Dcproviders That Own A Gun...

[Unregistered]

I have a home daycare and am considering purchasing a small defensive hand gun for protection. I am curious of any other providers that may own a gun and if it causes problems with your daycare. As in do you disclose to parents since their child will be in your home?
I am wanting it for protection of course, but I feel that one dcm off top will have a problem with it, however I have another dcf I know will not mind, the dcd is a cop and always has a gun on hand. I'm just concerned it may in a way affect my dc business by disclosing it, but I know as a parent myself I would want to know if my child was around any kind of firearm. I am definitely going to purchase a finger print lock so that it is as safe as possible around children. Idk about other states, but my state does allow guns in home dc as long as it is locked of course.

Also I am sure this could be a controversial subject, again I am only wanting to know if it at all has affected anyone in particular by having a fire arm. This is a serious consideration of mine, as well as my dc being very important since it is my livelihood, but my family's safety is also very important.

[Michael]

These Gun threads are always started by unregistered. Here is the pervious thread if you want to read: https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67646

[Blackcat31]

I have a home daycare and am considering purchasing a small defensive hand gun for protection. I am curious of any other providers that may own a gun and if it causes problems with your daycare. As in do you disclose to parents since their child will be in your home?
I am wanting it for protection of course, but I feel that one dcm off top will have a problem with it, however I have another dcf I know will not mind, the dcd is a cop and always has a gun on hand. I'm just concerned it may in a way affect my dc business by disclosing it, but I know as a parent myself I would want to know if my child was around any kind of firearm. I am definitely going to purchase a finger print lock so that it is as safe as possible around children. Idk about other states, but my state does allow guns in home dc as long as it is locked of course.

Also I am sure this could be a controversial subject, again I am only wanting to know if it at all has affected anyone in particular by having a fire arm. This is a serious consideration of mine, as well as my dc being very important since it is my livelihood, but my family's safety is also very important.

What state are you in?

What does YOUR state rules and regulations say about notifying parents?

[NoMoreJuice!]

Guns

I'm definitely not going to start a gun debate (I have an extreme mixture of fear/loathing toward guns), but I do want to warn you about how parents may feel.

My husband is an avid hunter, but is very careful about his guns. They are always stored in a locked steel safe, and the safe is kept inside my locked storage room. However, KS daycare regs state that ammo must also be locked up, but in a separate box. When I had my first inspection for my new license when I moved (still in KS), my husband opened his mouth and admitted that he just threw the ammo in the gun safe with the guns. In my opinion, they were still locked up safely, but the surveyor still wrote me up for the infraction.

Most parents would never know about the guns in my house, and I am not required to tell them. But now that every survey is posted online, every parent who chooses to look up my license will know that we have guns in the house, and the wording of the survey makes us look like irresponsible people who leave guns laying around.

I have had four families in the last two years sign up for my dc, only to pull their children out before they start or the first week when they found out. I offered to show them the locked safe in the locked room, but it didn't matter. Many, many parents do not want their children around guns. Period.

[mountainside13]

IMO I wouldn't send my children to a provider that has guns in the house. All it takes is a few seconds out of a locked safe for something to happen.

We stopped by my mother and father in laws to pick up something we forgot the time before. My children jumped onto the couch and a hand gun hit my oldest in the head because they had it resting on the back of the couch. It was loaded. I flipped, we didn't know they owned any guns! They refuse to purchase a safe, to keep them unloaded so my children will never go back. Father in law showed up at my youngest birthday party with another loaded gun. A party with a bunch of young children! Not going to happen!

I grew up around them but my father was/is responsible about it. But it still makes me uneasy. My (almost) 6 year old is autistic and I am worried she would try to play with them.

I have had multiple families ask if I have them in my house during interviews. You would have to tell them if they ask you IMO

[NoMoreJuice!]

Example

K.A.R. 28-4-115 Facility. (h) Storage of weapons. No child in care shall have access to weapons. All weapons shall be stored in a locked room, closet, container, or cabinet. Ammunition shall be kept in locked storage separate from other weapons.



I copied and pasted this from my online survey findings.

Keep in mind that the only problem was a box of ammo locked in the gun safe instead of a separate box, but if I had left a loaded shotgun laying on my coffee table, the report would say the same thing! I have written several letters to the state about being able to write notes on the survey findings, but no response.

[Cat Herder]

I own guns. Plural. It is on page one of my handbook with the emergency preparedness, shelter in place and safety plan info.

My clients own guns. Plural.

I follow all Local, State and Federal Laws. I have no criminal history.

I am in a very rural area, my police response time is 20 minutes, with 6-9 kids to protect on a daily basis. Yes, I own guns.

I would not send my child to a provider who is not willing to take a life to save my child's.

This is a speed vault. Not as scary as you may think.

[MarinaVanessa]

I own guns and a rifle. My husband owns guns and a rifle. I follow all state, local and licensing regulations. Our rifles are kept in a large gun safe in the garage, are always unloaded and the gun safe is always locked. On top of that the garage is not accessible to the children so the door leading to the garage is locked. We keep our handguns in a smaller safe which we keep upstairs. My upstairs is also not daycare space so there are two safety gates to keep the DCKS out. The safe is in a high place that is out of reach, even I have a hard time getting to it. Our ammo is in a seperate lock box which is in a completely different room upstairs. Our guns and rifles have additional safety locks installed directly on them even when in their safes.

No one would ever know that we own guns unless you were a very close friend or asked us outright. I don't include this information in my handbook or policies. If a parent asks me then I disclose it and explain everything above. I do understand that some people will not choose me for daycare if they learn that I keep guns in the house, its their right, but I don't outright tell potential clients if they don't ask. I suppose I feel that of a family feels so strongly about an issue then they should be the ones to ask.

It has been brought up before, very often actually, and I still had clients sign up. I'm sure thatt some had not signed up because of the guns and that's ok with me. I do not live in a rural area and did not grow up in one. I live in a smalish city.

[NoMoreJuice!]

Cat Herder

Cat Herder brings up a good point: in the rural areas, it is almost always acceptable to assume everyone has guns. When I lived in western KS, it was expected. But when I moved back to the Kansas City area, it is totally opposite!

I must note, I think people who live in rural areas are typically MUCH more responsible with their guns because they were raised to respect them. City kids like me, who grow up watching people get killed by gunshot wounds just miles from your house, tend to fear them. We're all just products of our environment!

[Cat Herder]

Cat Herder brings up a good point: in the rural areas, it is almost always acceptable to assume everyone has guns. When I lived in western KS, it was expected. But when I moved back to the Kansas City area, it is totally opposite!

I must note, I think people who live in rural areas are typically MUCH more responsible with their guns because they were raised to respect them. City kids like me, who grow up watching people get killed by gunshot wounds just miles from your house, tend to fear them. We're all just products of our environment!

Thank you!! lovethis

In my lifetime we used to be able to keep our doors unlocked and our windows opened at night.

Meth changed that for us. It is a horrific drug.

[craftymissbeth]

K.A.R. 28-4-115 Facility. (h) Storage of weapons. No child in care shall have access to weapons. All weapons shall be stored in a locked room, closet, container, or cabinet. Ammunition shall be kept in locked storage separate from other weapons.



I copied and pasted this from my online survey findings.

Keep in mind that the only problem was a box of ammo locked in the gun safe instead of a separate box, but if I had left a loaded shotgun laying on my coffee table, the report would say the same thing! I have written several letters to the state about being able to write notes on the survey findings, but no response.

I was being nosy one day and looked up a couple providers' surveys in my area. Their noncompliances had a note written following the regulation -- so it IS possible. I'll try to find one and post it here.

[craftymissbeth]

K.A.R. 28-4-115 Facility. (h) Storage of weapons. No child in care shall have access to weapons. All weapons shall be stored in a locked room, closet, container, or cabinet. Ammunition shall be kept in locked storage separate from other weapons.



I copied and pasted this from my online survey findings.

Keep in mind that the only problem was a box of ammo locked in the gun safe instead of a separate box, but if I had left a loaded shotgun laying on my coffee table, the report would say the same thing! I have written several letters to the state about being able to write notes on the survey findings, but no response.

This is from mine:

K.A.R. 28-4-115 Facility. (i) (2) Outdoor play equipment that is safely constructed and in good repair shall be available and placed in an area free of health, safety, and environmental hazards.
Description: A clothsline pole with wires in play area and wires could pose a hazard.

Without the description part of it, it reads like my outdoor play area is a total death trap. In reality, it was a piece of the clothesline rope hanging down. It really wasn't a hazard at all and even the description makes it seem like it was awful, but this is just to show you that they CAN add comments

[daycare]

Cat Herder brings up a good point: in the rural areas, it is almost always acceptable to assume everyone has guns. When I lived in western KS, it was expected. But when I moved back to the Kansas City area, it is totally opposite!

I must note, I think people who live in rural areas are typically MUCH more responsible with their guns because they were raised to respect them. City kids like me, who grow up watching people get killed by gunshot wounds just miles from your house, tend to fear them. We're all just products of our environment!

THis is so true. I live in a large city where I would not even allow my kids to own a paint ball gun. But if we lived in a more rural area, you bet we would.

[ihop]

I own guns and a rifle. My husband owns guns and a rifle. I follow all state, local and licensing regulations. Our rifles are kept in a large gun safe in the garage, are always unloaded and the gun safe is always locked. On top of that the garage is not accessible to the children so the door leading to the garage is locked. We keep our handguns in a smaller safe which we keep upstairs. My upstairs is also not daycare space so there are two safety gates to keep the DCKS out. The safe is in a high place that is out of reach, even I have a hard time getting to it. Our ammo is in a seperate lock box which is in a completely different room upstairs. Our guns and rifles have additional safety locks installed directly on them even when in their safes.

No one would ever know that we own guns unless you were a very close friend or asked us outright. I don't include this information in my handbook or policies. If a parent asks me then I disclose it and explain everything above. I do understand that some people will not choose me for daycare if they learn that I keep guns in the house, its their right, but I don't outright tell potential clients if they don't ask. I suppose I feel that of a family feels so strongly about an issue then they should be the ones to ask.

It has been brought up before, very often actually, and I still had clients sign up. I'm sure thatt some had not signed up because of the guns and that's ok with me. I do not live in a rural area and did not grow up in one. I live in a smalish city.

All of this like this
No one has ever asked but dbf is military and a hunter, I honestly think people assume we own them and just don't ask for their own comfort.
I follow licensing rules and there is never any way ever that a child would even come near them.

[TwinKristi]

I live in CA in a very non-gun friendly area. No concealed carry permits authorized, only police or military. We have pellet guns and they're up in an off limits room closet inaccessible to children. I think if I had to I could do some serious damage with one. LOL

I just watched a documentary about guns and children and even the most safe families who teach their kids guns aren't for kids and keep them away still had fatalities with children & guns. Parents thought their kids didn't know their hiding places but sure enough they did. And kids who took classes about guns and if you see one to get an adult and never touch it and guns kill people. Well sure enough almost every young child touched the gun if not picked it up and pointed it in their own face or someone else's. It was alarming! Parents who "knew" their child "knew better" failed in every test. A police officer had his gun up high on his dresser to keep it away from his 3yr old son and one day he climbed up and they don't know what happened exactly but he shot & killed himself with his parents in the next room!

I know the country is a large assortment of different laws, opinions, etc, but I can only go by my own experiences and we don't like guns and I refuse to let dh have one until our kids are grown and gone!!