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.

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.

Right, you know my kids better than I do. My 2 year old knows the guns that haven't been off that shelf in her lifetime are there and will surely get to them and assemble them and load them one day soon.

[Anonymous]

If any parent asked me if I have guns in my house I would say no because, as others have posted, it's not your business and the guns are in no way accessible to kids so I'm not worried about it. If I did say yes and you "needed to verify" they were secured I'd withdraw my invitation to your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they allow me to verify that they are safely stored, yes. Otherwise, no.

You would actually ask to verify?! If I had so little trust in the other parent, I would not have agreed to the play date in the first place!

And for what it's worth, no parent has ever asked us about comes in our home and all have known we are a LE family. I would absolutely not parade anyone through my bedroom to check out our gun safe either. If they doubted my truthfulness about our safe storage methods they could parade themselves right out the front door!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child's friend's parents explain that their guns are safely locked away, would you permit a playdate at their house? At a gut level, I want to say that my kids should not be permitted to go over to any house where guns are present, but I am curious what other families think is reasonable?

I would have no concerns whatsoever about a play date at a home where guns are safely locked away. Zero.

[Anonymous]

Only if they answer the door like this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child's friend's parents explain that their guns are safely locked away, would you permit a playdate at their house? At a gut level, I want to say that my kids should not be permitted to go over to any house where guns are present, but I am curious what other families think is reasonable?

^^^ And this is why people lie and just say they don't have guns. If they are properly secured, then why not? Ultimately it's your gut, your child, your call and I completely respect your call as a parent. But honest question, and this is NOT meant to be snarky at all, do you also worry about prescription meds knives, alcohol?

[Anonymous]

I only my child have play dates over at the houses of people I trust. So if I trust them to be responsible in general, I trust them to store guns responsibly. This means I do not let my child go over to new friends' houses, until I know the parents.

[Anonymous]

I think people are very naive if they believe that everyone is going to be honest when asked if they have a gun, as evidenced by several people who have already replied to this thread that they would lie if asked.

Also, guns are all around you, no matter where you are. I pretty much assume that whenever I am out in public (grocery store, Target, etc.) at LEAST 1/3 of the people around me are concealed carrying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If any parent asked me if I have guns in my house I would say no because, as others have posted, it's not your business and the guns are in no way accessible to kids so I'm not worried about it. If I did say yes and you "needed to verify" they were secured I'd withdraw my invitation to your kid.

Me too but we have never been asked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I think that is totally irresponsible and can't believe that as a parent you would lie to another parent about this issue.

If a parent cares enough to ask the question--it means it is an important issue for them (even if it isn't for you). Why the need to lie?

Assuming you are comfortable with your decision to have guns in your house, you should also feel comfortable telling the truth and letting the other parents decide what level of risk they are comfortable with for their child.

If they say no--well their loss.

But, there should be no reason to be dishonest about this issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Wow. This makes me so angry I can barely think.

I hope you I never have occasion to meet you and that my children never go to your house. If they did and anything happened to them with that gun that you lied about you better believe your life would not be with living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Close friends have them. It is much less dangerous than going to festivals and such, imo (Boston marathon anyone?)

Wow. You are far more likely to be hurt by guns in a friend's house than you are in a terrorist attack. Statistics isn't your strong point, huh PP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Wow. This makes me so angry I can barely think.

I hope you I never have occasion to meet you and that my children never go to your house. If they did and anything happened to them with that gun that you lied about you better believe your life would not be with living.

+1. You are scum, PP.

[Anonymous]

Where the f do you gun owners live? The suburbs? Pretty sure none of my friends own any.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only if they answer the door like this

Yes, this may be a clue.