Moving Out: Roommate a bit terrified of guns

[catielynnb]

So, I'm moving out (finally!) and have my one handgun and my one rifle. (Provided finances allow it, a shotgun is my next purchase. Or maybe my Christmas present to myself?)

My roommate seems to be a bit terrified that I have a conceal carry license and has been constantly asking me where my guns will be stored and locked. I have reassured her that I am safe with my two. That my rifle stays locked in it's range bag (because it stays at home, and I don't trust family...) and my handgun stays with me.

Tonight she asked me if I leave them loaded. She proceeded to tell me that it's 'unsafe' to leave them loaded all the time as safety's fail on a regular basis. I'm not sure where she is getting her information, and I started to tell her that my CC one stays loaded. Period.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO NEGOTIATION in that part of our Roommate Contract.

Am I taking the wrong approach to this?
Or, rather, is there a better way to explain to her that it will be with me,... not just left alone?

I've already made a few 'exemptions' about other non-issue type things. But this is one thing I will not budge on, at all...

/headdesk


Help? Opinions...

 

[netsecurity]

Tell her the gun rules. Assume all guns are always loaded, don't point them at anything you don't want to kill, know what is behind your target, etc. Problem solved, and all guns become safe, even if there is an accidental discharge due to a safety failure or whatever other fictional problem she can imagine. She just should never get into your stuff, and especially never touch your guns if she is uncomfortable with guns.

What a shame that so many parents did not teach their children how to live with guns.

 

[The Spud]

The obvious comment I would have for her is "I'm from Missouri" as in show me where these safeties are failing on a regular basis. But, that's the smartass in me.

If you are at the point, or if she is at the point, where it is better if the roommate contract is terminated, so be it. Just make sure you aren't breaking any agreements that you are financially responsible for (such as breaking a lease) and that you receive any and all monies you are entitled to (such as your portion of the deposit).

And as you are walking out, hand over your key, smile and say, Sleep well tonight, Sunshine.



/smartasshattery

 

[Double T]

Fear of guns is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity...Freud


Sounds like you should take her to the range and show her safety in handling and shooting. If she still doesn't trust it; I would imagine she won't steal anything when one of you moves out

 

[StreetStrip01]

Is she hot? Might need pics.

 

[hooky]

I think OP is saying that her roomie to be is terrified.

I'd hold off on moving in with anyone so terrified of inanimate objects. She probably has kitchen knives. People get stabbed by those all the time, yet she's not worried about them.

 

[boosteds13cc]

it is a shame that people seems so against something without any knowledge

 

[Hammerhead]

Take the roommate shooting with you. Show them the proper way to shoot and handle the firearm.

Then don't allow her access without you being around.

 

[Valvestate]

Take her shooting. Otherwise, sounds like you got it covered by movin out, unless you mean you're moving out of somewhere else to move in with her.

 

[catielynnb]

Moving out of parents, into apartment with her.

I've thought about the range idea, but I don't know if she'd be okay with it... At least not up front.
I find it odd that her mother is a 2A person, but she's marginally against it.

 

[looney2ns]

Tell roomie she needs to stop getting into bathtubs or automobiles immediately. They are far more dangerous and un-predictable than your firearms are. They kill and maim many more each year than firearms do.

 

[netsecurity]

Buy a small biometric safe for your EDC/HD pistol, so you have instant access to it (loaded), but no one else does.

Keep your long guns unloaded, and safeties on, perhaps use trigger locking mechanisms. Lockup your ammo if you cannot lockup your long guns. I use a medicine cabinet with a key to keep my ammo in.

 

[Sylvain]

It's just fear of the unknown plus the BS people hear in the media like "if you own a gun you have 87.5% chances of shooting yourself or a loved one during the first year", "9 out of 10 gun owners are killed by their own gun" etc.
Educate her and take her shooting.

 

[mtgasten]

take her to the range and teach her about guns, and try to explain and hopefully she'll come around

 

[netsecurity]

It's just fear of the unknown plus the BS people hear in the media like "if you own a gun you have 87.5% chances of shooting yourself or a loved one during the first year", "9 out of 10 gun owners are killed by their own gun" etc.
Educate her and take her shooting.

Oh yea, there are a lot of grrrrreat statistics out there, like 90% of all people who commit gun suicides are gun owners (you'd think 100%, but they don't want it to sound too unbelievable I guess).

Edit, whoops, you covered that already. It is one of my favorite moronical statistics...

 

[mtgasten]

Moving out of parents, into apartment with her.

I've thought about the range idea, but I don't know if she'd be okay with it... At least not up front.
I find it odd that her mother is a 2A person, but she's marginally against it.

make a quick "detour" and somehow end up at the range?

 

[Burnsy]

Yeah as others have said you basically have two options. Educate her properly assuming she is interested in listening to you and hope she changes her stance, or you change yours. If one of those two do not happen your gonna need a different roommate.

 

[Valvestate]

Sit her down at the table when no one's around. Tell her to stare at the clock for 5 minutes and count every second. Tell her the cops could take 10 or more to show up. Then tell her if someone broke in armed if she thinks she'd make it that long nevertheless to the phone. Then tell her you got her back as long as you're there, and that if she wants to take care of herself, to go to the range with you.

 

[catielynnb]

It's just fear of the unknown plus the BS people hear in the media like "if you own a gun you have 87.5% chances of shooting yourself or a loved one during the first year", "9 out of 10 gun owners are killed by their own gun" etc.
Educate her and take her shooting.

Quoting your Sig line would be redundant... But, you have the right philosophy

 

[catielynnb]

Sit her down at the table when no one's around. Tell her to stare at the clock for 5 minutes and count every second. Tell her the cops could take 10 or more to show up. Then tell her if someone broke in armed if she thinks she'd make it that long nevertheless to the phone. Then tell her you got her back as long as you're there, and that if she wants to take care of herself, to go to the range with you.

I like this plan. Kudos. I'm out of rep... Or was.