She doesn't want a guest packing heat

DEAR AMY: When our family gets together for any holiday, my niece's husband has to bring a gun. He thinks his permit gives him permission to carry a loaded gun wherever he goes, even to church. I've asked that he leave the gun at home when coming to my house. He says that if he cannot bring his gun, his family won't come. There will be small children at the house, but he says it's OK because his kids are fine with it. Should I let him bring the gun or tell them they need to stay home?Gun BattleDEAR BATTLE: I shared your letter with a spokesperson for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, who responded with this statistic: "A gun in any home is four times more likely to be used to kill or injure a loved one in an unintentional or accidental shooting than it is to be used for self-defense." This man may believe he is somehow protecting his family, but by carrying a loaded gun, he is placing them (and anyone else in the home) at risk.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4,000 children and teens are wounded or killed in unintentional shootings every year.

The man may have a legal right to carry his gun, but you have a right to maintain a weapons-free household.

DEAR AMY: I'm responding to "Eager Beaver Overachiever," the college student who reported that he or she was splitting reading assignments with other students. I have taught at the college level for 30 years, and professors often use this technique to foster an attitude of cooperation rather than competition in the classroom. In fact, in many cultures, group studying is the norm. It is not wrong or considered cheating unless the professor specifically forbids it; however, for someone who claims to be an overachiever, it is not the best way to study, either. Barbara Keesling, PhD