Children, firearms and defense readiness...

[mungo]

OK, so I've got two little boys in my house now.

I was raised with loaded weapons within my reach since I can remember. However, I knew if I even touched one, I wouldn't be able to sit down for a week. Apparently kids aren't the same these days. And I can sort of see why.

But my question, where do most of you (with children in the home) keep your firearms so they are readily accessible?

It seems like every other week you hear of "home invasions" in the surrounding area. Every firearm in my home is kept under lock and key because of my two boys - and according to law. But if I have to keep them under lock and key - then the ability to respond in the middle of the night is greatly encumbered.

Is there a solution out there?

[Waffen]

Originally Posted by mungo

OK, so I've got two little boys in my house now.

I was raised with loaded weapons within my reach since I can remember. However, I knew if I even touched one, I wouldn't be able to sit down for a week. Apparently kids aren't the same these days. And I can sort of see why.

But my question, where do most of you (with children in the home) keep your firearms so they are readily accessible?

Strategically placed throughout the house and one on my side and I do this because I have kids and grandkids in the house.

It seems like every other week you hear of "home invasions" in the surrounding area. Every firearm in my home is kept under lock and key because of my two boys - and according to law.

To bad. What good are locked up weapons when you need one immediately.

But if I have to keep them under lock and key - then the ability to respond in the middle of the night is greatly encumbered.

Is there a solution out there? Small handgun safe right next to your bed.


Move or CCW if you can.

You didn't mention their age But when my two oldest were 5 or 6 I took them out with a shotgun and some pumpkins and showed them what would happen. I think they got the message and never touched the guns.

All you can do today because a swift kick in the a$$ will get you in trouble is to show them and you can never PLAY with the gun.



W

[garchele]

There are some handgun safes that are biometric. i.e. can be opened with fingerprint recognition rather than a key. A faster alternative but I believe they are fairly expenseive - $300-500.

[MadCity]

I grew up in a very different world than the one we live in today. My age was still in single digits when I was out hunting gophers and rabbits on my parents' farm in South Dakota. That's not to say that they just thrust a gun in my hand and sent me on my way. I took an NRA hunter safety course, and my dad, uncles, brothers all taught me how to handle firearms safely. Today, I have several guns, mostly because I like to collect them, and they're all unloaded and in cases — but right next to loaded magazines or speed loaders should they be needed. I doubt they ever will be. I can't really address mungo's concerns because my kids are grown and gone, and I'm not hampered by such laws. But I understand his concern.

[thehuskybear]

Currently, I keep my piece on the shelf of our bedroom closet.... which is too high for my 3yr old son get to it... even if he were to drag something in there to climb on, yet it out in the open and easy to grab. This may not work for you, depending on the layout of your place, but it has worked for me so far.

Soon, I will be getting a drawer safe similar to what garchele mentioned...

[huskerbob]

Originally Posted by garchele

There are some handgun safes that are biometric. i.e. can be opened with fingerprint recognition rather than a key. A faster alternative but I believe they are fairly expenseive - $300-500.

IMHO, if they actually work, even at $300 - $500 this would be a "MUST HAVE item. A person should skip a piece of bling for the Harley or find some other expenses to cut so they have the $$$.

I can't imagine the life time of pain involved with knowing that my gun injured or killed an innocent person, especially a child.

I don't believe there is anything you can show or tell a child that will guarantee they won't touch your gun if they can get to it. I certainly wouldn't bet their life on it.

If a person can afford the permit, the ammo and the gun, they can afford one of these so they are able to secure it.

[RK05]

I keep mine in our closet next to our bed. My girlfriends boy is 11 and I have talked/showed him about the gun.

His grandmothers boy friend just shot himself in the hand Halloween night trying to clean his .25. That was a good teaching lession for him also!

[Shaw_2112]

Mine solution is simple. I keep my 9mm on me at all times. 12 gauge is on a high shelf where my 4y/o can't reach.

[tomv]

my dad was pretty clear about gun handling and i was taught at a very early age how to handle one profficiently and safely...but was not allowed to handle one without him present...and it was reinforced with a heathy warning that would have one of todays parents in deep trouble just for mentioning it...

one of the reasons i chose the taurus mil pro...besides their newfound dependability...is the integral locking mechanism on the slide...it completely locks the gun from being used but is easily overcome with a small security type allen key...the gun can remain loaded as long as there isnt a round in the chamber and it is easier to unlock than fumbling with a trigger lock key and assembly...otherwise it is totally unobtrusive....

[93-331-29PSI]

I have 2 boys ages 8 & 5. I have taken them both out shooting and they can both pretty much recite the USMC 4 firearm safety rules. However despite their knowledge, I keep them locked up or on my person during the day and at night I keep one in the night stand beside the bed. In the morning it either goes with me or gets locked up. I am a firm believer that if you teach your children about gun safety you'll be ahead of the game.

[wichitagreg]

+1 on the good quality holster and keep it on you at all times. It's even better than a safe, as you can protect it, and have it when you need it to protect you.

On the night stand is a quick-acting strong-box for night time storage.

A steel cabinet at WalMart is cheap protection from the kids. If they can move a chair they can search, and will, every crevace and shelf in the house.

[mungo]

Originally Posted by garchele

There are some handgun safes that are biometric. i.e. can be opened with fingerprint recognition rather than a key. A faster alternative but I believe they are fairly expenseive - $300-500.

Biometric - there's a solution. I'd seen the ones with a hand print on it for you to easily enter in a four digit combo, but hadn't seen or heard of the biometric safe.

And I do have my CCW, and do carry in a variety of holsters depending on how I have to dress that day. But I take it off and put it out of reach when I play with my son.

It just goes to show, carrying a weapon isn't like carrying around a cellphone. It takes a lot of responsibility.

[Waffen]

Originally Posted by mungo

Biometric - there's a solution. I'd seen the ones with a hand print on it for you to easily enter in a four digit combo, but hadn't seen or heard of the biometric safe.

And I do have my CCW, and do carry in a variety of holsters depending on how I have to dress that day. But I take it off and put it out of reach when I play with my son.

It just goes to show, carrying a weapon isn't like carrying around a cellphone. It takes a lot of responsibility.

Bingo.


W

[hdwoman48]

And then you have idiots like this fool who shot his own six year-old daughter after drinking shots and cleaning his gun.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...rlshot18m.html

[Waffen]

Originally Posted by hdwoman48

And then you have idiots like this fool who shot his own six year-old daughter after drinking shots and cleaning his gun.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...rlshot18m.html

True, but you have idiots driving cars and killing somewhere around 40K a year and they have yet to outlaw cars.

W