Yep, like others have already said, their house, their rules. I would begrudgingly lock my firearm in the car. But if it really became an issue/fight about me carrying at all (I have a few of them!) I would decline the invitation. My stepdad is a retired police officer & cited 100 times that the holidays keep police real busy because of stupid family fights. To me - it ain’t worth it! I’d lock up the gun or just not go if it became ugly.
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I agree, I hated holidays also when I worked especially Thanksgiving because people seem to pay homage more at Thanksgiving and at Christmas or Hanukkah they keep to their own families. But all my years as a Funeral Director I never had to go to a Jewish home when called by the Medical Examiner to come get someone’s body. I have a theory about that is because Jewish people overall vent their feelings during the year and not save their animosity for each other for one day one time once a year like Christians do.
I don’t like guns at family functions like some do. Little Aunt Mary, or whoever is not going to assault anyone with anything but words however; they well could call the law on you now knowing about Extreme Risk Protection Laws aka Red Flag Laws as a concerned citizen to spite you back about guns. All these retirees know about the Extreme Risk Protection Laws it’s been in AARP Magazine a few times and believe me retired people talk to each other. It’s like they are waiting for the gossip to hit. It’s very interesting to me to be retired after work all my life, I really enjoy it and time goes so fast. That poor old WWII Vet back in October who was talking about guns at that restaurant and was in the wrong place wrong time when the waitress heard a fraction of his conversation about what he was talking about with another old guy when the conversation had something to do with guns. Now has lost his guns and second Amendment Rights, at least for the time being.
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have to say most of my holiday gathering memories are not the best… so… I can’t carry I don’t go… that simple… that said I don’t get invites as we live very far apart now and I stopped going to family gatherings long ago before I started carrying… my choice… and confess I’m happier that way…
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My Dad used to say: ‘Misery love company’.
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Welcome to the Community @Robert153. And yes, misery does love company. If you don’t have anything nice to say about someone (anyone), come sit by me!
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Several years ago the wife and I had Thanksgiving with one of her daughters, son in law and two grandkids. Also her other daughter and her husband came by for the meal. This daughter was married to a retired police officer whom I knew well that he carried but he said he left his in the car. Later on my wife mentioned she was interested in purchasing a firearm but had no idea what to get. The ex cop told her about the firearm he bought his wife, a Glock 42, and that he had it in the car if she wanted to see it. He brought it inside, unloaded it and let her look at it. After a few moments she gave it back to him. After about an hour we were ready to head home and all of a sudden I heard a BANG! I was in a back bedroom at the time and came running out to the living room to find my wife standing there with the cops gun in her hand. He had put the magazine back in it and she picked it up, racked the slide and let go. A round when off, went through the wall and into the kitchen. Thank God no one was in there! We all learned a good lesson about what not to do. And we decided the following Thanksgiving to leave all firearms in the cars.
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I appreciate the idea of leaving guns in the car, but the elephant in the room is leaving an unattended firearm in the room unsecured and accessible by someone who has no training with firearms. I have never had a holstered firearm I was carrying discharge.
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I would speak to mom beforehand and let her know I still plan on carrying concealed for my protection as well as everyone else’s that will be attending. If she doesn’t feel comfortable with that suggest keeping it secured in a lockbox that is accessible inside during the gathering. Let mom know that the only real difference between this year and before is who’s cooking.
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Welcome to the Community @Al1 and @Dale20.
My personal policy is I do not tell anyone whether I am carrying or not, except law enforcement, unless they have a need to know.
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Welcome to the community Al………lessons learned indeed, gotta follow those four rules at all times. Glad no one was hurt. 
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We have a simple rule in our house during parties and such. Guns go on top of the fridge, keys go in the basket. You can have them back if I think you can have them. If I’m hosting, I’m not drinking and I may be carrying. I have toddled people off to the spare room/floor/couch/lawn chair/Uber or what ever, I’ve handed keys and unloaded firearms and empty magazines to spouses, parent’s, in law’s and children dispatched to pick up Mom and Dad. No judgement, no harm, no foul, you can get your ammo later.
If you have been to my house more than once (that means you are allowed back), in general the guns on the fridge thing is in effect 24/7. “Come on in, take your coat and shoes off, guns go on the fridge, the beer locker is in the garage and the liquor locker is over there, food is to be eaten so go ahead. If you want to get in the hot tub the towels and robes are over there and you can draw as many shades as makes you comfortable, just don’t be uncomfortable if someone joins you.” I’m kinda easy that way.
Cheers,
Craig6
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Ok, brother I just had a vision of one of those “swinger parties” where you leave with different keys and different guns for the night…
Sorry, my mind ain’t right tonight…
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Dude, get your mind up in the gutter with the rest of us. You have crossed three different no go’s, my wife, my gun, my car. I MAY let you dance with my wife, shoot my gun but there is no way in hell you are driving my car. 
Cheers,
Craig6
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I’m so glad nobody was hurt!
That is a valuable lesson.
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Complex issue, but generally I avoid anti gun (criminal protection) zones when ever possible. There are caveats to every rule however. Sometimes on a special occasion, the wife will force me to go somewhere I really don’t want to go. This may or may not be a gun free zone. I am an A##hole, but I am not that Big of one.
What makes it further complex is during family get togethers I am usually enjoying libations, and I don’t carry when I drink. So problem solved. However if I am designated driver, that’s going to make things a little difficult if the family member doesn’t want me carrying.
Thankfully nobody has ever directly told me not to carry on their property. If they did, I would do everything reasonably possible to avoid their property, just like I do with all other gun free zones.
But let me ask you this, how do you KNOW they don’t want you carrying?
Have they specifically come our and said directly to you? I have a family member who I had ASSUMED was anti gun based on previous conversations. But years after the fact, she asked me to take her shooting. You know what they say about assuming.
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I would honor their wishes and lock my pistol in the gun safe in the car but I don’t have to because we have Thanksgiving at home but my pistol is put away but not locked up.
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I went to my ex’s family dinner at her sisters house where I took my hoodie off and her bf saw my weapon he waited until drinking to tell me he was uncomfortable with the firearm in his house since he didn’t own any… few weeks later I took him shooting taught him some knowledge and changed his whole perspective on firearms 
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If they don’t allow guns, fine, I will abide by their wishes and spend the holiday elsewhere. Not very likely with my family…
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Nice job on the conversion Mike! Replaced fear and ignorance with knowledge and hands on experience, well played sir. And welcome to the community!!
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WIN!!
I’m so glad you shared your knowledge as well as love the fact he got too shoot a firearm and learn first hand.
Oh, and welcome to the community! We are glad to have you here!
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