They really cannot find middle ground?

TheMrsC23

Dear Prudence,
My father has been a police officer for more than 30 years. Due to the recent violence (Aurora, Boston) he insists on carrying his gun on him at all times, including when he visits my home to see my small children. We live in a high-rise in a very nice neighborhood in a major city, but he reads the news about the violence in other parts of the city and won't leave his gun behind. This makes me extremely nervous. Recently at work, while cleaning his weapon, he had an accidental discharge. Luckily no one was hurt, yet he still carries his gun around my kids. I'm on the verge of banning him from being around my children. My mother and I have a difficult relationship and she thinks it’s fine he's packing 24/7. Am I overreacting?

—Gun Not

NOLABridesmaid

Mrs. C, why can't he leave it in the car when he comes over to her house?

Wzz

on the verge? it hasn't happened yet? the gun part doesn't bother me as much as this guy is clearly a man who can't handle his weapon.

TheMrsC23

In Response to Re: They really cannot find middle ground?:
[QUOTE]on the verge? it hasn't happened yet? the gun part doesn't bother me as much as this guy is clearly a man who can't handle his weapon.
Posted by Wzz[/QUOTE]

This. 

And yes, NOLA.  That's what I was thinking.

My parents do not like guns.  DH has a concealed carry permit and frequently carries it with him.   If we go to my parents house, he leaves it in our locked glovebox in our locked car. 

Also, he's never had an accidental discharge of his firearm.  

6fsn

In Response to Re: They really cannot find middle ground?:
[QUOTE]on the verge? it hasn't happened yet? the gun part doesn't bother me as much as this guy is clearly a man who can't handle his weapon.
Posted by Wzz[/QUOTE]

Yep. 

DH has considered getting a conceal carry permit.  As part of this consideration he was looking at biometric safes he could carry in his car for places that don't allow it- like someone's home.

[Deleted User]

My house, my kid, my rules.

**O-Face**

All I can think of is "accidental discharge" and then laugh.

Clearly I am not in the right frame of mind. 

gpeeples

Um... accidental discharge?  I would have no problem with someone who knows how his gun works carrying it around my future children, but obviously someone who "accidently discharges" his gun while cleaning it doensn't know much about guns...

Ajuliana

Let's be fair to the police officer...he's older, so he might be having arthritic issues or something like that, let's not assume he doesn't know how to handle the gun.  Law enforcement officers are trained to know how to handle their weapons, but accidents can happen to anyone.  

Except those guys that work with tile saws.  They've perfected that technology to where you can touch it with your flesh but it won't cut you.  Amazing.

shaylagirl

In Response to Re: They really cannot find middle ground?:
[QUOTE]Let's be fair to the police officer...he's older, so he might be having arthritic issues or something like that, let's not assume he doesn't know how to handle the gun.  Law enforcement officers are trained to know how to handle their weapons, but accidents can happen to anyone.   Except those guys that work with tile saws.  They've perfected that technology to where you can touch it with your flesh but it won't cut you.  Amazing.
Posted by Alaynajuliana[/QUOTE]

No way.  No leeway.  My FI was law enforcement for about 15+ years (he's now changed careers).  He ALWAYS handles a gun properly; you eject the magazine, and if it's a semi, you rack the slide to make sure the chamber is clear, a revolver, check all the chambers to make sure they're empty.

EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.

You also NEVER put your finger INSIDE the trigger guard unless you're willing to kill what your gun is aimed at.  I don't care how arthritic someone may or may not be, THAT is what keeps you safe from an accidental (which is BS, they're never an accident!  You weren't practicing proper handling of your firearm) discharge.

I also had to carry a handgun for work (I was a commissioned security officer for an armored truck company), and I know that whatever I point the muzzle of my gun at had BETTER be something I'm well prepared to kill. 

Dad has shown he's not safe with his firearm any longer, LE or not.  Just because someone's a "cop" doesn't make them more or less qualified or safer than someone who isn't. 

Tell dad the firearm is NOT allowed in your home.  Period.  No ifs, ands or buts.  And stick to it.

Also, the children are NOT allowed to go visit unless dad has EVERY firearm locked in a safe.  EVERY firearm. 

When it comes to a child's safety around them, there's no such thing as "Being too careful".