Gun ownership disclosure?

Question

A very interesting question yesterday begs a follow-up...

Do you expect your child's favorite playdate (parents) to disclose gun ownership?

Do you ask?

After having learned this, would it affect your decision to let your child over the house again (after otherwise having formed a positive opinion about the family)?

Answer 1

I own a gun several in fact, my 10 and 12 year old boys own Henry Youth 22 Rifles. I would not think to disclose to anyone that I had a gun in my own. If asked I would tell them I wouldn't be offended by them asking because I know there are parents out there that do not want their children around guns. However, as a responsible parent mine are locked up and my boys have been exposed to guns their entire lives. So they know that it is a tool, a weapon not a toy. We have exposed them to guns so much that in fact they could care less unless they go to the gun range or hunting they have no desire to pick up their weapon. When their friends come over they aren't even mentioned.

I would be offended if they decided to not let their child come over to my home after finding out that I had guns, especially if the child has been over before prior to finding this out. You would be telling them that you trusted them with your child before but now that you know they have a gun in the house you don't. Most gun owners that have children are pretty responsible.

Answer 2

Like I said before, I don't disclose the fact I do own a gun. I wouldn't even ask someone.

Here where I live (Tasmania, Australia) it is illegal to own some guns, you cannot have a gun without a license (really tough to get) and you cannot store your ammo and gun, in the same safe, and the safes have to be up to a really high standard.

If people want to judge me because I do own a gun, that's their sad problem. I honestly do not care. That is my business not theirs.

I often bring my work bag home, which has syringes and other little dangers in it. Should people stop coming and seeing me, because I have these at my house?

My kids are my life, and I believe without a doubt, there would be more chance of a child being trampled by sheep on the farm, than them even seeing I owned a gun.

My thoughts don't change because someone owns a gun, most of my neighbours do and I know this. I also know they are responsible enough to follow the laws here.

Answer 3

Actually, if you are being responsible and don't really know the parents well, the gun question is only one of a few that you need to ask. I would still allow my child to go if the answer was yes, but I would prep her better. We just had an article in our local paper about how many children were treated for gunshot wounds this year. It was scary. More scary is the answer that he would not disclose that he had one. I can only hope that he has it well locked up and hidden so that children don't get ahold of it.

Answer 4

Every family that my kids play with have guns..Let's see..Jess used to be a sniper, so he likes to target shoot, Mary and her hubby own a farm, and have to keep one around for coyotes and  junk yard dogs that try to attack their stock..John has just a little .22 for plinking around, so does Mike and his family, and we have a .306, .22, and a 9mm..Hunting folks you know...

Answer 5

I would never tell a random other parent that I had guns in the house - how can I know they won't spread it round the whole community and make me a target for thieves? Nor would they be able to tell - they are locked away completely out of sight and reach at all times. (I'm in the UK, and if they weren't I would go to jail.)

So I wouldn't expect another parent to tell me either. That said, if I discovered that the guns had been out and accessible while my kids were there, they'd never go again. I'll be the one to teach my kids about gun safety. Nobody else.

Answer 6

It would depend if they have a gun cabinet and the guns are locked up.  I grew up in a family of hunters and I knew about guns but my dad had a gun cabinet that they were locked up in.  I feel that my parents house was safer than some of my friends houses that had other issues.  I now am married and have 4 children of my own.  I don't own any guns but my sons have bb guns that are kept at my dads house locked up and they only use them with him.  Hope this helped.

Answer 7

no I don't expect them to disclose that and I've never asked. I don't need to because my kids have been taught gun safety and all about guns and their dangers. They know how to properly handle a gun and they respect guns. They have been through a professional gun safety course and passed with A's. I am not going to sit around hoping others do what they should about gun safety, I teach my kids it so we don't have to count on others.

I would have no problem if someone asked us if we own a gun. My answer would be yes we own two and they are locked in a cabinet with no bullets in the home. If they chose to not allow their kid over for that, they are ignorant and kidding themselves if they think they will protect their kid forever, instead they should educate them.