Post by High Priestess on Oct 6, 2015 4:04:20 GMT
A host asked:
Firearm policy?
in guest's luggage ? 
Does anyone here have a firearm policy for your Airbnb, or do you know of any guidance from Airbnb or other forums discussing this issue?
Deborah (High Priestess)
I don't have a firearms policy and I have never seen this issue come up before, though I have seen at least one or two hosts who have stated in their house rules that firearms aren't permitted in their homes.
I would guess that this would be one of those things each host should decide for themselves. My own approach would be to first broadly assess who is this guest and why do they have a firearm with them (firearms aren't permitted on planes, so it would be someone either local or driving in ). If they are going on a hunting trip I would be more inclined to allow them to have the firearm, as that seems a legitimate reason, and there really isn't anyplace one can store a firearm while traveling other than in one's vehicle or one's room. And in many urban areas such as mine, it is not safe to leave valuables in vehicles overnight.
If I were a host where the guest's room did not have a lock on it, I would be more reluctant to allow them to have firearms in my house, out of fear of what might happen and any liability that could ensue if a firearm might be left out unlocked and potentially loaded, in a place accessible to others. IF there were a safe in the guest room and the firearm could fit in it, that would be more acceptable.
Just some thoughts.
Jeff:
This issue had not even occurred to me but given the recent events in the news I can see why you are! I shudder to think of any firearms in our home...I guess we should add that to our "house rules" section! Please feel free to share any other info you learn.
Deborah (High Priestess)
I dont' think we should leap from the situation of a guest asking to bring a firearm, to thinking of the incidents we read in the news of mass murder by disturbed individuals . IMHO it is unlikely that a person intending to commit mass murder, or an act of terrorism for that matter, is going to politely ask you if they can bring a gun or guns, bombs or a large stock of ammo into your listing!
Many reasonable people, including myself, may carry a firearm while traveling. Someone I knew personally and knew well, was murdered while traveling ---- perhaps a measure of effective self-defense would have prevented their death, perhaps not. In any case, as a woman alone on a road trip, this helps me feel secure.
That said, this doesn't mean a host has to allow firearms in their home if they are uncomfortable with it or fear the liability issues, or for any other reason, single woman or no.
I would add though that even if a host has a rule prohibiting firearms on their property, it is not something that one can really check up on with every guest. After all our guests don't come through metal detectors when they enter our homes, and we aren't going to search their luggage. A guest who travels with a firearm may not think to mention it to the host, and so for the most part the host would be none the wiser what is or was in the guest's luggage, either during their stay, or afterward.
Firearm policy?
in guest's luggage ? Does anyone here have a firearm policy for your Airbnb, or do you know of any guidance from Airbnb or other forums discussing this issue?
Deborah (High Priestess)
I don't have a firearms policy and I have never seen this issue come up before, though I have seen at least one or two hosts who have stated in their house rules that firearms aren't permitted in their homes.
I would guess that this would be one of those things each host should decide for themselves. My own approach would be to first broadly assess who is this guest and why do they have a firearm with them (firearms aren't permitted on planes, so it would be someone either local or driving in ). If they are going on a hunting trip I would be more inclined to allow them to have the firearm, as that seems a legitimate reason, and there really isn't anyplace one can store a firearm while traveling other than in one's vehicle or one's room. And in many urban areas such as mine, it is not safe to leave valuables in vehicles overnight.
If I were a host where the guest's room did not have a lock on it, I would be more reluctant to allow them to have firearms in my house, out of fear of what might happen and any liability that could ensue if a firearm might be left out unlocked and potentially loaded, in a place accessible to others. IF there were a safe in the guest room and the firearm could fit in it, that would be more acceptable.
Just some thoughts.
Jeff:
This issue had not even occurred to me but given the recent events in the news I can see why you are! I shudder to think of any firearms in our home...I guess we should add that to our "house rules" section! Please feel free to share any other info you learn.
Deborah (High Priestess)
I dont' think we should leap from the situation of a guest asking to bring a firearm, to thinking of the incidents we read in the news of mass murder by disturbed individuals . IMHO it is unlikely that a person intending to commit mass murder, or an act of terrorism for that matter, is going to politely ask you if they can bring a gun or guns, bombs or a large stock of ammo into your listing!
Many reasonable people, including myself, may carry a firearm while traveling. Someone I knew personally and knew well, was murdered while traveling ---- perhaps a measure of effective self-defense would have prevented their death, perhaps not. In any case, as a woman alone on a road trip, this helps me feel secure.
That said, this doesn't mean a host has to allow firearms in their home if they are uncomfortable with it or fear the liability issues, or for any other reason, single woman or no.
I would add though that even if a host has a rule prohibiting firearms on their property, it is not something that one can really check up on with every guest. After all our guests don't come through metal detectors when they enter our homes, and we aren't going to search their luggage. A guest who travels with a firearm may not think to mention it to the host, and so for the most part the host would be none the wiser what is or was in the guest's luggage, either during their stay, or afterward.