OK to ask?

My oldest child recently met a new friend at an art camp.  He asked if I could arrange a play date at the other kids house.  I felt a little nervous ...

I have no idea who these people are, where they live, if they are even reliable and somewhat 'normal'.

So I called them ... and told them this AND asked them if they had a gun.  They were really happy to tell me a few things about themselves, and invited me to stay for the first 20 minutes of the play date to become better acquainted.  

... and no, they didn't have a gun ... and thought it was perfectly acceptable for me to ask!