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Sounds like a really good opportunity to take someone to the range and educate them. Tell them the reason that you like to shoot. Do you have a .22 pistol you can take along so they can shoot it. I introduced my mother and aunt into shooting with a 9mm XD SC. My aunt wasn't really overjoyed about handguns before shooting but ended up getting a CHL about 9 months after I let them shoot the first time. Took the class with my mother who was the one interested in shooting. A .22 pistol is even better for those that never have shot before but not really a requirement.

I think the decision isn't really a negative but a way to let them know the benefits of shooting and CHL. Be bold and do not be ashamed of what you believe. I don't push my beliefs on others but I do offer them the opportunity to do something they may have been thinking of anyway. I agree you should pray if you do and go about it with the thought of giving them a chance to grow in who they are.

Although, angst aside, I would likely carry in such a situation, that is one of the reasons that I am very glad that one of my carry pistols conceals deeply and easily (scandium J-framed .357), and would likely never be discovered. In such a situation where I would rather avoid the potential ramifications of such a confrontation, this is the pistol I would carry.

Admittedly, not familiar with FL law, but I believe LA and AR require that you disclose in private residences.

(Whether you actually do or not.)

Admittedly, not familiar with FL law, but I believe LA and AR require that you disclose in private residences.

(Whether you actually do or not.)

You would have to disclose if you are not carrying?

Hey cubbyjg!

If you're worried a family member would ask you to not carry and that worries you then I think you should go ahead and carry without telling them. However, if you truly respect your family then disarm and leave it in the car when you go see them if they do not want you carrying around them.

I faced this same dilemma when I first began carrying. I went to each of my family members (brother, sister, parents, in-laws, and my closest friend at the time) and told them I had taken the CHL class and was waiting for my license and after it arrived I would be carrying everywhere legally possible. I did ask for their permission and all of them gave it. My sister was the only one that hesitated. Her own husband has a gun in the house. She's not thrilled about it, but he had it before they met and she knew that. She's lightened up a bit over the years and many times has even forgot that I do carry. She's never seen it because it doesn't come out for show and tell.

Had any of my family members asked me not to carry in their homes I would have respected their wishes. I would not have asked if I was not going to in the first place. So, IMHO, if you would respect their wishes go ahead and ask. Maybe they will surprise you. Probably not, but maybe.

PappaGun wrote:

Admittedly, not familiar with FL law, but I believe LA and AR require that you disclose in private residences.

(Whether you actually do or not.)

You would have to disclose if you are not carrying?

Sorry, no.

I just meant whether you choose to tell them. I visited family in AR without bringing it up.

The only thing *I* would feel remiss about would be having it potentially unsecured if/when I was swimming, in the shower, etc, in someone else's home. My travel 'luggage' when flying w. a firearm serves as a handy safe for secure storage - a steel army surplus 81mm mortar case. If your firearm is either well secured on your person, or locked up tight, then I would sleep well at night. And DADT.

Oldgringo wrote:

terryg wrote:

Oldgringo wrote:Concealed is concealed and "loose lips sink ships".

Why do you have concerns? If you think it's not right then it's not right.

OG, with all due respect, it is not that simple. The ramifications of either decision have the potential to be very huge. I have posted and participated in similar threads. But it is hard not to be a little frustrated by responses that seem to oversimplify the potential consequences.

terryg, I certainly did not mean to cause you unnecessary frustration or angst; however, In my view, which was requested by the OP, life is a pretty simple process. I suspect the OP probably knows what is the right answer for his particular situation and will go and do the right thing. But then again, I'm not as smart and all-knowing as I once was.

and I am not nearly as smart as I pretend to be

Thanks everyone. The more i thought about it and read everyones opinion/advice, i realized it would be okay to carry and not say anything. If it isnt on me, it will be locked in the travel lock box. I guess its no different from going to Wally World. I have never carried around kids who are related to me since, well they are the only ones in our family so far. Everyone else are adults and im not worried about them. I guess its a what they dont know, wont hurt them situation.

my relatives would probably kick you out for not carrying.

I'm late to this thread, but I wanted to share my experience. Last May I visited my best friend to celebrate his daughter's graduation. The house was full of kids and cousins (all teenagers). Uncle Nick sleeps on the couch, so privacy is limited.

As I drove up to the house, I sat in the car and transferred my weapon to a lock box that fits under the seat. My friend came out to greet me and noticed what I was doing. He asked why I didn't bring it on in and I explained I don't know all the cousins and it's safe in my car. He understood completely. My weapon is only for my safety, I need to know where it is at all times. I was acting safely in light of his other visitors, so he supported my decision. My safety in his home was never in question. He is fully armed, and God help any home invaders. By locking my weapon in the car he didn't need to worry about giving me a place to secure it. As others have said, we have to evaluate family gatherings in light of the folks involved. Trust your instincts. You know you're safe and you have to decide where the weapon needs to be to assure it stays safe.

I don't worry about hysterical children or inLaws. In my family, courtesy indicates competence and Drama indicates foolishness.
My two cents,
Nick

Great advise already given, but I'll just pile on to the two most important points:

1. It's your right to carry. You don't need their "permission" to do so, even in their home. If you feel this is disrespectful, then you alone must decide whose "rights" are most worthy of respect - their right to decide what enters their home or your RKBA. If they invite you willingly into their home and don't mention "no guns" as a rule, then no need to bring it up, IMHO. As has been said, concealed means concealed and all that. And respecting their home means if you do carry you do so safely and discreetly.

2. If there are children around or even the slight chance of children or childish/drunken adults around, then LOCK UP YOUR GUNS any time they're not on your person. I often carry two guns with me when out of town - a larger "belt gun" (like your Glock) and a smaller "pocket gun" in case I need it. Whichever gun is not on my person stays locked up and both guns are locked up if I'm in the shower, pool, asleep etc. As has been said, a travel-size pistol lockbox is perfect companion on any out-of-town trips for multiple reasons.

Of course, all bets are off if your realtives/home owners tell you some version of "no guns" in the home. How you respond to that boils down to your personal feelings and relationship with your relatives. And I highly doubt your relatives would go so far as to press charges, but just remember that an oral "no guns in my home" carries the legal weight of a 30.06 notification (again this is a very remote possibility, but an important distinction to those of us who don't mind keeping things secret but who draw the line at breaking the law).

I think you have the right idea Cubby, go with the Kel-Tec in a pocket or ankle holster and no one will be the wiser. As a regular LCP carrier, I would agree the .380 in your pocket is better than the Glock at home. Especially when traveling, stuff happens and I hate to be un-armed.