Parents Question

[natasha69]

my boys are getting to the age where they are starting to have their buddies come over to play (3 years old). we heard through the grapevine the some other parents are asking the "gun" question, "are there any firearms in your house." i told my wife to respond truthfully, "yes, and it is stored securely in a safe." good idea, or not, or would anyone phrase the response better? i doubt the response will change people's opinions, but safety is important.

and to reverse the question, do you ask other parents the same question?

thanks in advance for your response.

[ShooterDK]

It shouldn't be any parents question.

[SomeGuy75]

I've never been asked by any of my kid's friend's parent's, but most of our friends either already know I shoot or go shooting with me. I would probably use the same answer you wrote and not elaborate on it anymore than that.
Of course you could go into the whole "household chemicals, stairs, unsecured medications, pools etc. kill more children blah blah blah". But I would save that unless they made an issue of the guns.

[Fern]

Non of their business. Don't advertise.

[L84CABO]

Ya know...I really can't fault a parent for asking. Not everyone is diligent about keeping their weapons secure. And some, it isn't really even a matter of diligence. They flat out believe that their little Johnny would never touch dad's guns because dad trained him and told him not to.

I would never tell someone how to parent their kid. If that's the decision you've made in your house, that's fine. But don't ask me to trust your kid and your firearms training...especially when I hardly know you.

I wouldn't be mad if a parent asked and I would give them an honest answer. If it bothers you, then politely refuse to answer the question...but expect that your kid may not have many play dates.

And yea, I ask the question...and a whole lot more...I want to know who is home, who will be supervising, I want both parents cell phone numbers, whether or not there is a pool, and the "boy" situation. When you have daughters you always check the boy situation. How many brothers does Suzy have and what are their ages? Etc.

And personally, I think you'd have to be crazy not to ask these types of questions...particularly with people that you just met and hardly know. Keep in mind that it may not even be an issue with the owner's kid. How many other kids are coming over? Kids love to snoop. Maybe they're playing hide and seek in the house and some kid hides in the parent's closet and finds the loaded shotgun or something.

[ZirconJohn]

Allow me ... having been in sales all my life, countless girlfriends, and in addition I can talk to the animals ... "I am a linguistics expert."

The question parents will ask you is "are there any firearms in your house?"

Your truthful answer, and I'll tell you why in a minute, is 'NO'

Here is why your answer is true/correct.

As long as your guns are locked in the safe, they are technically locked and separated FROM the house of which the parent is asking.

However, if the parent asks "are there any firearms locked in the gun safe located in your house?" - Then that's a different story.

[Unretarded]

Loose lips sink ships........

[L84CABO]

Allow me ... having been in sales all my life, countless girlfriends, and in addition I can talk to the animals ... "I am a linguistics expert."

The question parents will ask you is "are there any firearms in your house?"

Your truthful answer, and I'll tell you why in a minute, is 'NO'

Here is why your answer is true/correct.

As long as your guns are locked in the safe, they are technically locked and separated FROM the house of which the parent is asking.

However, if the parent asks "are there any firearms locked in the gun safe located in your house?" - Then that's a different story.

Hehe. I always assume there are firearms in the house. I don't ask if you have them. I ask, "are your firearms secured?'

[Divernhunter]

That question is ok as long as you can get an answer about them. Guns, Knives, booze, sex toys, porn media, are they registered or been accused of molesting a child or abuse a child, pit bull or other potentially bad dogs, who is going to be watching them play, unfenced swimming pool, arrows with sharp broadheads and such.
I also asked do you hunt, shoot or reload? Then we could have something in common to talk about.

[Subotai]

Hehe. I always assume there are firearms in the house. I don't ask if you have them. I ask, "are your firearms secured?'

Bingo.

[Win231]

It shouldn't be any parents question.

Irresponsible & uncaring parents wouldn't ask.

[Librarian]

Irresponsible & uncaring parents wouldn't ask.

I agree.

And of course, the follow on should be 'how about at your house?'

[50BMGBOB]

I have gun stickers and NRA plated frames on my car. I almost always have a progun tee shirt on. And with 5 kids, I have been asked many times. The answer is an honest, yes and they are lock up. I usually get a feel right then where they stand on guns. If progun, we set up a time to go shoot. If not we get into a discussion about guns and frequently end up with an offer to go shooting. I am an NRA instructor so I offer them a chance to see for themselves in a safe, friendly nonconfountational way. Some do some don't but most respect that approach and if they don't, well they probably not the type I would want my kids around anyways.

[ChuckDizzle]

It should be every parent's question. Guns are inherently dangerous tools. I'll never understand gun owners who feel the need to turn their own gun ownership into a fetish.

I go shooting with most of my kid's friends parents. It's clear we own guns by the NRA stickers on the cars. If a parent asks I'm glad to inform them that the firearms are safely secured. I ask the question too because as this forum has evidenced on this discussion numerous times there are people who insist on overestimating their parenting skills and their child's maturity or underestimating the curiosity of their child.

Be proud to be a fine example of a responsible gun owner.

[Barbarosa]

I think it is a responsible question for a parent to ask, and I have been asked many times. I'm at the grandpa age now and don't have any problem when people bring young kids to our ranch and ask about guns. I've got guns hanging on the wall in plain sight. I always tell parents the guns they can see are wall-hangers that are bolted down and don't function, and that all the working guns are locked up in a safe. I have never had anyone turn and run.