Staying in a cabin with group of friends, should I tell them?

[ChronoCube]

I'm going skiing with a group and we'll be spending two nights in a cabin in the mountains. I would like to take a firearm or two along. I'll run it by the owner of the cabin, but should I tell the others in the group that I'll have firearms while inside the cabin?

I don't know all of them (some are friends of friends). I don't think any of them knows I own firearms. While I think most of them will be okay with it, some might not be, and it might be better to keep it a secret so they can sleep without getting freaked out. What do y'all think?

 

[oldbanjo]

I don't, I've been in almost that same situation. If you tell someone they will tell others, that you carry a Gun. I've carried Guns since the mid 60's without telling anyone. Bet if you tell them someone will want to see your Gun, never show you Gun is the safest way.

 

[IlikeSA]

I wouldn't say anything to anyone, not even the cabin owner (unless the law makes you). I've been burned before by a friend when they knew I carried and told someone who didn't take it too cool.

With that said, if one of them also carries, I may tell them. I usually tell trusted friends when they ride with me I keep an extra revolver in the glove compartment should the need it.

 

[JoeSlomo]

Nope.

They have no need to know. Just make sure it remains secured so as not to afford any ignorant soul the opportunity to have an accident while "playing" with your firearm.

 

[Sam1911]

In this instance the only firearm I would take would be my personal defensive sidearm -- and it would be on my person at all times. (Or, a bag directly adjacent to me while I sleep.)

All of my standard rules would apply: I don't talk about it, I don't show it off, I don't fiddle with it. No one else has any need to know.

How would you handle yourself vis-a-vis your sidearm when around these same people in a restaurant or at a friend's house? (Hand's off, no disclosure, no need to discuss.) That's exactly how you should proceed in this case.

 

[M-Cameron]

dont tell them.......and hopefully they will never have to know........but in the event god forbid you do need to use it and they find out you have it......i dont think any of them will complain.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

"....so they can sleep without getting freaked out...."

When me, my son, grandson, and a friend went tent camping in the mountains on my uncle's land, we all were armed and being unarmed would have made sleeping freaky.

 

[gunnutery]

Don't tell them, and as IlikeSA said, don't tell the cabin owner either unless required by law. I've been in that situation plenty of times. I'd also only take one gun, and keep it on you 100% of the time. If there's a time during your trip when you absolutely cannot keep it on you, dismantle it, unload it and put it in your pack hidden away.

 

[Superlite27]

it might be better to keep it a secret so they can sleep without getting freaked out. What do y'all think?

I think you're thinking correctly.

Although, in order to familiarize them with the fact that there is such a thing as a legal and safe armed civilian, I'd wait until the trip was over before I'd let them know that they were eating, sleeping, and standing right next to a person with a firearm the entire time and nobody was seriously maimed or killed.

As for informing them beforehand, I agree with everyone above. Keep it quiet.

 

[danprkr]

Laying aside the ones that are your friend's friends. Are the ones you know directly friends if they don't already know you carry?

I can't imagine thinking of anyone as a friend if I didn't know them well enough that they knew. Of course I'm lucky, all of my friends are at least gun friendly and own guns. Some are certifiable gun nuts.

 

[Sam1911]

I'd wait until the trip was over before I'd let them know that they were eating, sleeping, and standing right next to a person with a firearm the entire time

Uh. That seems creepy. "Hey man... just wanted to let you know I had a GUN on me the WHOLE TIME ... and it didn't even go off or kill anyone!"

It is a personal self-defense tool saved for the moment of dire need. It is private. It is not a proselytizing tool. It isn't a subject for discussion. If you want to change their minds on guns, offer to take them to the range sometime. Don't spend the weekend with them and then make them feel like they narrowly avoided some unknown disaster.

 

[jon86]

In this instance the only firearm I would take would be my personal defensive sidearm -- and it would be on my person at all times.

I'd also only take one gun, and keep it on you 100% of the time.

Take only one firearm. This is very good advice. If you take two and don't have one on you, you cannot with certainty say that it is safe. Just take one and bring it EVERYWHERE in a holster with you. Take it to sleep, in the bathroom while you shower, you get it. I wouldn't tell anyone, even the cabin owner, unless required by law.

 

[bigfatdave]

If you want to change their minds on guns, offer to take them to the range sometime.

In fact, do that before worrying about the trip, at least for the direct friends.

 

[Gouranga]

My own personal opinion.

1. Only take your SD gun and keep it under your control.
2. If there are children present, I will usually just let the parents know. I have 4 kids and even though they are told not to touch them kids are kids.

That is my personal rule. It depends on the group too. If I knew i have a raving anti-2A in the group. I would just follow rule 1 cause I know what would happen with rule 2. So long as the firearm is always under your control, you should be fine either way.

I would also tell the owner as a courtesy. It is just how I am.

 

[scaatylobo]

So,what did you decide to do ?

I am curious as to what you decided to actually do.

I have my ideas and they are some of what you have already read.

I am curious as to what you did and the outcome of that decision.

 

[ZCORR Jay]

I personally would only tell the cabin owner as it is his property. No one else needs to know. No sense telling them and chancing someone getting all huffy about it or having to constantly say no to show and tell.

 

[hardworker]

Telling them will mean you think it's a big enough deal that it needs mentioning. The people you tell will pick up on this and then think it's a big enough deal that they need to tell more people. In short, don't make it a big deal, it won't be a big deal.

 

[wharvey]

I'd do like most everyone says. Keep it with you and don't say anything about it. All that does is to indicate that it is a big deal. Not the cabin owners business either. Most importantly, if someone does spot it, don't make a big deal out of it. Treat it as business as usual.

Might say something like, "Yep, since the state police licensed me to carry one I usually keep it with me every where I go." This will indicate that it really is no big deal and that you are authorized by the authorities to carry it. Kind of a duh to us but should keep everyone calmer.

 

[youngda9]

I'd do like most everyone says. Keep it with you and don't say anything about it.

No good will come of informing anyone. Be descrete and be safe...and it's a non-issue.

 

[TNboy]

I would just only hang out with people who would also be bringing guns.

 

[sansone]

easy one, say nothing

 

[kd7nqb]

In that situation I am a big advocate of dont ask / dont tell.

But funny story about that, a few years back I was at a social gathering and I had taken my gun with me, well long story short I didnt tell anybody, although a few of my friends knew I carried I never explicitly told them I was carrying then. Well I got outside early one morning to go sit by the fire and another one of the guys who I didnt know was out there and on his hip is a compact glock. He hadn't put his coat on yet and didnt think anybody else was awake. So I walk over to him and he kinda freaked and was like a.... this doesn't bother you does it? My response, nah glocks dont bother me it just seems like everybody's got them so I went with with a S&W M&P instead. I then told him I was also carrying and all was well.

 

[DasFriek]

In this instance the only firearm I would take would be my personal defensive sidearm -- and it would be on my person at all times. (Or, a bag directly adjacent to me while I sleep.)
All of my standard rules would apply: I don't talk about it, I don't show it off, I don't fiddle with it. No one else has any need to know.
How would you handle yourself vis-a-vis your sidearm when around these same people in a restaurant or at a friend's house? (Hand's off, no disclosure, no need to discuss.) That's exactly how you should proceed in this case.

I couldn't say it better, Not to sound like im brown nosing a mod. But this is my exact thoughts.
Ill add i may even purposely carry a smaller firearm to increase its conceal-ability.

 

[oldbanjo]

Don't tell anyone after the trip, because the next trip everyone will know. I spent the week end with a friend and his Uncle once, on a lake. During the night while everyone was sleeping we were woke up by someone, the Uncle talked to the prowler and he left. In the morning when my friend went to the store he was told that the prowler was going to steel his Boat but didn't because someone had a Gun. My friend asked his Uncle if he had a Gun and was told no he then asked me and I said yes. The prowler had noticed that I took one step back and had my hand on a Gun the whole time. I never had to pull it but I was ready if it was needed, I had told no one. My friend and his Uncle were glad that I had it. I have had other several similar occasions. TELL NO ONE

 

[goon]

Most of my friends know I carry and don't have a problem with it. I take an SP-101 along when we go to one friend's parents' camp and in general, any time we go on a long road trip. It's legal and it's of no use to anyone if I don't bring it along.
It's to the point that they'll sort of "remind" me to bring it when we're planning to go somewhere.
And... just bringing up the topic of a gun has been enough for me to get several people to the range for the first time.
Even if mentioning the gun does result in "show-and-tell", so what?
Unload it and let people look at it. Who cares?