Editorial from angry mom about concealed carry in her home

[meyerch5]

"They do so legally but sometimes we aren’t even aware until much later, sometimes I fear we are never aware. "

If she is never aware it sounds like these must be pretty responsible gun owners...

[Jusme]

Maybe I'm behind the times, but how many people hide a gun in a diaper bag? She won't have to worry, I have no plans to visit her "Gun Free" home. I just wonder who she will call if things go south? Will the responding LEO be asked to leave his gun in the car?

[Abraham]

Too bad she doesn't read how often folks defend themselves with guns.

See the story of the 71 year old man in today's NRA self defense news.

[Soccerdad1995]

The author of this sounds a lot like my ex-SIL.

There is one downright scary idea buried in this mush. The idea that someone should have to get affirmative approval from a property owner before exercising a constitutionally guaranteed right. That could be couched as "striking a balance between private property rights and individual rights". But it would be a very dangerous balance indeed.

Luckily for the author, if she moves to Texas she can easily keep her house gun free by posting a compliant 30.06 sign by her door (and asking anyone OC'ing to not come in). Of course, she will still have an issue with LEO's (on or off duty), and criminals.

Unluckily for the author, she can never accomplish her implied goal of keeping her kids away from all possible dangers. And she seems intent on making sure that they are completely unprepared when they inevitably encounter those dangers.

[C-dub]

What a looney tunes. How has she managed to survive in this dangerous world long enough to have kids?

She will threaten visitors with criminal trespass until they leave? Not unless they don't leave once asked? That woman needs help, but is probably beyond the capabilities of modern medicine.

[Ryan]

I don't even keep friends who have that kind of mentality. Nor would I want to visit anyone who is that afraid of inanimate objects.
If you don't like guns, we probably don't have enough in common to be hanging out anyway.

[puma guy]

Beside living in a fantasy world she's terribly misinformed. The right to CC doesn't trump a property owner's rights. She's not interested in presenting a factual case only her slanted spiel to sway the uninformed.

from the safe little hospital where everything was pastel and rubbery / living in a relatively safe and sheltered suburban community

I would guess there are far more assaults in hospitals than toddlers killing each other. Her children will be the ones that pick up the weapon inadvertently available.

Edited to add link: Here's a little tidbit from one of those relatively safe and sheltered suburban communities, Deer Park, TX .
http://abc13.com/1248279/

[GeekwithaGun]

...
There is one downright scary idea buried in this mush. The idea that someone should have to get affirmative approval from a property owner before exercising a constitutionally guaranteed right. That could be couched as "striking a balance between private property rights and individual rights". But it would be a very dangerous balance indeed.
...

Arkansas has (last time I checked) a requirement by someone CC'ing to notify a home owner that you are carrying concealed before entering their home

[crazy2medic]

My impression on this article is 1. How much did the Wash. Post pay her for the article? 2. Her child is an accident looking for a place to happen! 3. The lady is a loon!

She reminds me of my Ex MIL, me and my son were leaving on a hunting trip, my son I believe was 12 or 13 at the time, he was carrying the guns (in cases) to the truck and she freaks out, I told her that he knows the rules and he is safer than alot of adults I know, and that none of it was any of her concern1

[jb2012]

Gosh it would suck to be one of her kids lol

[Soccerdad1995]

...
There is one downright scary idea buried in this mush. The idea that someone should have to get affirmative approval from a property owner before exercising a constitutionally guaranteed right. That could be couched as "striking a balance between private property rights and individual rights". But it would be a very dangerous balance indeed.
...

Arkansas has (last time I checked) a requirement by someone CC'ing to notify a home owner that you are carrying concealed before entering their home

My point was the danger if we extend this same requirement to businesses as well as homes, especially if you then need affirmative approval before entering. Of course, this requirement at all is pretty much unenforceable and will degenerate into a he said / she said absent a requirement for written notification or some such.

[Middle Age Russ]

The author of this editorial is a mom who appropriately wants to shield her child(ren) from danger. What parent doesn't want to protect their children? She and her husband apparently view guns as dangerous, and therefore they want to keep guns out of their home (and away from their children). Following this desire, she has stumbled upon the legal conundrum between innate individual rights pertaining to self-defense and to property, and isn't comfortable/satisfied with the typical legal perspective that the right to defend oneself (including tools that support a defense of self) trumps the right to property, meaning that she has to actively inform people that their guns are not welcome in her home.

Unfortunately, this Mom Demanding Action isn't considering a more complete approach to firearms safety. There is a reasonable chance that her incomplete approach will never result in tragic consequences. Gun-proofing your home is fine (if that is your desire all things considered), but fails to reduce risks to your child -- and may even increase them in certain cases -- outside your home. The author points out that there are a lot of guns out there in the hands of citizens, and there is a good chance that their child will encounter a gun in some foray outside the home, such as at a friend's or relative's home or even some other public place (consider the gun used in a crime that is carelessly tossed away or hidden somewhere).

A better, more complete, approach is to gun-proof the child. Teach kids from the outset that they are not to rifle through other people's belongings. Teach them the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe rules -- Stop, Don't Touch, Run Away, Tell and Adult. Later, when age/maturity appropriate, teach them real gun safety because that child will ultimately become an adult a child might look to for support, direction and life lessons.

Nothing can reduce risks to zero where there is potential for danger. A proper approach to risk mitigation must consider the environment, and the environment of a child inevitably includes places outside the home. Therefore, risk mitigation should focus on the child's behavior and knowledge in addition to the environment inside the home.

[JustSomeOldGuy]

Read the article. Read the posts. My first thoughts are;
- I know people like this. It's sad.
- This one is reproducing. Even sadder for the future....
- Does this dim bulb really have a numerous, constant parade of people she DOESN'T KNOW parading through her house?

Out of the large number of people I know, and the much smaller number of people who might get asked in to my house, I pretty much know who might be carrying, who might be in possession of controlled substances, who can't hold their booze, and who's just bat-sh** crazy. And the ones who might be a problem don't get invited. Groups I belong to that have a LARGE number of people, or in whom membership is fluid, such that I don't have a good handle on whom might be/have what, DON"T GET INVITED TO MY HOUSE (problem solved). The club xmas party gets booked at a restaurant. The 4th of July BBQ takes place at a county park.

She could just hang a gunbuster sign on her door, but that might be counter-productive to her offspring's safety as it's kinda like putting up a "rob me/burglarize me" sign.....

On the other hand, the movie "Savages" (Benicio Del Toro) does have me taking a hard second look at the lawn care crews I encounter.