Gun security

[kungfuhippie]

I've got unwanted house guest coming over for Christmas Dinner. My cousin and her boyfriend, along with other less-desireables siblings of hers. She is recently out of jail for child endangerment. A "recovering" meth addict. A known theif (goes with the addiction)... Boy friend has been in jail twice, a felon. Her siblings are to a lesser extent the same.

I keep my guns and ammo locked up. Guns in a case (small enough to carry) and ammo in locked ammo boxes. I felt this was safe enough since I don't advertise having them. The ammo and guns are pretty well hidden. No kids live here, and if they did come by, it's all locked.

But it turns out mom "sunk the ship". She has told all her family about me owning several guns:banghead: after I explained why I didn't want it advertised. Now I think I need to get a safe or cabinet that I can bolt down and a lock is going on my bedroom door.

I figure that if no one pays attention to said cousin/boyfriend and she were to get to my room we'd notice her kicking in the door.

Any suggestions beyond that? I will be concealed carrying in the house while they're there. I've never met him and don't trust her. Not my house so I can't un-invite them.

 

[gwine]

Maybe this door ajar alarm would be something simple and cheap enough to include in your defense plans. 95 dB and simple installation - might be worth looking into. I'm sure you could find something like it local - you might check a locksmith store.

 

[Moondoggie]

That door ajar alarm is a good idea, but not a good deal.

I got a set of 4 of them by "First Alert" (the smoke dectector folks) at Home Depot awhile back for $9.99. They work perfectly, and are anoyingly loud.

If it's any consolation, I've got the same sort of problem with a POS niece and her waste-of-space drunk/druggie boyfriend...plus the niece's totally obnoxious 11 yr old daughter. They're all thieves...stolen money (even the 11 yr old) and Rx drugs from several relatives houses to the point where they're persona non grata plus the talk of the town. The boyfriend is 45 and on his umpteenth DUI and has never held a job a day in his life.

I'm glad I've got a safe, but more glad that I've got a pair that allows me to tell these relatives of my beloved that they don't cross my threshold.

 

[TallPine]

Any suggestions beyond that?

Well, you could do like we did and move several states away from your nearest relatives

Many of my inlaws are outlaws

Only a selected and trusted few of my inlaws even know our street address. The rest are only allowed our PO box number (not even the same town) which we maintain specifically for that purpose. Of course our phone book listing has no address either - just name and number.

 

[Roadkill]

Pack them up and take them to a very safe place until the folks are gone. When the subject of guns comes up tell them they are all stored safely far far away.

 

[SoCalShooter]

I will be concealed carrying in the house while they're there.

If it were I and I did not trust them this much, they would not be in the house, I dont care how much of an arse I have to be, if I distrusted someone that much family or not they are not entering my home. Now that the secret is blown even a safe may not protect you as well as you would hope.

If you have a local shooting range that has lockers for guns you could put everything there temporarily.

If the subject jumps up, and they ask to see them, just say that its not possibe since you dont store them in your home.

 

[The-Fly]

If you have a trust worthy friend, drag em over to his/her place.

 

[hydrashok407]

Got a car? With a trunk? I don't know how many guns you're talking about, but I know that all of mine will fit in my wife's trunk (for now...). Quick and easy is wrap 'em in a blanket and store in the trunk until they're gone. I'd only put the guns there... who cares about if they steal ammo. They don't even care about stealing ammo, so that's a non-issue.

I certainly understand about the "it's not my house" thing... when I was living with my in-laws before I got married (LONG story), they had some shady visitors. I couldn't say they couldn't be there, but I had no problem letting them know I thought they were sorry pieces of (insert expletive here).

Ok, off my soapbox.

 

[Avenger29]

Ah, never mind...I did not read the last sentance.

Secure storage or take them elsewhere, maybe a local gunshop. You may be required to store them securely because the boyfriend is a felon.

 

[gezzer]

Call the police! Unwanted guests are criminal trespassers and they will remove them.

Sorry grow a set. I don't care if they are relatives they would not be welcome in my home and would be told so.
You can pick you friends and invite them you can not pick your relatives but you can ignore them.

 

[rangermonroe]

I have the same situation crop up here with my wife's kin. I have a safe, where she stores her jewlery while they visit.

I would suggest against CCW while human excrement is visiting,especially if adult beverages are consumed. I have had the overpowering urge to pistol whip some of the in-laws on occasion, but have resisted. Your inhibitions may be lower than mine.

I would stuff my guns in the attic, or in the garage. Throw a blanket over things and they disappear.

A pistol on top of the icebox with a dishtowel cover (just the Mrs. & me know) should be all that you need for home defense.

As my wife reminds me at every family gathering, shooting that "complete waste of space" BIL is poor form at family functions.

FWIW, I too have the meth head BIL. What to do at Thanksgiving?

of course my fantasy...

(thanksgiving prayer): "...and keep us safe from harm agian this coming year..." Bang "What the hell? You shot Cousin Crackhead!"

"Yep, just lowered the Good Lord's obligation by about 95%"

 

[SomeKid]

Not my house so I can't un-invite them.

Doesn't make sense. You live there, own your guns their, are you living with parents or something?

 

[blood_donor]

Buy a cheap 8 gun safe (cabinet)

Buy something like this at Wal-Mart or Dick's. Won't be very expensive, will keep an amateur from stealing your stuff, will require a pro to use tools to get in. Light enough you can move it around later, has holes so you can bolt it to studs or chain it down. About $100 IIRC.

 

[Car Knocker]

will keep an amateur from stealing your stuff, will require a pro to use tools to get in.

A 12-year old with a big screwdriver could breach that.

 

[Ala Dan]

Pardon Me, Please~!

But I would not want to be in association with any convicted felon, or meth
addict's-period. Its just not a good practice too be judged by your peers
as associating with these scum bags; even if part of them are family. Besides
moving your firearms to a "safe location"; I would call off the holiday dinner,
leaving the scum bags to go to their local Mickey D's~!

 

[kungfuhippie]

If it were I and I did not trust them this much, they would not be in the house, I dont care how much of an arse I have to be, if I distrusted someone that much family or not they are not entering my home.

Yes, I'm living with parents. Soon to be moving out. I have confronted mom on these issues. I was told;

"It's no big deal if I tells family and friends, I trusts them.",mom
(yeah, I don't. And I don't trust the people they will tell.:banghead: )

"I can't only invite part of the family, that would be rude. We'll just lock up jewelery and stuff."
fire: )

So, though I've voiced my opinion, it's all I can do. Or not show up and take all my guns to the range (probably not open christmas day). But I'd rather be there to protect the good parts of the family from these scum bags. And I don't drink, no alcohol will be served, at least sober they may behave better.

 

[vynx]

Remove your bedroom door handle for a day and install a deadbolt

If anyone asks why look right at the subject in question and say the deadbolt is for preventing deadbeats from stealing - don't be shy its a sign of weakness

I would install a deadbolt permantly and leave the existing handle in for times when you are not at home. Remember to reinforce your bedroom doorjam they usually are not very secure.

 

[RustyShackelford]

storage unit and vehicle gun case...

If I were in the same position I'd look into a secured storage unit near where you live or work. The cost would be worth it to know your firearms, knives, ammo, etc were safe.

For your CCed weapons, I'd get a well made/high quality gun case that you could store your handguns in your vehicle(s).

Rusty

 

[tank mechanic]

Depending on what kind of gun case you have, you could fill it up with a couple hundred pounds of lead shot to weigh it down. I would continue to conceal carry while they are there, especially since I would be in control of the weapon. Leaving it covered by a dish rag will only be inviting them to pocket it when everyone else is out of the kitchen.

 

[kungfuhippie]

Leaving it covered by a dish rag will only be inviting them to pocket it when everyone else is out of the kitchen.

Not to mention a felony in California since children will be there.

If a kid (0-17 yrs) gets your unsecure gun here and uses it your charged for his crime.

Not being in direct control of your weapon is a bad idea. I've ordered a security cabinet (pockets arn't very deep) I should have one anyway. Best friend and I will be "improving" it. Not as good as a safe, but better than nothing. He gets scrap metal for free thanks to job

I figure some cross bracing to prevent distortion and some hinge, bolt area reinforcement will be good. as will some padlocks added to the door lock. It will slow down a crook alot, and that's better than a carry case

 

[highlander 5]

strip them down and hide the separate pieces somewheres on the premises. Gun in pieces not much good to a thief

 

[Outlaws]

Here is my opinion.....

Take everything you own and leave until they are gone. Then tell your mom that until she grows up and tell these scum bags they are not welcome, that you won't be there while they are. Its sad to say this, but I would make her pick you or them.

Further, depending on who's side of the family these relatives are on, it might be easier for your dad to do the talking if he isn't a blood relative to them.

If your parents still say its "rude" to not invite them when the rest of the family is invited, tell them it was "rude" to disgrace the family name by doing drugs and associating with felons and that its "rude" to bring undesirable people into your families home....but that didn't stop them it seems.

 

[51Cards]

"It's no big deal if I tells family and friends, I trusts them.",mom

"I can't only invite part of the family, that would be rude. We'll just lock up jewelery and stuff."

Question: If they're "trusted," why "lock up the jewelry ...?"

Don't let the spirit of the holidays make you feel like a hypocrite for standing your ground. I have a vaguely similar situation with my fiancee and one of her sons --- and with her selling her house, it's a GIVEN that he isn't going to be living here.

If you have to swallow it, it might not be a bad idea to get everything off-premises. Even a carry piece. Go naked for a day or two. Imagine too much "eggnog" going around, getting bopped, and having it taken.

Most states have some pretty emphatic laws about even placing yourself in front of the train.

Best of luck in a thorny situation. WE all trust YOU to make a good decision .

 

[kungfuhippie]

I feel misquoted, probably due to my lack of English skills (dad's an english teacher:banghead: )

Mom trusted those she spoke with (not aunt "untrsutworthy" or methy niece) She trusted her mom, other sisters, brother (I actually trust him, he shoots and knows how to not talk) mother in law my dad's sister, her work friends, her church friends...

She doesn't associate with bad people, but it's still not something to be telling everyone, who knows who they'll tell.

reminds me of the saying "the three quickest forms of communication are; television, telephone, and tell-a-woman"

So last night I got some more specifics, she has given a general invite through her mom to the family. She hopes the aunt/niece/BF will not show since they are not on anybody's good list. I explained my concerns and what I was planning to do. She (anti-gun mom) was happy that I'd be carrying during the event I suggested that she let my cousin know she and felon-BF are not invited since I, her, and most the family don't trust them. She's a wuss, doesn't want to hurt feelings. Maybe dad will take the inititive to uninvite them

The fact that she (cousin methy) blames my social worker sister for her loosing her kids is bad (sister wasn't involved at all), and that may be grounds to uninvite them.

I really hate family politics. God forbid I actually have to shoot one of em. I won't disapear if they come. I'd never forgive myself if they came and caused trouble and I wasn't there to do anything.

 

[Outlaws]

Well then.....give them all to a friend for safe keeping. If one of the bad people asks to see your guns, just say, "I am sorry, but being that you are a convicted felon, it would be illegal for me to provide you with possession of a firearm even for 30 seconds."