parents' house.

[Anonymous]

No I would not. They can come to my house or the kids can meet at a park but if you have guns, no. I always ask and have been asked many times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No I would not. They can come to my house or the kids can meet at a park but if you have guns, no. I always ask and have been asked many times.

You've probably been lied to many times as well by people who have them but know they are so safely secured as to be a non issue and don't wish to tell the community they have guns in their home.

[Anonymous]

Too funny. I'm sending DS to a friend's just to SHOOT guns. They're going out on a range to get instruction.

[Anonymous]

Only the people we've known for a long while, as in we were friends before kids.

[Anonymous]

You certainly have the right to ask and decide as a parent if you are comfortable letting your child go to someone's house if they own a gun but I would think your decision would be based on circumstances and not the automatic no that some posters are giving. We have three guns in the house - 2 kept unloaded (no ammo for them in house) and put away out of sight and one loaded in a safe. In no way are children in any danger from guns in our home. If someone refused to let a kid come over then I would feel that our kids were not destined to be friends. A parent who does not trust us to keep our own kids safe in our own home is clearly not someone we will ever be comfortable with.

Do parents who give a quick NO to this question plan to still attempt to follow this policy until their children are out of the house as young adults?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Unless they're real cretins, in which case you probably wouldn't have your kids over there, they most likely have the guns safely stored. My husband owns three guns. They are on a shelf in our closet so high I can't even reach it without a chair, none are loaded, and some are not even fully assembled. No kid is getting to those things. My kids don't even know he has them.

Do not assume this. Kids are intensely curious and determined.

You can get a pistol safe (or even a locking gun case) to put them in as well as putting them on a high shelf.