CCW is WELCOME at my house / If my gun ain't welcome, neither am I

[Templar223]

I read the post about controversy regarding carrying your lawfully possessed gun into another person's home ("CCW at Christmas Party" or something like that).

Frankly, as a fanny packer in Illinois, I don't give it a second thought about wearing my gun into another private residence.

But apparently some people are dead set opposed to others carrying into their home. I hope I'm not being rude, but if my gun ain't welcome, I don't need to be there.

I'm curious what some others out there feel about this.

My golden rule: If I'm comfortable enough with someone to let them in my door, I'm sure as hell comfortable with them packing heat. In fact, if they are usually packing but not when at my house, I want to know why not!

The only person who has ever challenged me about wearing my gun in another's home was my father, who's takes medication for mental disorders.

Furthermore, in part because of my activism, my friends and family know I pack.

Ironically, I was at a black-tie event Saturday night. All dressed up, armed with a Kel-Tec P3AT. Some guy I don't know came up to me and asked me if I was "packin'." I was a little taken by surprise and said, "Of course not."

I'm still scratching my head about how or why it came up that I'm always armed that someone I didn't know was quizzing me about that.

I'm not gonna worry, but it gave me a bit of a pause.

But yes, if you're visiting my house with my permission, you are more than welcome to pack your heater (legally, of course). I feel better around armed people anyway!

John

 

[Rustler]

If I've invited you to my home, it means I trust you!!

I would not care if you are packing... Just make sure that lump in your pocket is only a gun

 

[TallPine]

That other thread got closed (thankfully! ) before I even got a chance to read it all, let alone reply. But I pretty much agree with the majority opinion.

Most of my current friends and neighbors have never seen me unarmed, whether they know it or not. Sometimes it is concealed, sometimes not (or sometimes just barely). No one has ever said anything about it either at my place or theirs. And I don't bother asking permission either ... why should I if I mean no harm, and why would I if I did mean harm...?

Like as not when I am visiting a neighbor we may be out walking around on their acreage. I don't do that unarmed on my own place, or theirs either. It would be a pain to keep taking it out and leaving it in the car and vice versa.

Besides most of our neighbors around here have various long guns leaning in corners all around their houses in plain sight.

One of our family friends is a divorced mother with four little girls. The girls are often left at our house for a few hours, and the mom of course knows I open carry a lot. Of course, her early teen twins already are hunting (and bagging) deer.

Like others have said, if I trust you inside my house, I trust you armed. Bring plenty of ammo, so we can go out back and shoot for a while after supper.

 

[springmom]

<snip>

Ironically, I was at a black-tie event Saturday night. All dressed up, armed with a Kel-Tec P3AT. Some guy I don't know came up to me and asked me if I was "packin'." I was a little taken by surprise and said, "Of course not."

I'm still scratching my head about how or why it came up that I'm always armed that someone I didn't know was quizzing me about that.

I'm not gonna worry, but it gave me a bit of a pause.

Wow! That brings up a whole 'nother thread....what do you say if someone asks you if you are carrying?!?!?!?!?!

"Who are you and why are you asking?" comes to mind.... although I know that in the shock of the moment, you probably did the best thing. You never figured out who he was?

Springmom

 

[motoman]

I agree

If my gun isn't welcome, I won't be attending the function. I allow anyone to carry at my house (As long as I invited them). I would consider it a slap in the face to not be allowed to carry at someone's house.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Wow! That brings up a whole 'nother thread....what do you say if someone asks you if you are carrying?!?!?!?!?!

"Who are you and why are you asking?" comes to mind.... although I know that in the shock of the moment, you probably did the best thing. You never figured out who he was?

Springmom

At their house I'd probably reply truthfully if asked. At that point if they wanted me to leave I would. Anywhere else it's none of their business.

While carrying in someone's home isn't rude, lying to them is.

 

[Zundfolge]

Wow! That brings up a whole 'nother thread....what do you say if someone asks you if you are carrying?!?!?!?!?!

In some states, telling someone you are carrying a concealed firearm (even licensed) is the same offense as "brandishing" and it will cost you a night in jail, your CHL and probably your carry piece.

I've been asked before and I'll look them in the eye and say no (even though its not "brandishing" here in Colorado ... concealed means concealed). If at their private residence and I didn't think they'd have a problem with it I'd tell them (and this would usualy lead to a session of "you show me yours, I'll show you mine").

 

[Standing Wolf]

If I'm beyond the front door, I'm carrying. I wish every law-abiding American citizen did. If it need be said, if I welcome you into my house, I hope you're carrying, too.

Nobody's ever asked whether I'm carrying a gun at any given moment. Knowing me, I'd probably answer, "Of course. Aren't you?"

 

[Declaration Day]

If someone asks if I am carrying, my answer depends on who they are. If it is someone I know and trust, I will say yes (though those people should already know the answer).

If I don't know or trust someone, they have no business knowing that I am carrying.

But apparently some people are dead set opposed to others carrying into their home. I hope I'm not being rude, but if my gun ain't welcome, I don't need to be there.

Agreed.

I carry everywhere I legally can, and do not ask permission to carry in other peoples' homes. If they tell me my gun is not allowed, I won't come to their house, even if it's a family member.

 

[mmike87]

Any and all responsible gun owners are welcome to carry in my house.

 

[Templar223]

I still don't have a clue who it was, although my girlfriend's brother is a big wheel in this organization (and her uncle is president of the local) and may have been talking about me (in a good way, I'm sure). The kicker was that this was a National Council for African-American Men formal dinner and I was one of only about eight white faces in a sea of hundreds of black ones. (They made me feel very welcome and I had a good time.)

As for guests, I certainly appreciate it when guests tell me they are bringing kids. If young / untrained kids come over, they get to stay with mom or dad until I secure a couple of firearms about the house. While I'm pretty easy going about guests packing the heat, I'm a stickler about kids and gun safety.

John

 

[mmike87]

In some states, telling someone you are carrying a concealed firearm (even licensed) is the same offense as "brandishing" and it will cost you a night in jail, your CHL and probably your carry piece.

I've been asked before and I'll look them in the eye and say no (even though its not "brandishing" here in Colorado ... concealed means concealed). If at their private residence and I didn't think they'd have a problem with it I'd tell them (and this would usualy lead to a session of "you show me yours, I'll show you mine").

I figure it was good enough if someone asked me about nukes on board mt ship in the Navy:

"I can neither confirm nor deny the presence of said weapons on my person."

 

[MechAg94]

Guy asks if you are "packing"?? Answer: "I am kind of a live and let live guy myself, and you can do whatever you want in your personal life, but I don't swing that way. I am sure you understand."

Difference answer for a woman.

 

[ctdonath]

A gun is an inanimate object. It won't do anything by itself.
If "the gun isn't welcome", that's a thinly veiled accusation of its owner being a criminally violent psychopath. I'll socialize accordingly.

 

[geekWithA.45]

I'm pickier about who I invite to my house than I am about what gun they're carrying or not.

If I don't trust you with a gun in my presence, I don't trust you in my presence, period.

The funny thing is, _most_ of the few people who know I'm usually armed are armed themselves. The even fewer who know who aren't have...gotten used to the idea.

 

[Lupinus]

As for guests, I certainly appreciate it when guests tell me they are bringing kids. If young / untrained kids come over, they get to stay with mom or dad until I secure a couple of firearms about the house. While I'm pretty easy going about guests packing the heat, I'm a stickler about kids and gun safety.

Same here. I have at least one loaded gun in my house at all times, and while kids rarly are in my home when they are I drop what I'm doing or get it quickly to the point I can drop it for a moment and go either unload the gun/s or lock them up.

In some states, telling someone you are carrying a concealed firearm (even licensed) is the same offense as "brandishing" and it will cost you a night in jail, your CHL and probably your carry piece.

True, but if asked I don't think it would hold up. If you just blurted it out or said it in a threatning manner "watch it ***** I have a gun." But if person a says "Sir are you carrying a weapon" and you reply with a simple non-threatning "yes" to answer their question I can't see it standing up as brandishing anyone then being on private property and a person asking if they can see your gun cause it is new or a model they are interested in or something. Asked and responded to but not used in a threatning manner is my way or thinking.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

In some states, telling someone you are carrying a concealed firearm (even licensed) is the same offense as "brandishing" and it will cost you a night in jail, your CHL and probably your carry piece.

Well ...

YOUR mentioning it in a threatening manner as a way to gain the "upper hand" in an argument might be considered brandishing in some states.

Truthfully answering a question would not.

 

[XLMiguel]

I'd be inclined to reply, "Don't ask, don't tell-", and walk a way. As previously discussed, MYOB/NYDB (mind yer own business/none of yer damn business)-

I undersatnd both positions, I'd just do a 'situational ethics' kinda thing, i.e. use judgement. Personally, I wouldn't violate the hospitality by packing some place I didn't know the host well enough/the host don't know I'm prone to packing; nevermind whether I'd go someplace I considered threatening unarmed, but that's my choice.

If I was in a situation where, A.) I didn't know the environment/danger vis a vis upsetting lots of someones if'n they found out I was armed (and it might be [at least] socially dangerous), e.g. blissninney meltdown/diarhea), or B.), I was sufficiently uncomfortable going to said event unarmed, I'd choose not to attend.

Obsfucation a specialty

 

[BigRobT]

When I'm at the hunting shack or MY house, I carry all the time or the weapon is an appropriate place. When I visit other people's houses, depending on the person, I may or may not leave the weapon in my vehicle. I do this as a sign of respect for the person I'm visiting. Nothing more, nothing less. If I am at a social function at someone's house with a bunch of strangers, I normally don't carry because, living in MN, there are many anti-gun fiends here. I wouldn't want to alarm the sheep.

 

[Zedicus]

Originally Posted by Templar223
<snip>

Ironically, I was at a black-tie event Saturday night. All dressed up, armed with a Kel-Tec P3AT. Some guy I don't know came up to me and asked me if I was "packin'." I was a little taken by surprise and said, "Of course not."

I'm still scratching my head about how or why it came up that I'm always armed that someone I didn't know was quizzing me about that.

I'm not gonna worry, but it gave me a bit of a pause.

Wow! That brings up a whole 'nother thread....what do you say if someone asks you if you are carrying?!?!?!?!?!

"Who are you and why are you asking?" comes to mind.... although I know that in the shock of the moment, you probably did the best thing. You never figured out who he was?

Springmom

my response would have Initially been "Pardon?" while doing this =>

As far as packing in someone else's home goes, I'd go by a policy of "don't ask, don't Tell" the only way they are likely to find out is if something goes south.

 

[LawDog]

With kin and kith, the answer is obvious: I don't care if you carry or not.

If you are someone whom I have invited to my house, then I don't care if you carry or not.

If you don't, I'll gladly tell you where the house gun is.

The only rule there is, if you're going to be drinking, it's time to lock up your gun.

However, there have been occasions when there have been people in my house whom I don't know, and did not invite. Such as when a sister-in-law brings a stranger who is a friend of an unknown-last-name work colleague to my BBQ.

Or wedding receptions crawling with complete bloody strangers and nobody has a clue who the guy who seems to have adopted the beer keg is.

Walking into the living room to find three stoner buddies of your brothers new girlfriend sitting on the couch trying mooch off of her is another classic example. :banghead:

In these situations, it's my damned house and I want to know if those strangers are carrying. And since I don't know them from Adam's off ox, they'll probably get told to stow their guns in the car.

LawDog

 

[Stevie-Ray]

When the last friend asked me if I was carrying, I said, "Why do you ask?"
He replied, "Cuz we want to see it if you are." Even my friends that may not have guns themselves are usually fascinated by them. Their not having any is generally a finances issue, i.e. they would have several if their budget allowed. In some friend's homes, we simply compare and then extoll the virtues of our own weapons and malign the shortcomings of yours. All in good fun, of course.

 

[gulogulo1970]

I don't have a CCL but if I did and a buddies wife or he himself said I don't want weapons in my house I would respect that and abide by their wishes. I would pick their brains for a reason and try to talk them to a rational point of view. But if I could not convince them, well its not worth losing contact with a friend over it.

But then again, I have yet to embrace the concealed carry lifestyle, so to me it is not yet a big deal.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I read the post about controversy regarding carrying your lawfully possessed gun into another person's home ("CCW at Christmas Party" or something like that).

But apparently some people are dead set opposed to others carrying into their home. I hope I'm not being rude, but if my gun ain't welcome, I don't need to be there.

I think you confused some key issues. If you carry a gun into another person's home that does not want you to carry in his home, then your gun most definitely is not lawfully possessed in that person's home.

So which is it? Is it that if your gun ain't welcome than neither are you as stated in the title or is it that if your gun ain't welcome then you don't need to be there? These are two very different issues.

Regardless of how you feel about it, it is the homeowner who determines who and what are welcome in his home. You most certainly may be welcome even though your gun is not, but maybe you meant to say that if your gun is not welcome that you don't feel welcome.

You seem all bent out of shape by the notion that not being allowed to carry in someone else's home means that you are not welcome. Apparently, you want them to extend the courtesy of allowing you to carry in that person's home and yet you don't want to extend the courtesy if respecting that person's rights and wishes.

My golden rule: If I'm comfortable enough with someone to let them in my door, I'm sure as hell comfortable with them packing heat.

Interesting. I know some good folks that I gladly welcome into my home as trusted friends, but I have shot with a couple of them that I feel are not fully up to speed on safety. So while they may be good and honest people, their poor understanding of safe gun handling means that I most definitely do not want them carrying or handling guns in my home. Good people can make some pretty stupid mistakes.

 

[Taurus 66]

CCW is welcomed at my house. No problems here if it's legally registered to you. No illegal guns please.