Why is gun-owning community so opposed to being asked if they have guns?

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ezmiraldo

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And being asked how secure they are?

I understand it's none of doctors' business; plus, they most likely know less about firearms safety than we do. But... when a parent whose child is about to do sleep over or just do a play date at my house asks me about guns (or how securely they are stored), I would NEVER be offended.

Reason 1: You betcha, I'm going to ask that same question myself (and inquire about safety more generally) when my child visits someone else's home for a playdate. Even, if its my brother's or father's home.

Reason 2: It is an opportunity for us, gun owners, to showcase how responsible and paranoid about safety we are. Kinda like a PR move that only benefits the image of the gun-owning community.

Why does Brady campaign and Moms-demand-action "own" this issue (i.e., widely perceived to be winning on this issue)? Shouldn't we try to wrestle it away from them by fully embracing it ourselves, and in the process showing anti's a middle finger while also winning some undecided folks over to our side?
 
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For me it really depends on who’s asking. If a parent called because their child was spending the night and inquired about safety in general and firearms specifically I would have no issue with it. However, I don’t think my Doctor, employer, neighbor, or any other random individual has a right to know what guns I may own.
 
Checking with a friend where your child goes to play is a whole lot different from publicly notifying everyone. Just who do you want us to notify about guns in the first place?
Just friends or a public announcement?
Last I want to add is that if you thing for one second that the Brady group’s first concern it child safety you are sadly misinformed. Brady’s first and foremost is a complete confiscation campaign.
 
I agree with Barry and Ozzieman as well. There are times when the question is valid and can be a good PR but for the most part it is like someone asking how much you have in your savings account or if you own gold or silver. Just mostly nobodies business.
 
Not all, but several government agencies have very recently shown they don't know how to follow rules and laws, having misused information to the detriment of others. I was a fed contractor and saw a lot of crap that SOP was well beyond recent incidents that made the news, and agency personnel didn't seem to care.
Why become a potential target to the unscrupulous? As said above, private inquiry, no problem, come on by and take a look. Accurate public, nope.
 
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I'm not sure I'd answer if a parent asked about weapons at my house before his/her kid came to play. If I don't know the person well enough that the child isn't trusted in my home, then by default I am sure I don't know the parent well enough to disclose that info and wouldn't risk the parent telling everyone my answer.
 
Ask the parent what rules they have regarding their childs safety and commit that your home will be safe for their child. There is no need to disclose what if any firearms are present. If that is not good enough then they have a choice to make.
 
Agreed,as a public question.none of your business.

I fully support a parent being conscious of the firearms safety in an environment they are entrusting a child.

The question of "What is the inventory" is unnecessary.

"No offense intended,I feel like it is my responsibility as a parent to ask.Might you have any firearms that are not locked away from children?No problem owning guns,I just want to be sure they are inaccesable.I promise the same for your kids"

And,if anyone has a problem with that,well,that is why you asked.

Hah!olddave,we wrote the same idea,same time!
 
Cuz it's nobody else's business. The only people who need to know you have a gun are yourself and anyone you intend to use it on.
 
Nobody's business. I am even very selective about what close friends know I have guns. Not that I mistrust them, but people talk and if the wrong person gets the info, I have become susceptible to a robbery or worse.

All it takes is for one dirtbag to overhear.
 
I don't buy into the PR notion.

True, if Bob respects me and finds out that I own guns, then maybe Bob will become more open-minded about guns and gun ownership.

On the other hand, If John dislikes me (regardless of the reasons) and finds out that I own guns, then his negativity toward me may be projected onto all gun owners.

It seems to me that it could easily go either way.
 
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Nobody's business. And certainly not a threat to the public safety if law-abiding citizens have legal firearms in their homes or offices, and keep them out of reach of children.

Passing laws that require anything beyond keeping them out of reach of children is going to open a huge and intrusive policing issue in about 80 million homes.
 
My kids have sleepovers and we've had 2 sets of parents ask us if our guns are secured. We told them the truth - yes the guns are secure. No problem at all.
 
I'm not opposed to someone asking if there's no penalty if I ignore their question.

I am violently opposed to having someone I am paying for a service asking me about things that are none of their business AND then attempting to penalize me for refusing to answer.
 
I am violently opposed to having someone I am paying for a service asking me about things that are none of their business AND then attempting to penalize me for refusing to answer.
Click to expand...

It hasn't happened to me yet, as my doctor is an avid sportsman and loves guns. But please tell me how a person can be penalized for not answering a question.
 
If its a parent asking I will tell the truth. Same goes for just about anyone I know if we happen to already be in a conversation about guns. If one of my neighbors just randomly walked up to me and asked if I own guns I would probably lie though. I have a strong safe bolted to my floor along with a home security system and if all else fails renter's insurance so I am confident my guns are safe.
 
I never ask about guns when my kid goes to another child's house. And, I don't really care for someone asking me about my guns, implying that they are too dangerous for their kid to be around gun owners.

There are a lot of things in and around a house with which kids are much more likely to harm themselves or others, much more so than guns: Flammable and caustic chemicals, power tools, lighters, vehicles, power outlets to name a few. When I was a kid, I never once touched someone's gun, but I created a lot of mischief with the things I listed.

So, yes it is obnoxious to ask someone if they have guns and if they are properly stored, without also asking about the other things I mentioned. How about drugs? Do you ask people if they have prescription drugs in their house before you let your kid visit and interrogate them on how their prescription drugs are stored? How about alcohol - do you ask if they have and how they store their alcohol? What about car keys? Cigarettes? Lighters? Fireworks? Nail Polish remover?
 
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