A question on gun etiquette.

[HPaugh]

Wow ! Lots of good feedback on this one. I carry 99.5% of the time. There are times that I will not take it in a persons home. If you don't take it in with you always make sure you have a plan to get back to your vehicle just in case.I carry while in my customers homes doing work for them. You just never know what's gonna happen where.

 

[APS]

If you don't feel comfortable asking the homeowner in advance I would leave it locked in the car. If you don't feel comfortable not being armed at the party, just don't go. A person's home is not a Walmart and deserves a different level of consideration.

 

[Grayfox]

I must say that I'm really surprised at the number of people who voted "Keep the gun on and don't tell anybody."
I don't know, maybe its a cultural thing, a generational thing or maybe just the way I was brought up, but to me entering a person's home armed and without them knowing is just plain bad manners.
Admittedly, I have entered people's homes while armed in the past and never mentioned it. But in these cases I was there for business, there was usually money involved, they were complete strangers and knew I would only be a few minutes at most. Here it seemed prudent to carry and not tell.
In this case, these are my GF's friends, she has vouched for them, we'll be there for a couple of hours at least and they're offering me supper. This is a purely social occasion.
And while I doubt it would happen, I do believe that, if necessary, I can handle a troublesome drunk without resorting to firearms.
Quite frankly, some of the responses smack of the line of thinking that its my right, I'm legal and I don't give a damn what you think attitude. But what about common courtesy or respecting other's property? Are these concepts invalid these days?
I've decided to stick to my original plan and just leave the gun in the car.
The rest of you can do whatever you feel is right.

 

[hatt]

I'd probably leave it in the car for a party.

 

[dougb1946]

If you come into my home armed and I don't know it and the SHTF and you pull a gun, I may have to shoot you. I don't know you. You are now an armed intruder, a threat, and have become a target. Something to think about.

 

[Arik]

I use Don't Ask Don't Tell in all cases. If you carry condoms, do you ask friends if it is OK to bring them into their home? I consider this the same, none of anyone else's business.

Don't care if others drink and pass out, only concern is my own behavior and I'm not a drinker either.

No laws requiring notification in my state, so I don't. I don't usually discuss guns with people I don't know.

While I agree with this I think most people don't view their guns as tools. People love to ogle at and show off their guns. There are even flashy BBQ guns. While I'm sure they wouldn't show a new pack of condoms to their friends, they will show off their new gun the second they have a chance. My friends are always puzzled by the fact that I don't show them my guns or even tell them when I buy one. To me they are just tools regardless of value or look and to be honest I no more think to show off my new gun then I do to show off the new pack of stick it notes I bought

 

[Arik]

I must say that I'm really surprised at the number of people who voted "Keep the gun on and don't tell anybody."
I don't know, maybe its a cultural thing, a generational thing or maybe just the way I was brought up, but to me entering a person's home armed and without them knowing is just plain bad manners.
Admittedly, I have entered people's homes while armed in the past and never mentioned it. But in these cases I was there for business, there was usually money involved, they were complete strangers and knew I would only be a few minutes at most. Here it seemed prudent to carry and not tell.
In this case, these are my GF's friends, she has vouched for them, we'll be there for a couple of hours at least and they're offering me supper. This is a purely social occasion.
And while I doubt it would happen, I do believe that, if necessary, I can handle a troublesome drunk without resorting to firearms.
Quite frankly, some of the responses smack of the line of thinking that its my right, I'm legal and I don't give a damn what you think attitude. But what about common courtesy or respecting other's property? Are these concepts invalid these days?
I've decided to stick to my original plan and just leave the gun in the car.
The rest of you can do whatever you feel is right.

It may be the way you (general you) perceive guns. To me its no different than keys, cigarettes, cell phones. It's just a thing I carry. Has no emotional value outside of being a tool for a job. Just like my cell phone is a tool for a job

 

[SWIll]

Know the law in your state. If you have no duty to inform, don't speak. It's no different than any other personal item on you, like a wallet, cell phone or car keys.

 

[Lightfoot4]

I wouldn't want an armed stranger in my house without my knowledge.

Sometimes I leave it in the car, and sometimes I keep it on. But I understand your sentiment. A year or so ago I had a fellow out from a company I had dealt with before to give me an estimate on installing some window film. He took his jacket off and I saw he had a .45 on his hip. It shocked me a bit. Just wasn't expecting it. Never had thought about someone in my house OTHER THAN ME being armed.

 

[Harrydale]

I'm assuming we are talking concealed carry here. If that's the case no one should ever know you have a gun. IMHO that's one of the main points of Concealed carry.

 

[eveled]

The rest of you can do whatever you feel is right.

Thanks!

 

[PirateJim]

I voted leave the gun in the car partly because some parameters weren't established. Are we talking full size 1911 in an IWB, or a little LCP discretely stashed in a pocket? But mostly because these are people you don't know but presumably want to make a good impression on because they are your girlfriends friends.

If you get there and the place makes you really want your gun, developed a huge headache and head for home.

 

[Jessie]

I'm confused, what does offering me supper have to do with your self defense? When I go into a restaurant, they're offering me supper, too.
I don't understand where going armed and CONCEALED would be offensive to anyone.
Does your wife know everyone attending this party? What about someone brought by her friend?
I just don't see the insult to someone by doing this unless its known beforehand that its not wanted.
Wouldn't that train of thought apply everywhere then? Who's to know who you may offend at anytime, anywhere?
I don't see it as an 'In your face' insult at all.
That's just me.
If by carelessness or accident, someone discovered that I was carrying, and it offended them, I would apologize for offending them...leave and never go back.
I seriously doubt that they would apologize for offending me, thinking that myself or my gun presented a threat.

 

[Smoke]

I make a point of not discussing guns with people I don't know. I also never play show and tell with a gun (unless I'm already at the range.)

So if I'm at your home and I don't know you it's highly unlikely you'll even know I own a gun by the time I leave even if you have a wall full of them.

If I'm at your home and I know you well enough that I would talk about guns you wouldn't bother asking me if I were armed.

 

[CajunBass]

Sometimes I leave it in the car, and sometimes I keep it on. But I understand your sentiment. A year or so ago I had a fellow out from a company I had dealt with before to give me an estimate on installing some window film. He took his jacket off and I saw he had a .45 on his hip. It shocked me a bit. Just wasn't expecting it. Never had thought about someone in my house OTHER THAN ME being armed.

He probably didn't think any more of being armed than he did of wearing shoes.

 

[Wyatt p. Tato]

Sharon Tate, Abigail Folger, and Jay Sebring were at a party and didn't think they needed to carry. After all they were in a nice neighborhood in Southern Ca.

Me, I would stay home I don't have a desire to go out on the 4 th and I do not drink and being sober around drinkers has lost its charm.

 

[TAROMAN]

Don't ask, don't tell, to borrow a phrase.
Concealed means just that.

 

[CustomChevyGuy]

I personally see it this way, If I was going to a party with people I really don't know, I'd definitely be carrying. I'd rather have it and not need it, then the other way around. Since you aren't drinking, I don't see any major issues. If the discussion turns to guns at the party, then you'll be able to feel it out from there a bit better. Concealed means concealed, and to me, unless I really know or trust you, I'm not going to share if I am or not..

Let us know what happens!

 

[jdh]

Seeing some of the answers I'll embellish a tad on my answer.

Concealed is concealed. Yes but, there is always the shy-ish young lady at one of these things who has decided she wants to try drinking for the first time. The booze lowers her inhibitions and loosens her tongue. She now feels the need to start hugging people. When your turn comes she feels a hard bulge and comes up with her best imitation of Mae West. Now everybody knows.

 

[Drm50]

CC

I'm a certified gun nut, have been since I sat on my old man's
lap and shot a single shot Favorite. I know hundreds of gun nuts.
There are a lot of people who CCW who are not gun nuts. I find that these people always want to let everyone know they are
carrying. They always seem to work it in to the conversation.
Therefore it is no longer concealed. I know a lot of people live in
places of hi risk and Off duty LEOs who have reason to carry.
Others seem to be using it for Show & Tell. Keep your mouth
shut and your pistol in your pocket and you won't have to
worry about most situations of carry!