Asking permission from host when visiting their home?

[PatrickS]

I was recently on packing.org looking at the CC laws of a few
other states and came across Arkansas where a license holder is
required to inform a home owner they are carrying before
entering.

Well, that got me thinking, and I decided to sound out this
forum on a question.

Now, this is not a legal question, but rather a social question.

Regardless of whether or not it is required by law (and it's my
understanding that it is not in Texas, please correct me if I'm
mistaken ...

Do folks feel obligated to ask permission
to carry in someone else's home?

A private home is different in so many ways than e.g. a store
or other publically accesible place, and even when invited in,
different folks will obviously have different positions on having
firearms in their home; especially if there are kids, etc.

I've never really thought about asking permission before I
came across that law, and am wondering whether I am being
in some way inconsiderate or even anti-social by not first
checking if my host is OK with my carrying in their home, etc.

Thoughts? Experiences? Advice?

(sorry if this is a frequently asked question or discussed
exhaustively elsewhere already)

(and this is my first poll, so I hope I did it right

[jbirds1210]

It is not illegal in Texas to keep quiet about carry status. It is my business and the person I tell might be the person that tries to kill me. Threats can take many shapes and sizes. No reason in the world to notify people in Texas.
Jason

[casselthief]

all my friends know I carry my 9mm Heater.
I've talked at some length about it to them. shoot, some of them were there for the "incident" that precipitated the CHL.

[Mithras61]

The way I see it, everyone that needs to know if I'm packing knows before I say anything. Those that I know well enough to visit their home know I pack at least some of the time, but also know nothing untoward will happen unless someone else initiates the trouble.

[HankB]

Three relevant sayings come to mind . . .

"Silence is golden."

"Concealed means concealed."

"Ask forgiveness, not permission."

[hi-power]

I don't carry yet, but I voted No. I don't expect I'll let anyone know about it. There are too many people out there who may take offense at it, or would be too worried to know there's a GUN! in their house.

BTW, Mithras61, like I used to tell my brother who was CEO of a small tech company: "You are plugged in, bro!"



Lots of icons below your name!

[Mithras61]

I don't carry yet, but I voted No. I don't expect I'll let anyone know about it. There are too many people out there who may take offense at it, or would be too worried to know there's a GUN! in their house.

BTW, Mithras61, like I used to tell my brother who was CEO of a small tech company: "You are plugged in, bro!"



Lots of icons below your name!

I do tech writing from home. It's how I stay in touch with the world...

[Smokewagon]

I can count on one hand all the people that know I carry. Concealed means concealed. But I did vote sometimes. Depends on the host and occasion.

[BobCat]

I asked a similar question here a couple years ago, and received lots of good feedback. If you search on the phrase "Carry at other people's homes" the thread will come up.

My default is to not mention it. No one needs to know - they don't need to know whether I'm wearing one black sock and one blue one, they don't need to know if I have a pistol holstered on my belt, they don't need to know if it is a CZ75 or a Browning Highpower. If no one attacks me no one will ever see the pistol; if someone does attack me, I don't care who mght object to the pistol.

Regards,
Andrew

[longtooth]

Every home I enter, I take it for granted they have theirs on. They should expect the same high standard of character out of me.

[bdsnooks]

My business is mine---not theirs.

[MrDrummy]

I voted for "sometimes."

When I'm visiting one of my best friends, his wife can't stand being in the same room as a gun, and so, I DO ask her if it's ok if me and my gun come over for a visit.

She's gotten better about it since.

Maybe one day we'll take her shooting.

[Venus Pax]

Some of you are familiar with the incident with my sister several months ago.
I no longer say anything to anyone if I enter their home with a gun. It's concealed. I'm not dangerous with it (unless messed with).

My only exception would be when staying overnight somewhere and children are present. If I'm not in a locked room or in a situation where I know my gun is under my control the entire time, I talk to the adults in control of the home/cabin/abode and get their permission.

Not long ago, I thought it intrusive to enter someone else's house with my concealed gun. However, I've observed some people's security habits, and I'm just not impressed. Some friends of ours have a bad habit of leaving the front door unlocked. I've told them that this is unwise. They believe that since they're sitting there in the living room within view of the door, that makes it safe. I disagree, so I silently carry in their home. (They know I carry, so they probably know I carry there anyway.)

[quidni]

Every home I enter, I take it for granted they have theirs on. They should expect the same high standard of character out of me.

[txinvestigator]

Some friends of ours have a bad habit of leaving the front door unlocked. I've told them that this is unwise. They believe that since they're sitting there in the living room within view of the door, that makes it safe.

I get that all of the time. All they will be able to do is watch the crime unfold.

Drunks used to ask for us to follow them home rather than arrest them. Sure, I'd love to be an eye witness at your intoxication manslaughter trial.