A question on gun etiquette.

[Grayfox]

Let me start by saying that I normally carry my gun everywhere I'm legally allowed to do so. When I leave the house, 99% of the time I am armed. This is just my personal habit.
All my friends know that I do this and have no problem with me entering their homes armed.

Here's the situation. My girlfriend has been invited to a 4th of July party at a friend's house this Saturday and was encouraged to bring me along. Her friends want to meet me. I thought "Sure, sounds like fun."
I have never met these people before and common courtesy tells me that I shouldn't enter someone else's home armed without them knowing about it.
Normally, I inform the home owner upon arrival and offer to leave my gun in the car if they wish. I think I'll be good with the home owner as my GF tells me that he's a gun guy too.
However, I have no idea how many people will be at this party and no clue as to what others attitudes may be. I also have no idea if alcohol will be served. BTW: I don't drink alcohol.
Right now I'm inclined to just leave my gun locked in the car and never mention it. That's probably what I'll do.
But I am curious as to how others here would handle the situation. What say you?

 

[jdh]

First time there I would leave it in the car and survey the landscape.

 

[Aticus]

I'd leave it in the car and discuss it with the home owner in case of a second visit.

A 4th of July party? There's sure to be adult beverages and even though you don't partake that is no place for you to have a gun among strangers (to you) who are partying among friends.

 

[kenv1950]

What JDH said

 

[BigBill]

My family knows I ccw carry they know for 47 years. I respect they(bil) don't care for guns. I leave it home but they think I'm carrying it no one sees it no one knows it for sure. I shoulder holster for decades they never knew it.

 

[pharmer]

Being armed doesn't change who I am and how I behave. Most times I don't think about it unless someone goes "in for the hug." I make sure my arms are under theirs. Joe

 

[CajunBass]

Nobody's ever asked. I've never bothered to tell.

 

[O2Guy]

Concealed means concealed.

 

[Derry 1946]

Libations and fireworks in a crowd of people you don't know. Hmmm. My inclination would be to join the chorus of people saying to leave it locked in the car. Here in Louisiana, permission from the homeowner is required. Can't speak for your state.

 

[Jessie]

That's a slippery slope. Why not ask everywhere you go, in case the owner doesn't like it.
If they don't say anything up front, either verbally or via signage, I'm concealed. It's legal and who's to say if that one time you leave it is the one time you need it?
It is a Fourth of July celebration, right?

I wanted to add that I went with my wife to a very formal to-do a few years ago and went through this decision.
I decided to take my smallest one, an LCP.
At least I didn't feel defenseless and nobody knew or cared.

 

[BigBill]

When my neighbor found out I carry he told me I'm itchen to shoot someone. He's a gun guy(oldman) I'm in a pro gun neighborhood. Everyone has guns. They all shoot on there farms.

I told him I'm not itchen to shoot anyone. I hope the day never comes. But I'm ready if need be for protection.

 

[Kanewpadle]

First time there I would leave it in the car and survey the landscape.

I have found that if they are gun people the discussion will usually change to guns. There have been times where I have gone back to my car and put the gun back in my holster.

 

[sheepdawg]

Out of respect to the homeowner I would lock it in the car.

 

[muzzleblast]

I would certainly expect someone that I do not know to ask my permission before entering my home armed.

MB

 

[Johnmuratore]

I hadn't thought about it much since my ex B-I-L came in one day and pulled out a 9mm. I was surprised and asked him to unload it while he was in my house.
I might have been ok with it if he had asked first, I guess, but it was more a matter of not trusting him than the overt act.

 

[hittman77]

Concealed means concealed.

Perfectly stated.

Some people just feel the need to talk about guns way too much. I assume everybody is armed and suppose others assume the same thing.

 

[vigil617]

Interesting question.

IMHO, if you're going to carry, and you're going to carry as a personal choice, regardless of what other people think -- including store owners with their posted signs, fellow state fair-goers, worshipers at your church, movie theater attendees, and anyone working at a place where there's not a metal detector at the entrance -- then you're not being true to yourself if going to someone's home armed gives you pause.

On the other hand, if you're a courteous person who cares about and respects another's home and their feelings on concealed carry and weapons, then you're being entirely reasonable in wondering if you ought to carry there.

Hope this helps.

 

[eveled]

You have to make up your own mind, but I would still carry concealed. I know you want to respect them and their home, but my safety is more important.

If something happened and you needed it, but did not have it, you'd never forgive yourself.

 

[Alpo]

I carry wherever I go. If I go to your house, I'm carrying a gun. If you discover that I have a gun, and get upset and tell me that I cannot be in your house with a gun, I go get in my car and leave.

I would not ask you for permission to carry in your house, any more than I would ask the manager of Wally-world if I could carry in the store.

If you don't want me in your house with a gun, I'll be happy to leave.

Would you ask the homeowner if he had a problem with you going commando instead of wearing your tighty-whities?

How about asking him if it would upset him if you put some Grecian Formula in your hair before the party?

There are some things I don't ask permission for. Some things that I feel are none of anyone else's business.

 

[walkin jack]

I consider it to be a private matter, not unlike whether or not I'm wearing underwear. If anyone is interested I will be happy to inform them of the status of either but I don't bring either subject up myself.

Where I am has nothing to do with who I am. I am the same person in a private home or wherever within the law. If a home owner asks me and I tell him I'm armed and he objects then I leave. But this has never happened and probably never will. My friends all know me and know I always carry. I also carry very discretely and those that don't know me have no clue I'm carrying.

To me this is a non-issue.