Should I tell the other parents that there is a gun in my home??

Question

My husband has a handgun that is totally legal, he has a firearm card and the gun is registered. We keep it locked in a small safe in the closet, in our bedroom. If we arent home the bedroom is locked. Should I tell the other parents about it??

Answer 1

Would you want to know if your child was going into a house with firearms???

I think the most important thing here is teaching YOUR child firearm safety. My father was a police officer and I knew we had a loaded gun in the house. He taught me at age 6 to fire it (at a training range) and showed me what it would do to human flesh (by using a watermelon). He wanted me to understand how serious it was and why to never play with it.

He did keep it in a locked safe when not at work, but what if I was at someone else's house and we found one that was not locked up? I knew first hand not to touch it and why.

Answer 2

I think this is a great question.

I don't have a gun, so I can only tell you the opinion of a possible "other parent". I'd be furious if I found out that I let my kid go to a friend's house, and they didn't bother to tell me that they owned a firearm which was kept in the house.

If they told me it was locked, in a locked room, with bullets in a different place (and locked), it probably wouldn't phase me. But to know that I was not even told.... my kid would never go over there again and it would permanently harm my relationship with that parent.

I'm overprotective of my kid - it's honestly how I would react. If my kid were coming to your house, I'd like you to tell me "hey, just so you know, we own a gun, here's where it's kept, here's how we secure it, etc etc. Just wanted you to be aware."

Answer 3

I believe that it is my job as a parent to inquire if another family has a gun in their home. I don't believe that you need to tell them without them asking.

That being said, I do approach the subject about us having a gun, but only because my husband is a police officer, and the people who would be visiting know that. I do it as a reassurance so that they know the gun is either at work with my husband or locked away properly. But our situation is different.

Answer 4

It's your home and your business. Are you trying to show off? Or make them uncomfortable? I don't think you need to tell anyone. You run risks by giving personal information, especially of that nature.

However...I do believe that kids should know how to properly and safely handle firearms. I have a 3-yr-old son who wants to be a firefighter, policeman and army guy when he grows up and we have taught him about guns and will continue to do so as is age appropriate.

Answer 5

I guess you should if they ask about firearms in the home. I would be a bit put off if you just brought it up out of no where. Though I think if you have it well locked up it should be alright.

Answer 6

Only if they ask I would tell them, but it's not like you have it out in the open and it's legal. As long as you keep it locked and hidden from visitors and guests I would think that it would be okay.

Answer 7

Just so long as it is ALWAYS locked when other people/children are at your home, I don't think that you need to tell them. How would you do that anyways? "We have a gun!?!" Just make sure it is never in any was accessible.

Answer 8

By telling them, you may give them the impression that it is something they should be worried about. As long as the gun is safely put away to where the children cannot get to it, I would say that you have no reason to tell them unless they ask.

Answer 9

Sounds like you have it completely secured. What would be the reason to divulge that information? Just make sure you keep your children and their friends 100% supervised at all times.

Answer 10

Yes I would inform the parents of any child that comes into your home about the gun. Tell them just what you told us.