Posted on 11/05/2020 7:17:48 PM PST by DoodleBob
Parents have a difficult enough job as it is, making the choices they feel are appropriate for their families and children. Health and safety are a huge consideration in that effort. Recently, one mom questioned whether her stance on gun safety, and potential access to a firearm via her parents-in-law, was needlessly harsh. The internet response was overwhelming: you do you, mama.
The mom shared her concerns on a Reddit platform, asking fellow internet patrons “Am I The A**hole?” She explained the specifics of the ban on her mother- and father-in-law babysitting. "My in-laws (80M and 70F) have a gun for protection," she explained in her message. "They do not keep it locked up in a safe. They will not tell us where it is except that it's in their bedroom, but my husband is fairly sure it's under their mattress.” She had been assured it was not stored loaded, but the couple would not show their adult children where the gun was for their peace of mind.
That’s when, the mom explained to Reddit, things got tricky. With her kids getting older and more inquisitive, she no longer felt comfortable with her in-laws babysitting at their home. "My FIL asked me why I don't let them watch the kids,” she said, and “I told them because of the gun that they refuse to keep locked up."
This caused a huge rift in the family. But mom was adamant the decision was out of concern for safety. "We taught my son what to do if he comes across a gun, but he's still a kid. And so, we only visit if either me or my husband can go too to make sure the bedroom door is locked," she said.
The conflict didn’t end on principle alone. The poster and her husband even bought the parents a safe for the gun, but they refused to use it. Her father-in-law explained, “there is no point in keeping it in a safe because it needs to be accessible for self-defense.” So, the rift deepened. The poster noted, “They will not be watching them until I see the gun in a safe, unloaded and completely out of my kids' reach."
And largely, the internet audience was on her side. The overwhelming sentiment was that her parents-in-law absolutely were within their rights to own a firearm, but not within their rights to leave it unlocked around her kids. Similarly, the parents-in-law had made the foolish choice, not mom: "It is a very simple choice you've asked them to make. And they have made it clear they'd rather have unfettered access to their guns at all times than unsupervised time with their grandchildren."
The viral nature of the disagreement suggests that the hot-button issue of gun control is yet another source of friction for family members who are not on the same page. While the mom went online to seek insight as to whether she was being unreasonable, she was met with confirmation that holding her ground was worth the effort, in this case.
She’s an A**hole.
You're being pretty nice about it. She's the one who first wondered if she was. I figured she knows herself better than most anybody. :)
No she is not. Nothing indicates she is against them owning a gun or firearms in general. But she and her husband are the only ones who know the maturity level of her children and how safely they will behave around firearms. Since the grandparents are unconcerned about any dangers they have every right to limit their visits to the house. She may have asked the question but her husband also agreed with the decision.
Same if they had a pool and refused to supervise children around it or wouldn’t make sure they could not to the pool area.
She’s an A**hole.
Well you sure seem to be well on the way to joining her.
You’re already there.
If I wanted someone to tell me what to think there are plenty of liberals around.
I don’t want to tell you what to think. I disagree with you. That is all.
BS. Every post you made to me is telling me what my opinion should be.
I stated why I disagreed with your writing the mother was an a-hole. Not once did I tell you to agree. Or perhaps you are not familiar with how difference of opinion work. Notice I did not claim the inlaws were a-holes because of their stance. Yet you went right to name calling.
I didn’t go to name calling. I answered the question she posed.
My mistake. Apology offered.
Accepted. Thank you.
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