Fervently anti gun parents - what to do?

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Is there a nearby, level-headed friend who you can really trust to store them, and never allow to be viewed by anybody outside etc?

Maybe by showing her the short Youtube video of Suzanna Gratia-Hupp's superb testimony (about the Luby's massacre in Killeen) some logic might leak inside people through osmosis?

Even John Stossel has an informative video about guns versus crime on the 'Tube.
 
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Did you have the guns when you lived in her house? Is so, then did you have control over them - meaning you didn't have to ask her for them and she may not know if you took one to the range? If your answers are yes, then I don't see any difference in this new situation.
 
I do agree with some that gentle persuasion can often have a positive effect. While I've been in college I've taught a lot of people to use guns. I'm not one of those people who feels the need to keep my gun ownership a huge secret - I've shared that with some of my friends and don't regret it. Of course, the dummy 7.62x51 Nato rounds in a disintegrating link belt that sat on my coffee table was also a clue that I was into firearms. Although most of them were not familiar at all with guns and a few even were slightly anti out of fear, all had a great time shooting. Generally when I take someone shooting their facebook profile pic is changed to them posing with a gun by noon the next day.

But I doubt it would make any difference to your mom. Some people are just set in their opinions and won't consider anything that they don't initially agree with. If she's a loving and supportive mother in all other aspects I still think you should consider yourself fortunate. In the grand scheme of things this is a relatively minor irritation. Since your conversation ended with "well if you get arrested, don't complain to me," that would indicate that all you need to do is take your guns with you and not get arrested (which I doubt you plan on doing). Get a small safe or strong box to lock them up in, be careful about who you share them with, and live your life. I'd bet that after a month of no problems the whole thing will be forgotten about.
 
I’m getting old, but still remember college....

If you party, have others over, etc. there is a legitimate concern. I kept my guns in College. You'll need to devise a fool proof and drunk you proof way to store them...

But I did feel safer for the 99% rest of the time, and understand why you would want to. Good luck, be safe!
 
Keep your eyes on the prize--your education. You are fortunate that you are afforded the opportunity to do your schooling full time without having to work outside to support yourself.

The imposed standard on you is merely temporary.
 
Is the place you are staying in the low rent district? I'm just exploring tactics such as, mom, the place I'm living at isn't all that great, I need to be able to defend myself and frankly, I'd just feel safer with my guns near by.

Do you have a room mate? I don't think you mentioned it. If you do, being able to secure your arms properly is a must.

Clutch
 
I'm 21
Click to expand...

That is in itself sufficient answer. But, sometimes diplomacy is important.

Something I have suggested in another context (to a brand new gun owner with kids) is off site storage in one of those storage rental places. Try this on: "Hey Mom, I just had a great idea. I'll store my guns at Rent A Locker when I'm not using them."

It's up to your sense of things to estimate what "when I'm using them" entails, exactly. Carrying it? Check. Home security? Uh, maybe! Range time? Certainly.

A bank safe deposit box might be another option. It depends on the bank.

Keeping peace in the family is a good idea, generally speaking: 'If'n Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.'
 
Actually, your first problem is to try remove the fear. Easiest way is to get her to understand there is no reason for fear. Be prepared, it may not work, but then again it just might....

Approach #1: talk her into taking a firearms saftey course, given by a worman, for women.... Then take her to a QUIET range with you, to use her new knowledge with your firearms.

Use the approach, ok mom, look, if you will do this for me, and still feel the same way, I will remove the weapons and we will not talk about it again. BTW: get your CPL, for your own safely, mom or no mom, she does not need to sign, or know...you are an adult.

Written by a dad with 5 married daughters and 13 grandchildren, and almost 1 ggrand one (comming up) We have grandchildren as old as you are.
 
alrite man, check this out, im probly gonna get scourned for sayin this but,.....were young, we get to make the mistakes these older guys have made already. dont sell your guns ( that's just dumb) Think for a minute, do you have a REALLY good friend, brother, cousin, or somebody you can honestly trust? only you know who that person would be........ok, got it? now.... Tell your mother you understand the situation and you will get rid of the guns untill you can foot your own bill, "sell" them to said trusted person.....just get that person to hold on to them for you for a little while, atleast untill you can afford your own cost of living. go to your buddy's and get your one self defense weapon and truly conceal it at your apartment, NOBODY needs to know about it. that way you dont loose your guns, you can defend yourself at home and around town and your mom is happy. i know its kinda horrible when you put it in words but your not gonna change her mind. plain and simple.you gotta do something. When you get financially stable you can "buy" your guns back. see what im sayin?......
 
Alright guys, lots of good responses. Appreciate it.

I will be living in my apartment alone (no roommate), and do not generally party much at all. I do socialize with people and whatnot, but rarely do I go to parties - never really liked them much.

The area I'm living in is not a horrible area in terms of crime, but at night it can definitely get pretty sketchy. Was actually followed by a group of people a few weeks ago who I'm 99% sure had bad intentions. I was lucky to find a group of people before anything bad happened, but that only reinforced my reasoning for wanting to bring my guns.

Of course, despite relaying this to her, she still thinks I'm paranoid.

The good news is I think she can be swayed in some way, which is why I'm asking this. She's generally pretty open to things I do (legal of course), so long as I don't do things irresponsibly. This is one of the few things she's really been difficult to deal with on. I told her I would invest in a gun safe to store my guns in, and I think this calmed her a little, but she's still very anti-gun and sometimes makes little remarks that bother me.

Worst case, the gun range I shoot at here (I rent the guns - they have a great selection for only $5 to rent them) has a walk in safe that they let you store your guns at for a small fee. The whole "I'll keep them there if I don't need them" idea sounds like a good one if all else fails.

I'm not planning on ruining my family or education here, just hoping that I can find a way to sway her without that even being an issue.

PS: Sadly, I don't think getting her to try shooting is going to work - she refuses to have anything to do with them. Convincing her take a gun class would be near impossible, much less having her go shooting with me. For a bit of context, she grew up in Taipei, Taiwan, where private gun ownership is basically non-existent. I can only imagine the anti-gun environment that she was probably exposed to - her sister is the same way.
 
So sad, the Chinese Republic had gun control and the Chicoms... Well, you know the story.

Taiwan? People there go to the Philippines to shoot.

Cultural attitudes are impossible to adjust. At any rate, it takes a long time.
 
As someone said earlier the conflict with your mother is temporary. What you want to do is make damned sure that you don't marry a woman who shares your mother's point of view.
 
Would it help to mention to her the murder at a cash machine by an Atlanta Airport hotel a few weeks ago, or the huge number of other senseless murders to hide a thug's face, in order to steal $30?

owlhoot: Yes.
You will change women very little, but they all Plan on changing You. They compare notes on how to "mould husbands" into better men.
 
Whomsoever pays calls the plays. Leave it alone until you're out of school and paying your own way. You are a dependent on your mother not a free man.
 
Ask her who she wants protecting her child. I know you are older than that, so put in whatever word you think will get the best response. Ask her if she would want you laying in the street bleeding for a while before the police came or someone helped, or would she rather you be able to defend yourself.

Just an idea, but it may be a bit harsh.
 
My Mom was that way until the Watts riots in 1965. After a few trips to the range, I never saw my Model 36 again until she passed in 1983. You may not have that type of opportunity to express the need for self defense, but with all the stuff in the news about campus’ these days, a better safe than sorry may be a workable approach. My biggest concern would be the security of the gun when your not there and/or when friends are over. Remember, managers, maintenance people, and who knows who else have access to an apartment when ever they want.
 
My response would be along the lines of, "do you want the guns with me or with you?". Plus depending on your state you can use her ignorance of the law to your advantage, i.e. tell her if they remain in her house the police might arrest the both of them for straw purchasing. Not very high road but IMHO it is her fault for having an unreasonable fear and lacking the knowledge to back up said fear.

I am also a collage student. Luckily my mom is just mildly against me having firearms. Plus I qualify for work study so I pay my own rent. The best advice I can give you is get them away from your mom (maybe compromise and give them to your dad for safe keeping) before she tries to sell them.
 
Do you own a car that is not connected to her? If so, keep it locked up in a case in the trunk.

A lot of people are going to scream bloody murder that "Oh noes the bad guys are going to steal it!!?!!!11" but realistically, bad guys can only smash and grab one car in an area before they have to run. They only typically do that when something of value is in plain sight. Don't leave a GPS or a laptop or anything like that plainly visible and you'll be absolutely fine (used to be that you'd detach stereo faceplates, but these days CD players are so common as to be no worth stealing).

Another possible option is to rent a self-storage unit to keep them in. Those are typically only around $50 per month or so. Get one of the good ones that has video surveillance and the like. I'd personally consider this a bit more risky than in the care, but people do store guns there without issue. I have a coworker that has one in another state that he keeps 300+ guns in. He checks in on them every few months.

Otherwise, my advice is to seek out a student loan that will help with financial independence. When I was in college I did work part time for spending money, but I only made around $100 per week. All my living expenses were paid out of student loans. The interest rates on these are typically very low. I'm down to only two years left on mine at this point (10 years repayment time) and I an honestly say it's the best money I ever spent.

Hope you work something out!
 
Realistically speaking if you can convince her great.

If you can't respect her wishes while she is funding your education.
That's the least you can do for her besides getting good grades.

It seems that some people here can't appreciate the financial sacrifice your Mother is making to give you an education.
 
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