Don't ask don't tell?

I've heard that it is easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

Loose-lips-sink-ships..........only one person can keep a secret.

If you're a renter, you have rights, and that includes the right to possess your firearms. Unless no firearms is a condition of your short term lease agreement, doesn't really matter whether you tell or not. I probably wouldn't, not to be sneaky, but to avoid someone I don't really know knowing what I've got.

But seriously, I thought about this regarding the landlord that my business rents from. I figured it would play out like this:


CoRoMo: "Hey Landlord, this is CoRoMo. I rent from you and wanted to know, do you mind if I carry while I'm at work?"

CoRoMo's Landlord: "Hi CoRoMo. Guns, huh? I've never thought about that. Nobody's ever asked me that before. Hmmm. No. Don't bring a gun onto the property you rent from me".

So, I figured I'd leave well-enough alone.

Rule one in the military.

I suggest keeping it to yourself for many reasons. One is security, who knos if he the landlord will tell some croney he knows that his new renter has guns in the house and knows when you are not there to protect them. Also, if the landlord is a gun hater, and tells you he wants you unarmed then you have to either look for a place to rent that respects not only your right to protect yourself but the constitution. I say heed the title of your post. It can go only two ways if he finds out later, he either is fine with it and shows you his CCW piece, or he try's to kick you out which I don't see happeneing if he wants to actually rent the room in this economy.

Because it's temporary, I say keep quiet, at least until you find out if your roommate is cool with it.

Loose lips sink ships.

Let me put it this way now that I thought about it a bit. True story too. My Dad has been an on and off again father since he and my mom divorced when I was 12. He has never kept up with me and my hobbies. But he has always been nice and respected me for getting as far as I have without any financial support from him whatsoever. We have always gotton along great since the divorce. BUT, when he found out I was into guns like I am and saw my email address a couple years ago, he basically disowned me. I heard he said to his wife "I'll read about him in the paper or see him on the 11oclock news" after he saw my email address. it didn't even dawn on him that I had been a US Army sniper and a Special Forces member in the Army for 10 years....all he saw was my email address and didn't even ask about it. So, needless to say he is an uberlib and has the mindset so disowned his own son for being a "Gun Nut". BTW, I have never even been arrested in my entire life and have about three traffic tickets since I began driving in 1974. So not a criminal.

Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead !!!

Don't ask, don't tell was operating in an unofficial capacity in the military long before it became a "policy". It works well on many levels. I wouldn't bring it up.

hso said:

It's Nashville, not New York. Call the guy and tell him you're going to bring your guns with you until you can get to them to your Dad's. If he squawks, just take them to your Dad's place when you hit town.

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This is the right thing to do.

I think its extremly rude not to tell him. Its his house and IMO you're a paying guest. He has welcomed you into his home.

And keep in mind that he may snoop around your stuff. So anything that isnt on your body has a decent chance of being found. It would be terrible to come back to your rented room with the police already there and have to explain your way out.

Not worth the potential downside to me.

As someone thats more than casually familiar with AZ tenant landlord laws, I can comfortably say that not all of the same tenants rights and laws apply to someone renting a room for a couple of month vs someone that is leasing(or renting) a house/apt/duplex/condo etc. Is there a contract?

Different tack, why not take the one gun you need and let the wife watch the others for you?

I think its extremly rude not to tell him. Its his house and IMO you're a paying guest. He has welcomed you into his home.

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That's exactly my point. Paying rent makes you a tennant/leasee, and that comes with privileges/rights. No, it doesn't mean you can alter or damage the structure. But it does give you the right to privacy and possession of legal items on the premesis, among other things. Unless explicitly stated verbally or in writing, one can reasonably assume that non-prohibited items are allowed.

If you're keeping a pile of guns at your Dad's house I can't see any reason to bring it up with your landlord. However, I can't think of a reason to hide it either. If your gun fancy comes up in conversation, then that's cool, too.

If you bring the guns into his home, then it's a whole 'nother issue. Are you renting an apartment or a room in the guy's house? If your place has a separate entrance and address and you did not sign a lease stating you would not possess firearms on the premises, then bring on the shootin' irons.

But, if you're crashing in some dude's guest room, you owe it to him to get his approval before bringing firearms in the house.

That's exactly my point. Paying rent makes you a tennant/leasee, and that comes with privileges/rights. No, it doesn't mean you can alter or damage the structure. But it does give you the right to privacy and possession of legal items on the premesis, among other things. Unless explicitly stated verbally or in writing, one can reasonably assume that non-prohibited items are allowed.

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Again...

As someone thats more than casually familiar with AZ tenant landlord laws, I can comfortably say that not all of the same tenants rights and laws apply to someone renting a room for a couple of month vs someone that is leasing(or renting) a house/apt/duplex/condo etc. Is there a contract?

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I cant speak for his location but in AZ renting a room does not automaticaly grant him the same rights and protections as renting a dwelling. He may be renting "space"; not "property". I forgot the legal words used to define it.

Renting a room generally falls into a roommate catagory and not tenant landlord laws.

Does the room he is renting have its own separate entrance? Does it have its own address?

If he doesnt have his own address... or... if they are both living at the same address.... its almost assuredly a roommate situation.

The first things a judge would say is ... Is there a contract?

Legally in AZ, the contract must define what he is renting. (ie. space or property) And if its property, in AZ, it must state if its governed under the Arizona Landlord Tenat Act.

If its a roommate issue the judge should say you are a roommate and its his house his rules... basically saying if you dont like his rules then get out or sue for some other reason to break the agreement such as not providing the agreed goods/services.

Regardless of all that... IMO... its the right thing to do. Why be sneaky?

If the guy is anti gun, I would want to know that before I got there.

Its not worth the potential downsides IMO. He may snoop in his stuff.


Libshooter nailed it while I was writing this.

From 12/08 until 9/09 I rented a room in a 4 bedroom house here in Texas. I was concerned with my personal safety so I brought only a few of my firearms. I'm glad I was cautious. My room had no lock on the door and any of my housemates could have come into my room when I wasn't there.

As a consequence I kept my RAMI on my person and my CZ 97 & CZ 75C in the trunk of my car. I'd caution you to proceed with care. Your firearms have value and I wouldn't leave them in an unlocked or accessible room.

Rule one in the military.

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I would not mention it for security reasons. He just might mention at his workplace breakroom to a fellow employee "Hey I just got a new roomie, and man, he's got a ton of guns" whereupon that guy mentions it to the guy on the loading dock who mentions it to the driver of the garbage truck who..... See where this is leading? I try not to mention the fact that I have guns to anybody I don't know real well.

would you guys just completely avoid the subject of firearms while renting a room in a short term situation like this?

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Yes. Nobody needs to know about your guns, or your jewelry, or your stock certificates, or anything else of value you own. Why even mention it?

Personally, I would keep all but one handgun at your relative's house. That way, if someone (the owner, the owner's shady friend(s), or god knows who else) snoops and steals, you only lose one handgun. If you can keep it locked up in a small safe or lockbox, all the better. Or keep it locked up in the trunk of your car.

But I wouldn't say anything about it. You don't know this guy, you don't know his friends and, frankly, you probably won't know any of them after 2 months pass and you move out. JMHO.

Since you're driving, why not drive to Huntsville first and drop off your guns at Stepdad's, then head north to Nashville? Seems like a very simple solution. Keep one gun for protection until you get a house.

Only one way to find out..............

As a renter the house is as good as yours.