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Original poster

Do you ask about guns if your child has a playdate at someone else's house?

38 replies

foolysh · 22/05/2005 22:03

My cousin in California says that she always does, do they have a gun, is it locked up where children can't get it, where is the key to the lock kept, etc....

DS1 (5) has his first ever playdate in someone else's house without me on Tuesday. I forgot to ask the mother if she has a gun of any sort in her house. Lavenderr's thread reminded me that air rifles are legal (I guess?). And still dangerous. I think it's still possible to get shotgun licenses, too, in Britain? Should I ring the mother to ask? Would you?

OP posts:

ghosty · 23/05/2005 01:51

Oh scummy, had me worried there for a moment as I am looking at Montessori for DD at the mo ...
for being so dim

ScummyMummy · 23/05/2005 01:58

Not dim at all! I did a quick double take myself before deciding all was well.

throckenholt · 23/05/2005 07:32

legally held shotguns and air rifles are quite common in rural parts of the uk (eg my next door neighbour has one) - but probably not in towns.

I would never think to ask though - I would assume that nay guns would be safely locked away in a gun cabinet.

Chandra · 23/05/2005 13:40

I live in a more or less afluent area near to the city center and the kid was using it right there. In the past we also have stones thrown to our car by a group of kids more or less the same age than this one, the stones hit on the window were DS was travelling (he was 4 months old at the time) DH managed to get hold of one of the kids' bikes and we rang the police. The police came and said there was nothing they could do, as they were under age and that in her opinion these kids needed a good smacking but they were untouchable. So we said, what do we do with the bike? and she told us to leave it where it was otherwise we could be accused of theft , the kid came bacjk with hismother to reclaim the bike but there was noway he would say who was with him, he said that they couldn't force him and he was not telling. His mother was in tears and appologised saying that he must be excussed as she was a single mum and could't keep an eye on him all the time. Yeah right! he could have killed my baby but he must be excused because YOU can not keepan eye on him????????? nor does the police, who responds for these children???

Caligula · 23/05/2005 13:49

I'd get in touch with the local press.

That would get the local police's arse into gear. And the mother. If she can't keep an eye on him all the time, fine, but she shouldn't be letting him have dangerous toys.

Ameriscot2005 · 23/05/2005 14:03

I wouldn't ask about guns.

However, when we were in the US, we were having a drink with some neighbours that the kids had been on playdates with, and the hubby started bragging about his gun. I was horrified, and it showed, so he tried to reassure me that everything was all locked up and the ammo separate etc. But, I never let my children go there again without me, especially given that the mom was not great at supervising them.

I never asked about guns, but I don't think anyone would be offended if you did. I think where we lived, gun ownership was around 50%, so there was a good chance that there would be a gun. It's amazing how prim some people can appear, yet the hazards they have lurking in their house.

Caligula · 23/05/2005 14:10

Where my Dad came from in Connemara, the gun ownership rate in his village was 100% at one time. (This was averged out - some households owned none, but some owned three or four).

Never heard of any accidents though. And it's not as if they were all locked up. My grandfather had an antique Smith and Wesson hanging up on his wall. No bullets around though (not that I found, anyway).

Enid · 23/05/2005 14:23

No I wouldnt ring. and I wouldnt go round to check her bathroom cabinet was locked either, or that her bleach was stored with kiddiproof locks.

Sari · 23/05/2005 14:30

My mil mentioned in passing that her partner had an old revolver and some bullets somewhere in their bedroom. She didn't want to know where because she was so terrified of it. This was after ds1 and ds2 (4 and 2) had been happily roaming around her house and watching TV alone on her bed on several occasions.

She's very nice but doesn't see the kids that often as she lives on the other side of the world so she's not always completely on the ball with safety issues. The gun (and bullets) later turned up wrapped in a towel, having fallen down behind a heater. I'll definitely be checking it's out of the way before I leave the kids on their own there next time.

tortoiseshell · 23/05/2005 14:51

No it wouldn't occur to me either.

Blu · 23/05/2005 14:57

YES! Before I get done for libelling Montessori it was a joke.

TBH, this whole thread is a spin-off from last-nights Lavender Gun thread Madness. Well my post was, anyway. Sorry.

Flum · 23/05/2005 15:01

I would ask if anyone in the house practiced knife throwing as a hobby.

scottishmumto1 · 23/05/2005 15:36

i used to be very anti gun and would never let my kids have toy guns
although i would stillnot let my kids have them , there is a gun cabinet in my house with very powerful rifles in it, it is always locked and even i would have to have a good look for the key. it is my dh and he needs them for his work.
i do know of a 12 year old who has a gun which could do some damage. i think it is totally wrong that he has it. yes he does use it. for shooting crows and sometimes he isnt supervised whilst using it. and no it is not in the countryside. he using it in a backgarden in a village.
my dd will be taught about guns when she is old enough and that they are very dangerous.

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