Guns at Wedding Location/Home WWYD?

[Anonymous]

My sister is getting married at her home in TX this summer, and her fiancé is the proud owner of many guns. My young children (2, 5, and 7) will be there in the wedding and the reception. I am concerned about the guns. When I have asked my sister where the guns will be, all she responds is "locked up" but is refusing to tell me how or where. Do I have a right to know where the "locked up" guns will be? How would you handle this type of situation? We are not a weapon carrying family, my kids are explorers, and weddings can get crazy with everyone being distracted (I am the matron of honor and my husband is also in the wedding). Am I being unreasonable to demand to know where exactly the guns are kept?

[Anonymous]

Is "explores" code for my kids won't listen when I tell them they can only play in the living room or cousin's bedroom? Hire a babysitter to watch your kids, sounds like you will have your hands full with the wedding.

[Anonymous]

Do you not believe that your sister is telling you the truth when she says they are locked up? Unless your kids can pick locks, they will be fine.

[Anonymous]

You sound a bit nuts, honestly.

[Anonymous]

I hope you're a Troll.

She said the guns are secured. What more do you really expect? Do you really think your kids are going to be roaming their HOUSE and playing with guns at a wedding? Jesus, watch your kids and start teaching THEM not to play with guns. Take some personal responsibility yourself, FFS.

[Anonymous]

OP, I completely get your concerns about this situation. There's no way you can actually know, though, that they're telling you the truth about how they're all stored. Someone who felt everything was properly secured would be fine telling you how they're secured for your own peace of mind. She's probably not telling you because she knows you'll disapprove. After all, this isn't some random person you know a little from school who doesn't really want to shout from the rooftops where all of her guns are stored, this is your sister. So even if she tells you they're all in a locked gun safe in the basement with the ammunition locked up in a different room, that doesn't mean she isn't hiding that they also have a loaded handgun in a bedside table she doesn't want to tell you about. I think you'll need to come up with a back-up plan, such as hiring a sitter, to make sure someone is keeping an eye on your kids during the entire wedding.

[Anonymous]

OP - I would be concerned too. Especially if your sister can't be more specific (e.g., they will be locked up in the storage unit in the shed or garage or whenever). I cant understand why it would even be an issue. These are her nieces/nephews.

[Anonymous]

Oh hell OP, you can openly carry long guns in TX. Soon, probably before the wedding, the gov will sign open carry for handguns. There will be guns aplenty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you not believe that your sister is telling you the truth when she says they are locked up? Unless your kids can pick locks, they will be fine.

Different people have different ideas of what that means. Guns should be stored, unloaded, in a locked safe. In a situation where it will be difficult to properly supervise children, I would want to know that that's how they were stored.

[Anonymous]

I would hire a sitter and leave the kids behind. I wouldn't want my kids running around a house with guns, unsupervised. No reasonable parent would. If they were going to a gun-owning friend's house and I trusted the parents to supervise carefully (and take reasonable precautions to lock up the guns) I wouldn't have an issue with that.

Same with swimming pools. We went to a big party that was around an unfenced swimming pull. It was nerve-racking and I wouldn't take my kids to another party there; I had to watch my kids like a hawk. Not an enjoyable event at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope you're a Troll.

She said the guns are secured. What more do you really expect? Do you really think your kids are going to be roaming their HOUSE and playing with guns at a wedding? Jesus, watch your kids and start teaching THEM not to play with guns. Take some personal responsibility yourself, FFS.

yes, 2 year olds have a responsibility to not play with guns. Adults have zero responsibility to store them responsibly.

[Anonymous]

This is the OP and its a completely real/legit post. Is TX and guns and my sister. And I am concerned. No trolling at all. I am concerned that she won't tell me more specifics. yes, my kids are explorers and will be at their "fun" aunts house. So they will be running around the way they always do with her. I don't know anyone there who can babysit but will look into it. It's a rural part of texas. They are kind of anti-big-brother conspiracy theory types, so it wouldn't surprise me if the guns weren't all locked up. I hope so, and realize I should take my sis at her word. But the fact she is being evasive concerns me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you not believe that your sister is telling you the truth when she says they are locked up? Unless your kids can pick locks, they will be fine.

Different people have different ideas of what that means. Guns should be stored, unloaded, in a locked safe. In a situation where it will be difficult to properly supervise children, I would want to know that that's how they were stored.

oP here. And this is what I agree with.

[Anonymous]

As you know if you follow this issue on DCUM, a particular strain of gun owners will lie to you about this because it's "none of your business" whether or not they own guns. This being not only your sister but you and DH being close enough to them that you're in the wedding party, I think you have earned the right to roll your eyes and say "cut the bullshit" to that explanation. We had a great thread on this a few months ago from a guy who asked his family this every visit and they thought he was an urban liberal jerk that didn't trust them, but when he pushed they were UNLOCKED, LOADED, AND ACCESSIBLE. They at least had the good sense to be embarrassed about it. Truly responsible gun owners know that mistakes happen and will stomach a little embarrassment for the ultimate goal of safety. He was posting asking about how to navigate the gun culture.

Assuming a generally normal relationship--what I would do is drop it for now, and pull your sister aside when you get there and have her show you that they are locked and unloaded. She may resist but play the concerned parent card and say you don't want this on your mind and can she please just show you that everything is OK. She (or her dh) should be able to DEMONSTRATE to you--e.g. by showing you an empty chamber--that the guns are unloaded, and then lock them up in front of you. That is how actual responsible gun owners who give a damn about their family members act. If you've had ANY arguments about guns in the past, this will likely be very uncomfortable for you all. The onus will be on you, as the hardass in this situation, to similarly demonstrate that you are not judging their decision to own guns in any way, just ensuring safety. Once they've done it all, thank them profusely and then let it go.

signed, someone who grew up outside gun culture, married into it, and can speak both languages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the OP and its a completely real/legit post. Is TX and guns and my sister. And I am concerned. No trolling at all. I am concerned that she won't tell me more specifics. yes, my kids are explorers and will be at their "fun" aunts house. So they will be running around the way they always do with her. I don't know anyone there who can babysit but will look into it. It's a rural part of texas. They are kind of anti-big-brother conspiracy theory types, so it wouldn't surprise me if the guns weren't all locked up. I hope so, and realize I should take my sis at her word. But the fact she is being evasive concerns me.

We totally believe you!