Concealed Carry and Worrysome Family

[mctowalot]

It's threads like this that remind me how lucky I am to have the in-laws I do (on my wife's side). It would be considered rude if you didn't bring your most recently purchased or upgraded firearm for a little after dinner "show and tell".

My side of the family is the complete opposite however, and I have to bite my tongue a lot when I'm there and any talk of crime comes up.

I realize it's not my place to try to convince them in regards to the merits of self defense but I feel bad for them, so blind to the world of badguys. But it also seems nearly each visit I come home without my pepperspray because I've given it away to one of the ladys in the family who graciously accepts it after she tells the story of a mugging in the parking lot of the grocery store she shops at. They always say "And it's in such a nice
part of town" - oy vey.

[WolfeJager]

WolfeJager -

It sounds to me like your Dad is neutral to slightly positive but it's your Mom that's negative and naturally your Dad wouldn't want to get cross threaded with your Mom. Is your Mom the inquisitive type? Is there any opportunity to open her eyes to the topic of having personal responsibility for one's own safety? Any chance to show her how you safely handle firearms? Any chance to take her shooting?

My wife thought I was nuts for wanting a pistol and CHL at first. Actually, she probably still thinks I'm nuts in general, but that's an entirely different subject. Anyway, she was negative to almost neutral until our older son came home on leave from the Army and we all went to the range together. She saw him "teach" me how to shoot and how safety conscious we both were with firearms. She also got shooting instructions from our son and really enjoyed shooting herself (and it turns out she's a very good shot).

Now she says she wouldn't mind having a pistol of her own and maybe getting a CHL some day, but it's just not a high priority for her - and I don't push it. She also sometimes asks (in a whisper) if I'm carrying from time to time when we are out, just to be reassured. So, she moved all the way to fairly positive on the entire concept.

I think her original concerns were really wrapped around her worrying about my safety and just being generally unfamiliar with guns. After all, it's not unusual for some folks to have some anxiety or fear about that which they don't understand. Once she gained some general knowledge and observed proper safety procedures, her comfort level went way up.

I also agree with concealed means concealed and you generally don't have to explain what others don't know. Also, as a rule, I don't bring up guns, gun ownership or gun possession in polite company. And, I don't inform my possession status one way or the other unless legally required to do so (which is the case in some states).

I don't know if any of that helps but I congratulate you on your willingness to be respectful to your parents even as an adult and I wish you good luck as your situation unfolds.

You are pretty much right about my dad, my mom is very negative about the whole gun issue... I have already showed her multiple times the safety of the gun(s) I have and carry. Taking her to the range is next to impossible, mainly because she wont even look at a gun for more than 2 seconds and she only has 1 good hand and I dont think she can keep a good grip on a pistol.

I do agree with your concealed means concealed, I guess I just cant hide something like that from my parents. I go back down for xmas....Im going to try the concealed is concealed method this time, but who knows I might just get patted down :(

[Purplehood]

I'm surprised no one has pointed this out, but since your parents' home is (presumably) not property you own or control, you violated 46.035 when you took your jacket off.

Yes, it's ridiculous, but that is the way the law reads.

I am sure that as long as the owner/controller of the property does not object, you are not in violation of any code. I know that when I confronted a burglar at my brothers house, the Deputy never brought up the issue of me carrying.

[USA1]

I go back down for xmas....Im going to try the concealed is concealed method this time, but who knows I might just get patted down :(

"Welcome home son!"

[edmart001]

...but who knows I might just get patted down :(

I know what you mean there. My Mother-in-Law pats me down every time she hugs me, and that's just about every time she sees me. It's become an unspoken joke between the two of us for some time. Kind of like hide and seek. She never tries to disarm, un-holster or grab, but she just pats around until she finds it and then kind of smiles or winks. Fortunately for me, both my Father-in-Law and Brother-in-Law (her son) have CHLs so guns are not much of big deal in my family (on either side - there are CHLs on my side as well). In fact, my MIL seems more surprised if she doesn't find a pistol (which is very rare) when we hug than if she does.

As far as your situation goes, I've really got nothing much more to offer. It sounds like your Mom has a fairly deeply founded set of feelings about the issue and it would probably take more to get at that than it's worth. At the end of the day, it is her house and if she tells you not to carry there that'll be the end of it. Perhaps it's best to not push the issue, stay with concealed means concealed and not have her declare firearms forbidden (all the while knowing that heaven forbid, if you ever had to use it in her house, she'd most likely thank you later).

[jmorris]

I'm surprised no one has pointed this out, but since your parents' home is (presumably) not property you own or control, you violated 46.035 when you took your jacket off.

Yes, it's ridiculous, but that is the way the law reads.

I am sure that as long as the owner/controller of the property does not object, you are not in violation of any code. I know that when I confronted a burglar at my brothers house, the Deputy never brought up the issue of me carrying.

Were you carrying unconcealed before the incident? If not, then you weren't in violation of anything and you had a justifiable (IMHO, IANAL, IDPOOTV) reason for uncovering/drawing.

Seriously, the way the law reads, I think one could be arrested at a range. The handgun is not concealed and you are not on property that you own or control. I can't find anything that says "yes, you may display a handgun at a range".

And don't bring common sense into this discussion. We're talking about the law here.

[Jeremae]

You can "Open Carry" at a range because you are "engaged in a sporting activity in which guns are commonly used". An exception to the Unlawful Carry Weapon law that pre dates the CHL laws.

This is why whenever I host a cook out I always call it a BBQ and Shooting match, so everyone can open carry with their BBQ rigs/guns.


(Yes I have a shooting range in my backyard)

[Purplehood]

My contention is that I can legally open-carry within my brothers residence.

[chabouk]

My contention is that I can legally open-carry within my brothers residence.

Contend it all you want, it's still illegal.

[sjfcontrol]

You can "Open Carry" at a range because you are "engaged in a sporting activity in which guns are commonly used". An exception to the Unlawful Carry Weapon law that pre dates the CHL laws.

This is why whenever I host a cook out I always call it a BBQ and Shooting match, so everyone can open carry with their BBQ rigs/guns.


(Yes I have a shooting range in my backyard)

You are one lucky guy! When's your next BBQ? Can I come?

[RocTrac]

I may have to deal with this as well over Christmas. We will be heading to my Dad's place and this will be my first holiday with CHL. I intend to carry on the way there but may stow my weapon when I arrive. This could be interesting.

[sjfcontrol]

This brings up a question I've had for a while. If a location is NOT 30.06 posted, but you're given verbal notice not to carry (either private residence, or business), how long is that notice good for? If I come back a year later, do I still have to disarm? How about next week? An hour from now? Do they need to give verbal notice EVERY time I show up?

[Keith B]

This brings up a question I've had for a while. If a location is NOT 30.06 posted, but you're given verbal notice not to carry (either private residence, or business), how long is that notice good for? If I come back a year later, do I still have to disarm? How about next week? An hour from now? Do they need to give verbal notice EVERY time I show up?

It is permanent. Once given verbal notice by the owner or managerment, you are not allowed to carry until you have been given verbal or written approval to carry by the person in control.

[Purplehood]

My contention is that I can legally open-carry within my brothers residence.

Contend it all you want, it's still illegal.

I dispute that.

[3dfxMM]

Based on what?