Carrying Into Other People's Homes

[cstone]

To the OP, a common definition of etiquette is 1. the customs or rules governing behaviour regarded as correct or acceptable in social or official life

If there is a law that requires notification of the homeowner, then etiquette would require a gun carrier to notify the home owner. This seems pretty straight forward. Absent any law, then it would seem to be a matter of what is regarded as correct or acceptable behaviour in your social life. I also understand etiquette to be the rules by which we treat each other with respect and do not cause unnecessary discomfort to others. This is why I do not regularly discuss weapons and their use unless I know that I am conversing with someone who has a common interest. If I know in advance that the mere presence of a weapon in someone's home would cause them discomfort or in some way show disrespect, then I would avoid carrying a weapon into that person's home. There are times, for professional reasons when I am required to carry a weapon into someone's home, but I do not believe that is what the OP was referring to with this question.

Here is the OP's original question. "Do you normally inform someone that you carry prior to going to their home with the gun, or if you're going to a friends do you just not carry?"

Given just that question, each of us will come to our best decision on what we should do in a given circumstance based on the information we already have regarding the person's home we are visiting.

Barring a statutory requirement in your location, I do not believe that one answer will always be the correct answer to the question.

My opinion is mine and it is subject to change depending on circumstances.

 

[Neverwinter]

<stuff not related to the requirements of disclosure>

<more stuff not related to the requirements of disclosure

Neither of these are answers to the questions which were re-quoted for your benefit. For the two cases, would you or would you not require involuntary disclosure?

 

[lizziedog1]

Here is a slight twist on this topic. I hope it ain't too off-topic.

How well do you have to know someone before you let them into your house with a loaded gun on them?

 

[Sam1911]

How well do you have to know someone before you let them into your house with a loaded gun on them?

I assume anyone entering my home has a gun. I assume everyone I meet on the street has a gun. In my home, just like anywhere else, that gun is none of my concern until/unless it appears and is handled for some reason.

 

[mljdeckard]

How well do I know someone PERIOD before I let them in my house?

I mentioned that I let very few people into my house at all. Even people from places like church don't automatically get a pass. I had a new member of our congregation drop in a few years ago. I was poking around on the Meagan's Law website for contacts in my neighborhood, and I found out that my new friend had a conviction for child rape. So, yes, I am very selective about who comes into my house at all, and if I don't trust them to be armed, they aren't coming in in the first place.

 

[rellascout]

Neither of these are answers to the questions which were re-quoted for your benefit. For the two cases, would you or would you not require involuntary disclosure?

YES. If it is my house you should disclose. Voluntarily or involuntarily. As cstone so nicely put it the word of the day is etiquette.

 

[Sam1911]

My 'word of the day' is "armed."

'Etiquette' is too subject to personal preference, vagaries of upbringing, regional goofiness, and whim to have a semblance of relevance to this kind of question. And etiquette is all about 'show.' Unless I'm showing my personal defensive sidearm, it doesn't enter into the strictures of etiquette any more than does my underwear -- or what I'm thinking.

I follow the law strictly and I'm scrupulously polite. That's good enough for anyone I'm visiting or anyone who is visiting me.

 

[rscalzo]

The issue of concern for me is damage to the futrniture. My friends are trained to a level that carrying a handgun is not an issue.

 

[rellascout]

SAM1911 look at the OP he is not asking about what is legal. He is asking what is "the right" thing to do. His question is what is proper etiquette.

 

[x_wrench]

i do not tell ANYONE that i am carrying. if it happens that i am in someones home, and the gun HAS to be used, i really do not think at that point that the homeowner will be giving ME greif. at that point, they should be happy someone saved their back side.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Here is a slight twist on this topic. I hope it ain't too off-topic.

How well do you have to know someone before you let them into your house with a loaded gun on them?

I would not know, actually, as I never ask anyone if they are armed. I've had the Cable guy, the telephone guy, listers, people whom I don't know who may be buying something from me, etc. in my house and not once did I ask them if they have any kind of weapon on them.

If the person acted in a strange way or in some other way seemed suspicious to me, I most likely would not let them in the house. I can actually think of a number of times someone came to my door, needing my help or needing to make a phone call, thank God for cordless phones - I just say "one moment," and bring them the kitchen cordless phone so they can call-away!

 

[Sam1911]

He is asking what is "the right" thing to do. His question is what is proper etiquette.

And I just told him my opinion on that.

"I follow the law strictly and I'm scrupulously polite. That's good enough for anyone I'm visiting or anyone who is visiting me."

Hard for someone to be "offended" or "uncomfortable" about something of which they have no knowledge.

I would not open carry a firearm in someone's house if they didn't want me to.

 

[Creature]

If it is my house you should disclose.

Is that a rule that you communicate to all of you vistors beforehand? Or are you presuming that all of your visitors already know this?

 

[youngda9]

Is that a rule that you communicate to all of you vistors beforehand? Or are you presuming that all of your visitors already know this?

Therein lies the problem.

Those that believe everyone entering their house should notify think that it is rude or disrespectful not too...as if everyone has the same perceptions about SD carry as they do, and the same feelings and rules(that are not posted or discussed) about the sanctity of entering ones home. They seem to think that for some reason entering their home with a firearm, without notification, is some horrible offense. It is clear that some people here would blow their top if they discovered someone in their home with a firearm, but may be perfectly fine with it if they requested they bring it in their home.

Those that carry daily and don't feel that way don't think anyting of it...it's just another place to visit...and just another item they carry throughout their travels...they do not believe it is something that should be whispered about, asked if it is ok to have, feared, or treated differently than anything else. They value their privacy and don't believe it is necessary to disclose their carry status, or bring up firearms at all to anyone, just because they are in their home. They probably think nothing of going into someone's home with their SD firearm...it is nobody elses business...and notifying other people that you carry has no positive benefits for the most part.

 

[bearcreek]

For those who are saying you should tell anyone you visit that you are carrying. What is a person who works in the service industry supposed to do? Anything from pizza delivery to HVAC, plumbers, electricians etc. These folks are in peoples homes all the time. Are they supposed to tell every customer that they're carrying? I own and run a tree service. I always have my revolver with me on the job, if not on my belt then in the truck (hard to wear a handgun while climbing a tree with harness, ropes etc.) I'm not usually in the house but the yard would qualify for the same consideration I would think. IMO it would be ridiculous for me to try to get permission from every homeowner just to carry something that is a normal part of my wardrobe and that they are highly unlikely to find out about anyway.

 

[gym]

Again, who are these "people" you have coming into your house. I know everyone who comes into my house. They are either friends or relatives. I also trust them or they wouldn't be in my house. So you are telling me that you are going to stop your grandmother and ask her if she's armed and if she is, tell her she can't come in?
The whole premis makes no sense, unless you run a soup kitchen in your house, and have hordes of unknown people coming in I just don't get this mentality.
By the way most workmen carry a weapon, at least a knife, to do their job, so unless you never want any work done in your house, you better re think your position, A knife is just as deadlly as a gun at close range.
I never met a cable or phone or satalitte installer who didn't have one.

 

[rellascout]

Is that a rule that you communicate to all of you vistors beforehand? Or are you presuming that all of your visitors already know this?

99% of the people who enter my house are longtime friends or relatives. I know all of them well enough to know if they are carrying or not. 90% of them are not. In order for you to enter my house I have to know you. I do not let random people into my home.

If the person is in the home to do work like a HVAC repair man or plumber I will ask them if they have a CCW permit and if they are carrying. I am lucky that the majority of people who work on my property are friends so they fall under the 1st group so I know if they carry or not.

Pizza guys or other delivery people do not enter the home. They stand on the porch. Yes they are on my property but they are not inside my home so I do not feel the need to ask.

 

[pezo]

Its funny how some people even many people maybe saying no to carry in there homes live with such a false sense of security. Assuming they won't allow ccw from visitors in there home do to safety issue. #1), most likely a visitor isn't going to disclose they are carrying. #2) if they are legally carrying they arnt going to be a criminal. Truth is, if a bad guy wanted to, could con or invade your home possibly harming you before you could get to that fancy 1911. If I am there I am carrying. Oh and I am not telling. Law allowing of course. This illogical fear of law abiding people with guns did not work for the gun control goons and won't work now. To ask every repair man or visitor if they have a ccw and or armed is just asinine. No offense but this is a "measure of safety" for you? I think its bizarre.

 

[rellascout]

Pezo I do take offense. You have now called me a goon and said that my choices are asinine. You do realize even in the name of your pro gun stance calling another member an ass is not THR.

It only makes sense as the owner and occupiant of the home to know who is armed within that house. If something were to happen which required action with a handgun or another weapon it is always good to know who is armed and who is not. It makes even more sense when the person or persons in your home are not personally known to you. YMMV and clearly it does.

 

[Owen]

rellascout, he didn't call you a goon. Read the sentence again.

 

[X-Rap]

I really couldn't care less if they carry in my house but God help them if they go to screwing around and it goes off. Worse yet they leave it unsecured so a kid can get it.
I would be pretty pissed if we were sitting around and somebody pulled a piece out and cleared it or showed it around without asking.
Then you have to deal with rechambering and other issues while the gun is out. Guns in proper carry modes rarely go off, guns ND while loading/unloading and being handled.
I have proper places for this activity and if someone asks we can go there and get real gunny but in my house I will be the one to decide.

 

[Sam1911]

If the person is in the home to do work like a HVAC repair man or plumber I will ask them if they have a CCW permit and if they are carrying.

If you tell me that you actually do stop any repairmen of service technicians who enter your home and ask them this, I promise I'll believe you.


...


But, really?






ETA: And what do you do about it if they're lying to you? And how do you know? Do you ask them to disrobe and submit to a search, or do you take their word for it? Do you do the wise thing and assume they are carrying whether they admit to it or not? If so, what good did it do to ask? If not, ... um ... you're a trusting sort, arent' you? If you trust them not to tell a little white lie, assuredly you can trust them not to murder you with their carry gun. Of course, you're trusting them not to murder you with their utility knife, section of iron pipe, garrote of 12-2 Romex wire, hammer, nail gun, or bare hands, too.

 

[ForumSurfer]

It only makes sense as the owner and occupiant of the home to know who is armed within that house. If something were to happen which required action with a handgun or another weapon it is always good to know who is armed and who is not.

Business owners and property owners that you interact with should be given the same disclosure since it is their right to wholesale ban firearms if they wish. By that logic we should ban concealed carry altogether.

Disclosure just seems foreign to me. I may as well disclose when I'm carrying a locking pocket folder. I get that in some areas it is legal, but I honestly don't understand why so many feel I should announce that I have a firearm. Makes about as much sense to me as making me announce my plans to exercise my freedom of speech and religion before I enter someone's home. It is my legal right until my government strips me of it.

 

[pezo]

My apologies if I offended. I did state that the action of asking visitors/repairmen if they are carrying and or licensed is indeed "asinine. I wouldn't tell anyone what in my pockets or my pants. That is personal. Unless your a law officer during a traffic stop or investigation I don't tell you anything. And if I had to would lie. We all have priorities. My safety is more so for me than a power struggle of "this is my house my rules cause they only apply here" deal. Edited to correct mis statement.

 

[youngda9]

If you tell me that you actually do stop any repairmen of service technicians who enter your home and ask them this, I promise I'll believe you.

It would be easier to just post a sign outside your home...



(IBTL...I feel it nearing)