Adoption question

[Sigarms]

Both my wife and I married for the first time, late in our lives.

We are thinking about going through an adoption process.

We have friends who have gone through this process, and realize the time and potential costs perhaps involved.

The question I have is if I own firearms, will this hurt my "chances" in the adoption process? Were talking about more than a few guns. However, all are secured via gun safes. However, some safes are easily viewed once in the home.

Hate to admit it, but in todays politcial climate, owning guns may be viewed as a negative rather than a positive with some people.

Any experienced feeedback would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[LMTC]

Think about the "typical" makeup of the various professions who will be doing your home studies, etc. I held an LSW (licensed social worker) in Ohio for 21 years before retiring. Though not engaged in SW practice for quite some time, I managed departments that had some SW components and did data administration for a county SW agency, including the agency that handled adoptions and home studies. My suggestion is 1. be truthful, but do not reveal ANY more than is necessary; 2. never ever bring up the subject or embellish any response (well, I've hunted before, but not in a while....not hunting in "a while" for me in my prime meant not that day); 3. lose the safes. Sorry to say I think it likely you will encounter someone in the process who will believe with all their being that someone like you (i.e., firearms enthusiast) should NOT be influencing children.

We have dear friends in the adoption process right now, and while I think it stinks, my letter to the adoption agency, noting my "history" and previous credentials, helped get a stalled process moving. In other words, like many professions, many of it's members tend to think too highly of themselves. Why should my letter have any more impact than any other decent citizen?
I know you and I have crossed swords over a few subjects, but if there's anything I can help you with informationally, email me. Children are a blessing from Him-who-cannot-be-discussed-on-this-forum, and I have high regard for anyone who undertakes raising them with a serious devotion.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Children are a blessing from Him-who-cannot-be-discussed-on-this-forum,

Are you talking about Bob Skurka

 

[ToadHill]

My youngest now 25 was a foster child we had, that we adopted when his mom gave him up. The fact that I was a hunter was never an issue. You might want to consider being a foster family first. Once you have been certified the adoption process is a breeze.

 

[WTA]

That sounded like great advice. I have been thinking about adopting lately too and I definitely have more than a few guns. I'm a military armorer.
My opinion on this is if someone doesn't like it or approve of my profession then fine. I only do perfectly legal work and I go out of my way to get criminals put where they belong. I will fight anyone who thinks they can discriminate against me for my profession.
I was a little worried about it when we agreed to take in an exchange student from Germany this year. He is living with us for 10 months. The organization has strict rules against hunting but that is is. I actually can't even argue with it because in this state it's illegal for him to hint regardless. That's the law. He must be at least a resident alien. Since he isn't he can't even get the license.
I specifically asked the exchange student organization if it would be ok with all the guns here (hundreds of them usually) and they said yes. Most of them are under lock and key. A few aren't and I won't lock them just to make someone happy. They are secure though. I usually have one on my belt.
I was allowed to teach him to shoot and the kid is a natural marksmanshipwise. He has absolutely no sense of safety with guns from growing up in a country where ownership is not allowed and in the video game generation. I'm fixing that though. He's gaining my trust. Slowly.

I would follow the previous persons advice about not volunteering any information but when you have a kid in your house it is your responsibility and duty to teach them all you know about them and how to shoot safely. Accidents with guns are caused by ignorance. These video game kids would be a lot less prone to taking a gun to school and shooting someone if they fully understood the power a gun possesses too. My kid was ignorant till he shot his first turkey and understood what dead really was. I can trust him with his own guns now.

Someday soon hopefully we will be going through the adoption process. We can't have any more but I still want another one. I am still working on the wife about it.

 

[randy41]

just as an aside....there's an adoption tax credit you can take on your federal income tax return that will return some of the costs to you.

 

[sandman2234]

Good luck!
If I were to be in the market for another child in the adoption world, I would tend to want to make myself a new clothes closet, deeper than normal and put the gunsafes behind a dummy wall. Hang some coats or other seldom used clothes on the bar, enough to hide the dummy wall.
Lock the safes, lock the dummy wall, and lock the closet. Put an heirloom in the closet so in case your asked why it was locked, you have a reason. When the adoption is over, and the child is aware of the proper use of a firearm, trash the dummy wall.
You would feel bad, and your wife would feel worse if your guns were the reason you were turned down. Even if you don't know for sure, it would always make you wonder.
I have a friend who adopted about 10 years ago, and he was a CCW permit holder, so they had to know he owned firearms. He doesn't have any within view, so that may matter.
I don't care who knows I am pro-gun, but your talking about a child being given to you and you can't control the investigators opinion, and unfortunately it matters. I say don't chance it, put them up.
David from jax

 

[PSDStu]

My wife and I have raised our 2 daughters who are now both married, and then "late in our lives" decided to adopt 2 children.

I don't remember firearms ever being an issue. Of course mine were not in a large safe for public display.

The adoption process is a long, expensive, and painfully slow process whether you go with a US adoption, or an International adoption. Be prepared for many up's and downs, during the ride, but in the end the trip will be worth it.

Good luck!

 

[Sigarms]

LMTC Thank you, I may take you up on your offer. I agree about being honest but not volunteering too much information, however a question I have is just how much information can they (in the adoption process) request from me per my firearms. As mentioned, everything I own is legal, however I guess my point is either you own firearms or you don’t, end of discussion.

WTA I agree as well per safety.

Toadhill Currently my wife does volunteer work (while still working another non related full time job) on behalf of children that are in the court system. State regulations currently say it’s a “no no” for us to foster due to my wife’s volunteer position. To some extent, the foster care program in our state scares me from what I’ve seen. Off the subject what scares me even more is that some people don’t need a license to have children from what I’ve seen what my wife has gone through on behalf of some children in the court system.

Sandman Yes, hiding the guns/safes has crossed my mind. However, the lightest safe weighs over 800 lbs and I have three levels in the house (large as well, hard to “sneak” into a closest, but the thought did cross my mind beforehand). I specifically didn’t put the safes on the third level due to weight and humidity conditions in the N.C summers. Ironic because I’m thinking I need another one (safe) which actually made me think of my question on firearms per the adoption process (we all know you have to divide the number in half on the amount of guns the safe will REALLY hold per the manufacturers specifications).

PSDStu Safes were not put into general living areas for public display. Actually with a couple of doors closed in the house, you woun't know there is a safe in the house (I could be assuming incorrectly that there is an "inspection" process on your living conditions per the adoption process). However, the physical size of the safes also dictated the possibilities where I could locate them in the first place. I also needed the size the of the safes to accomadate the amount of firearms I owned.

We aren’t looking at starting the process until next year which will give me some time to come up with a game plan per the firearms.

I do appreciate the feedback.

Thanks

 

[Soundguy]

What about re-locationg your safes into a basement, closet, or other 'out of the way / lockable room.. like a den.. etc. So that it will not be in public view.

I have a friend that had a large bathroom in a house he bought.. way large.. he walled off about 4' of the back of it and put in a fau (fake? ) wall panel that was actually a sliding door, with a recessed latch.. IE.. for all intents and purposes it was a wall.. but if you knew where to unlatch it, it moved.. he kept his guns and safe in there... neat idea i thought... if i build another house.. i think I'm gonna rip off his idea..

Soundguy

Both my wife and I married for the first time, late in our lives.

We are thinking about going through an adoption process.

We have friends who have gone through this process, and realize the time and potential costs perhaps involved.

The question I have is if I own firearms, will this hurt my "chances" in the adoption process? Were talking about more than a few guns. However, all are secured via gun safes. However, some safes are easily viewed once in the home.

Hate to admit it, but in todays politcial climate, owning guns may be viewed as a negative rather than a positive with some people.

Any experienced feeedback would be appreciated.

Thanks.