I own several guns and I would never think about clearing them with my roommates over the years. Bring out a gun, even unloaded, at a party is a bad idea. Booze and firearms don’t go well together. If it were just these two I’d say you were over reacting and living with an idiot.
Number three though is a game changer loading a gun while wanting to kill someone is not ok. I would have called the cops on him rather then taking them away, he is a person who shouldn’t be allowed access to guns any more. I wouldn’t want that guy mad at you with access to firearms. If you move out make sure he doesn’t know how to find you if he has to find a new place to rent or gets screwed over in any way.
I’m not in agreement with playing show and tell at the party, aside from the alcohol. “Hi, I don’t know you. Look what you can come back and steal later when we’re not home.”
I know, by that same logic I would put everything but the doorknobs in storage before every party, but I have seen gun theft in this same scenario.
He might be able to get you charged with theft of the guns. Also, just for future reference, the ammo you take away from him is not the only ammo in the world. Why, I’ve even heard of stores that sell them.
The guns are his personal property. Now that the immediate danger (due to his drunkenness) has passed, they should be returned to him ASAP. As has been noted, you might be exposing yourself to legal peril by keeping them in your possession any longer than is necessary to alleviate that immediate danger.
Guns or no guns, I’d be making plans to move out if that last incident happened to me. A person who is prone to murderous impulses when drunk is dangerous to be around; there’s no reason you couldn’t be the next target of his rage. It may be argued that he wasn’t serious, given the ease with which you were able to disarm him. But a drunk guy who picks up a loaded firearm for any reason is still dangerous.
That said, the general progression of events went almost exactly like how I thought they would. I’m just glad the physical altercation didn’t occur with you.
That said, I think someone bringing a gun into the same living space (point 1) as their partner/roommate deserves some discussion, for exactly what happened in point 3. Responsible people demonstrate poor impulse control all the time, and you shouldn’t be ignorant to a lethal weapon in your own home, if the space is shared.
You have no legal right to take or keep his firearm. In fact, if he were to call the police, they would tell you to give it back to him immediately. If you refused, then they could arrest you for a number of charges.
Honestly, if you have a problem with this guy and his owning firearms then simply end your living relationship with him. Sit and down and have a talk with him and tell him that you cannot live in the same home under those conditions. Unless he is on the lease with you, he really doesn’t have many options except to move out.
I don’t know you but it seems clear that you know what you have to do in this matter. Why you are not doing is an issue that you need to do some soul searching to figure out why you aren’t doing it.
For point #3??? I am one of the biggest supporters of individual gun rights but if someone comes to me talking about killing a person and starts loading his pistol, I’m going to take it away from him. The cops are certainly not going to arrest someone for possibly preventing a murder.
I think it’s a very bad idea for you to take temporary possession of his guns – you may be opening yourself up to liability issues if something bad happens with them.
Since hes proved twice he has a willingness to mess with guns while drunk, and once he started loading a gun with violent intent, IMO you have 3 choices.
He sends he guns away somewhere else, which you have to be able to verify.
Never mind. Didn’t read the last part. Yes, the OP has no right to set forth terms under which he will give the roommate his guns back. The temporary taking was fine, but he has to give the guns back now.
If the roommate calls the cops while he’s still drunks, and the cops come by and see a drunk guy demanding his guns, the cops are going to side with the OP.
If the roommate calls 48 hours later while sober, and doesn’t admit anything to the cops about having been drunk or the drunken behavior, and there aren’t other witnesses, they are damned well going to side with the roommate. They may not arrest the OP if they believe him, but the roomie is going to have his guns back and some anger issues toward the OP. AND a history of going for a gun when angry.
If it’s his, then pack up your stuff and leave.
If it’s yours, then kick him out.
If it’s both of you, then talk to your landlord and tell him that you need to get out of it.
As alluded to above, who’s going to take his guns away from him when he gets drunk and pissed off with you?
It would be your word against his. And he’s unlikely to admit that he was planning on killing anyone. The police would err on his side as they would have no evidence besides your statements about his “intentions” at that time or at any time in the past.
It was very unwise for you to assume the role of the police in this matter. If you seriously thought that he was going to harm someone or himself , then the LEGAL route would be to call the authorities and let them handle the matter. This could have easily escalated beyond your control and it’s surprising that you are unable to see that.
You need to return his weapons and change your living arrangement. Unless you are seeking validation for your choices, then that appears to be the most logical course of action.
@SuburbanPlankton: Both of our names are on the lease and neither of us can afford the rent on his own (ha why we’re living together), so it would have to be a mutual parting of ways.
@all: Option 1 was kind of his idea, actually. Last night I only brought up 2. He then wondered if there were some way he could gain back trust if I held onto them, since if he did option 2, they would go to his father, and then he’d have to explain the whole situation. So I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t call the police for theft. Just more context.
I agree with you for the most part but when a drunk starts waving a gun around I don’t think it’s a good idea to wrestle him for it. A better plan IMO would be to get the police involved sooner.
If he was properly safe with weapons you would have never known he had a gun, but no he doesn’t need to discuss owning a gun with you, unless it were to ask if you had a felony record or some other legal hindrance to there being a firearm on the premises. [provided he is over 18 and he has no legal hindrance as well.]
If he wanted to buy a new computer or sex doll [damn, those things are like $5K :eek:] would you expect him to discuss it with you? How about spend $500 for dinner at Alinea? The only roomie I expect to discuss my finances with other than telling them how much they owe on the electric bill is my husband.
Read the whole thread. It was Matt’s idea for the OP to keep the guns away from him, instead of breaking the lease, which would presumably fuck up Matt’s situation as well.
@aruvgan: I think you answered why someone would ask about a gun in your own post. But other than that, I totally agree with you. See my post (#5).
@Dallas Jones: That is a good point, so here’s some context: Matt’s about five years younger than I am (I’m 27). To put it diplomatically, I don’t think he’s had the best home life, growing up. So–and without patronizing, you understand–sometimes I kind of see myself as a “big brother” to him, modeling the way normal, productive members of society can function (I know “normal” is problematic, but I mean you don’t have to deal drugs, be an alcoholic, be irresponsible about money, etc.) and I think there’s a tacit acknowledgment of that on his end. I think that dynamic is why he kind of suggested option 1, for instance.