Do you ask about guns when you schedule play dates?

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I ask about guns, pets, pools, trampolines, helmet use, when the parents last drank alcohol, smoked pot, or used other drugs, and if there is a history or family history of addiction or mental illness.

I ask about the prescription and non-prescription drugs in their home. I ask where knives and matches are stored, and if furniture is bolted to the wall. I ask if the parents are both biologically related to their children, and if either parent experienced any kind of abuse or childhood trauma. I ask if there are any other adults in the house.

I ask about vaccination status.

I ask about parental controls on devices and screen time limits, and bedtimes, and how often the kids get lunchables. I ask how the parents commute, who watches the kids while the parents are working, how and where the family vacations.

I recently bought a polygraph machine off eBay, and it’s been a total game changer.


Not good enough. You should be demanding a thorough inspection of the home.


True. Should I offer to split the cost of the inspector with the other family, or is this an expense that customarily the host picks up? I don’t want to offend them by insinuating they can’t afford a proper inspection!


The host clearly should pay for the cost.
Anonymous
I think every house that has guns should have them registered with the local police and fire department so they know what they are walking into if they get a call. I mean, all the ammo would be horrifying in a house fire.

I live in Maryland and am SHOCKED by how loosey-goosey the gun rules are here compared to Massachusetts when I was raised. We have about 4 guns (2 handguns, a rifle and an "assault rifle" - yeah, I nearly died when I discovered that's what it was in the wake of these school shootings) - all my husband's, all used for target shooting, never used for hunting (killing anything sickens him). I did get trained in using the handguns so I could be safe around them, but they aren't my thing.

So if you ask, do ask everyone (and we'd never be offended) ... you'd NEVER know we were the "type of people" to have guns in the house - when my friends find out they are still shocked!

But here's the thing - they aren't registered, nobody did any background checks on him before he bought them, etc. NONE! He's fine, he would have passed them, but the point is, nobody knows they are in our house - and they should all be registered in some database in the sky, but it's not required! And he just walked into a gun shop and bought them - no waiting period, no checks, nada. I think it's deplorable.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:No. I assume they're responsible people. They're all European, lefty Americans or Asian. I don't think any of them have a gun in their home. I may be the closest to gun-ownership, since I come from a European family who hunts.


Lefties have guns
All of my lefties friends have guns

We just aren’t idiots
My family has had them for generations
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I think every house that has guns should have them registered with the local police and fire department so they know what they are walking into if they get a call. I mean, all the ammo would be horrifying in a house fire.

I live in Maryland and am SHOCKED by how loosey-goosey the gun rules are here compared to Massachusetts when I was raised. We have about 4 guns (2 handguns, a rifle and an "assault rifle" - yeah, I nearly died when I discovered that's what it was in the wake of these school shootings) - all my husband's, all used for target shooting, never used for hunting (killing anything sickens him). I did get trained in using the handguns so I could be safe around them, but they aren't my thing.

So if you ask, do ask everyone (and we'd never be offended) ... you'd NEVER know we were the "type of people" to have guns in the house - when my friends find out they are still shocked!

But here's the thing - they aren't registered, nobody did any background checks on him before he bought them, etc. NONE! He's fine, he would have passed them, but the point is, nobody knows they are in our house - and they should all be registered in some database in the sky, but it's not required! And he just walked into a gun shop and bought them - no waiting period, no checks, nada. I think it's deplorable.


Do you know anything about ammo? Lol you think bullets start flying around if there is a fire? That's not how it works it will just pop in place as there is nothing directing the force through a barrell. Doubt you trained.
soccermdsf
Member Offline
Anonymous wrote:No. I assume they're responsible people. They're all European, lefty Americans or Asian. I don't think any of them have a gun in their home. I may be the closest to gun-ownership, since I come from a European family who hunts.


guess what. there was an accidental shooting at my son's friend's house last fall that tragically injured another child and the mother is european. Stop with your bias...
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I think every house that has guns should have them registered with the local police and fire department so they know what they are walking into if they get a call. I mean, all the ammo would be horrifying in a house fire.

I live in Maryland and am SHOCKED by how loosey-goosey the gun rules are here compared to Massachusetts when I was raised. We have about 4 guns (2 handguns, a rifle and an "assault rifle" - yeah, I nearly died when I discovered that's what it was in the wake of these school shootings) - all my husband's, all used for target shooting, never used for hunting (killing anything sickens him). I did get trained in using the handguns so I could be safe around them, but they aren't my thing.

So if you ask, do ask everyone (and we'd never be offended) ... you'd NEVER know we were the "type of people" to have guns in the house - when my friends find out they are still shocked!

But here's the thing - they aren't registered, nobody did any background checks on him before he bought them, etc. NONE! He's fine, he would have passed them, but the point is, nobody knows they are in our house - and they should all be registered in some database in the sky, but it's not required! And he just walked into a gun shop and bought them - no waiting period, no checks, nada. I think it's deplorable.


No he didn’t.
Anonymous
I had a friend in high school who was killed accidentally by her sister when the sister was messing around with a rifle. It happens and there’s very little margin for error.
Anonymous
I don’t ask if they have guns. I ask how they secure their guns. It’s a better question, assuming they own guns, as most people do.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why are people so insulted that strangers might like to know more about them and the safety of their home before sending their child there?


I wouldn't be at all offended by being asked about guns, but it's very easy to understand why someone would. An unsecured firearm is such an obviously inappropriate thing to have around children that it could be interpreted as insulting to even ask someone about it. Replace unsecured firearm with someone else it would be insane to leave out around kids, "I just have to ask, do you have any cocaine in the house?" "I just have to ask, do you have any pornographic magazines that the kids can easily get to?" etc.


Ok this made me LOL. No one has asked me about guns but if they do I’ll say no and ask about cocaine at their house.


Why are you so insulted that people who don’t know you would make basic inquiries when you are going to be in charge of their children? It’s really crazy. Do wear gloves to protect that think skin of yours?


Why would you be offended by a cocaine question? Just say no or whatever the truth is.


We have guns and dogs. I wouldn't be offended if people asked about either of them.

HOWEVER, while we don't have cocaine (or any other illegal drugs), I would be offended if someone asked me about that. Why on earth would you think we'd have drugs in our house?

As for other medication, I'm not sure how I feel about that. I don't believe we have anything in our house that has any sort of street value or addictive tendencies, but if we did happen to have pain pills post-surgery or something, I'm not sure I need to tell someone about that. We have children and are obviously careful about how we would store such medication so I find it kind of insulting that you would ask. Weirdly, I don't feel that way about guns or dogs, but there seems to be something different about drugs and I'm not sure what it is. That's just my gut reaction.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think every house that has guns should have them registered with the local police and fire department so they know what they are walking into if they get a call. I mean, all the ammo would be horrifying in a house fire.

I live in Maryland and am SHOCKED by how loosey-goosey the gun rules are here compared to Massachusetts when I was raised. We have about 4 guns (2 handguns, a rifle and an "assault rifle" - yeah, I nearly died when I discovered that's what it was in the wake of these school shootings) - all my husband's, all used for target shooting, never used for hunting (killing anything sickens him). I did get trained in using the handguns so I could be safe around them, but they aren't my thing.

So if you ask, do ask everyone (and we'd never be offended) ... you'd NEVER know we were the "type of people" to have guns in the house - when my friends find out they are still shocked!

But here's the thing - they aren't registered, nobody did any background checks on him before he bought them, etc. NONE! He's fine, he would have passed them, but the point is, nobody knows they are in our house - and they should all be registered in some database in the sky, but it's not required! And he just walked into a gun shop and bought them - no waiting period, no checks, nada. I think it's deplorable.


No he didn’t.


NP. I bought my husband a gun years ago (for target shooting only) and I went to the place, bought it, told the guy I was buying it for my husband, he said he didn't care and as far as he was concerned I was the one he was selling it to and he didn't care what I did with it afterwards. He did take my driver's license and did some sort of check that two took seconds and handed me the gun in a bag. Honestly, I was shocked at how easy it was.
Anonymous
We have guns: two shotguns and two deer rifles. Each is locked away in a case, and there are trigger locks on the guns while in the case. Also, the kids have been trained in firearm safety. This is my baseline for safety with kids in the house. I would hope other parents would have the same level of safety, but I'd never ask.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why are people so insulted that strangers might like to know more about them and the safety of their home before sending their child there?


I wouldn't be at all offended by being asked about guns, but it's very easy to understand why someone would. An unsecured firearm is such an obviously inappropriate thing to have around children that it could be interpreted as insulting to even ask someone about it. Replace unsecured firearm with someone else it would be insane to leave out around kids, "I just have to ask, do you have any cocaine in the house?" "I just have to ask, do you have any pornographic magazines that the kids can easily get to?" etc.


Ok this made me LOL. No one has asked me about guns but if they do I’ll say no and ask about cocaine at their house.


Agree. I’ve never asked because exactly as PP says. If I’m letting my child go over your house, it is because I trust you enough to not have any obvious dangers in your home.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I don’t ask if they have guns. I ask how they secure their guns. It’s a better question, assuming they own guns, as most people do.


Most people don’t own a gun- only about a third of Americans do.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think every house that has guns should have them registered with the local police and fire department so they know what they are walking into if they get a call. I mean, all the ammo would be horrifying in a house fire.

I live in Maryland and am SHOCKED by how loosey-goosey the gun rules are here compared to Massachusetts when I was raised. We have about 4 guns (2 handguns, a rifle and an "assault rifle" - yeah, I nearly died when I discovered that's what it was in the wake of these school shootings) - all my husband's, all used for target shooting, never used for hunting (killing anything sickens him). I did get trained in using the handguns so I could be safe around them, but they aren't my thing.

So if you ask, do ask everyone (and we'd never be offended) ... you'd NEVER know we were the "type of people" to have guns in the house - when my friends find out they are still shocked!

But here's the thing - they aren't registered, nobody did any background checks on him before he bought them, etc. NONE! He's fine, he would have passed them, but the point is, nobody knows they are in our house - and they should all be registered in some database in the sky, but it's not required! And he just walked into a gun shop and bought them - no waiting period, no checks, nada. I think it's deplorable.


No he didn’t.


NP. I bought my husband a gun years ago (for target shooting only) and I went to the place, bought it, told the guy I was buying it for my husband, he said he didn't care and as far as he was concerned I was the one he was selling it to and he didn't care what I did with it afterwards. He did take my driver's license and did some sort of check that two took seconds and handed me the gun in a bag. Honestly, I was shocked at how easy it was.


If this is true, and the events occurred after 1968, you just admitted committing a federal felony by lying on the Form 4473 when you said you were the actual end user of the firearm.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think every house that has guns should have them registered with the local police and fire department so they know what they are walking into if they get a call. I mean, all the ammo would be horrifying in a house fire.

I live in Maryland and am SHOCKED by how loosey-goosey the gun rules are here compared to Massachusetts when I was raised. We have about 4 guns (2 handguns, a rifle and an "assault rifle" - yeah, I nearly died when I discovered that's what it was in the wake of these school shootings) - all my husband's, all used for target shooting, never used for hunting (killing anything sickens him). I did get trained in using the handguns so I could be safe around them, but they aren't my thing.

So if you ask, do ask everyone (and we'd never be offended) ... you'd NEVER know we were the "type of people" to have guns in the house - when my friends find out they are still shocked!

But here's the thing - they aren't registered, nobody did any background checks on him before he bought them, etc. NONE! He's fine, he would have passed them, but the point is, nobody knows they are in our house - and they should all be registered in some database in the sky, but it's not required! And he just walked into a gun shop and bought them - no waiting period, no checks, nada. I think it's deplorable.


No he didn’t.


NP. I bought my husband a gun years ago (for target shooting only) and I went to the place, bought it, told the guy I was buying it for my husband, he said he didn't care and as far as he was concerned I was the one he was selling it to and he didn't care what I did with it afterwards. He did take my driver's license and did some sort of check that two took seconds and handed me the gun in a bag. Honestly, I was shocked at how easy it was.


If this is true, and the events occurred after 1968, you just admitted committing a federal felony by lying on the Form 4473 when you said you were the actual end user of the firearm.


This was in 2012. I don't remember filling out a form. I did everything that was asked of me and told the truth about the entire situation. I wouldn't have signed something saying I was buying it for myself because that wasn't true.
post reply Forum Index » General Parenting Discussion
Message Quick Reply
Go to: