Do you have one? Do you plan on buying one? Do you let your kids play in homes that have them? Do you ask before playdates? If you've asked was it awkward?
Oh hell no. Gun control is something I have very strong feelings on. My kids haven't yet had any playdates in which I'm not there to supervise, but I will definitely be asking when that time comes. I wouldn't automatically say 'no' to the playdate if there was a gun in the home, but I would want assurance it was property secured.
We do not and will not have any guns. A certain relative does and we haven't even conceived a child yet and how to handle it is already a hot stress-inducing topic. If it was a random friend and I was aware I think I'd avoid it if possible, but if it were a much desired playdate I'd agree with CT's plan of action. I hope I'll have the guts to ask someday. I honestly have no idea how to handle the relative issue. Hopefully once it's my own children I'm concerned about I'll have better ground to stand on to insist I know what's going on.
ETA: My DW had a friend in middle school who killed herself with a gun her parents owned, so this is a topic she feels very very passionately about.
Do you have one? No. Well, unless you count a couple of Nerf guns. Do you plan on buying one? Hell, no. Do you let your kids play in homes that have them? they have only been to one playdate that I wasn't there to supervise (or that wasn't at the home of someone I didn't know very well and knew that they didn't have guns.) Do you ask before playdates? I didn't. I need to. If you've asked was it awkward? I am sure it will be for me. But better than finding out in a horrific way. Having a gun in the home will not necessarily change my mind about the playdate, but I have one child who is VERY interested in guns/weapons and I am sure his interest/curiosity would be too much for him to resist if he ever saw a gun - despite MULTIPLE discussions about this. That terrifies me.
I am absolutely against guns, I made J sell hers when she moved in with me. With that being said, J does have a BB pistol that she keeps for show in case the neighbor decides to come after me again, I put it out in the garage in a place it's not even useful because I refuse to have it anywhere the kids can find it.
I don't have one and we don't plan on buying one, not because I object to gun ownership, but because I don't want to risk accidents and don't trust myself or Jen to use it properly in an emergency since we haven't practiced using them for work or recreationally. I've always wanted to own a little antique pearl-handled ladies' revolver, but if that ever happened it would be after the kids moved out, and I wouldn't buy ammunition for it. My father owns several guns and yes, my kids play there all the time.
I doubt I would ask before a playdate - if the parents seemed irresponsible my kids wouldn't be going over there in the first place. I assume that most of the people in my neighborhood have at least one gun.
So I am probably in the minority here. I own 4 guns and they are all properly secured in a fingerprint safe. Not only do you need 2 keys to open it you also need my hand. The safe is tucked into the back of our closet and we have no intent of letting the boys know it exist any time soon. I do however plan to teach them to shoot once they can fully understand gun safety and the responsibility required. That said, they will never have access to them. I also have my concealed carry permit and typically carry concealed.
Most of our close friends have guns in the house that are properly locked up and several of our closest friends also have their concealed carry permit and carry. In order for my kids to have a play date unattended by me in their first several years, I would have to know the parents very well and know that the parent is present for the play date.
M doesn't like guns. She doesn't mind that I have them but they have to be secured and not out and around her. She feels safe with the way I have then secured and has no issue with me teaching the boys once we agree they are ready to handle that responsibility.
We haven't had drop -off playdates yet but I know the time will come soon. I worry about improperly secured weapons and know I have to ask but am pretty chicken shit. My kids don't even know what a gun is! T That may be a bad thing since I can't teach them to stay away or be safe around what they don't know.
There are lots of hazards in a home( chemicals,medicine,blind cords,violent/sexual games and tv) and they all terrify me but I can't exactly search their home or show up with a list of approved tv shows.
Okay,all playdates at my house until they're 40! Problem solved.