Gun ownership and kids

[Mxylplyx]

This question is inspired by the gun threads that have been floating around here. I'd like to get a firearm for self defense, maintained in a self defense status, ie no trigger lock or safe, but I also have a 15mo old son. How in the world are you supposed to maintain a firearm that is easily accessible for self defense purposes, while at the same time keeping ut out of the hands of your child or his curious friends as he grows up? Is there a technology solution, a training solution with the child, combination of both? For those with firearms and children, what is your take?

 

[Raduque]

Gun awareness and safety training ftw. Get the gun and keep it locked up till he's old enough to start training for safety with it.

 

[RKS]

I have a cable-lock thing. It would be impossible to get it ready in an emergency. I have heard about fingerprint/biometric safes and may go that route.

I'll get them in firearm safety when the kids are old enough but I also hope to avoid neighborhoods where I may need a firearm under my pillow everynight.

 

[jonks]

You put the gun someplace a kid would never look, like in your dresser drawer, under the bed, or in the closet. That oughta do it.

 

[Orsorum]

Training and awareness. My dad's always had weapons around his house (as I do now around mine) but I never felt a need to snoop because I knew exactly what they were, how to use them, and how dangerous they really were.

 

[upsciLLion]

Do a Google Maps search for, "orphanage."

 

[MyThirdEye]

Originally posted by: upsciLLion
Do a Google Maps search for, "orphanage."

You're going straight to hell :laugh:

 

[Pliablemoose]

http://www.gunvault.com/

I'm still on my orig batteries 4+ years later.

 

[GRIFFIN1]

gunvault

Fast and secure.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: sirjonk
You put the gun someplace a kid would never look, like in your dresser drawer, under the bed, or in the closet. That oughta do it.

I hope you're being sarcastic because no one should listen to this.

 

[CPA]

Put it at a height that the toddler can't get to - like on top of an armoire or on a shelf in your closet.

 

[Xavier434]

They have special lock boxes for this sort of concern. They are not difficult to find from what I understand.

 

[Kelvrick]

Be open about the firearm. Teach them about safety and don't make it a taboo subject.

When they dont' see it as some mystical object that they only hear about, they'll naturally be curious.

Take them out, teach them about. My roommates were initially slightly unnerved about my safe full, but after taking them all out to the range, showing them the safety aspects, they're completely fine with me carrying one around the house. Of course, mine are also locked in a safe or on my person at all times. They don't see it unless under supervision.

 

[LS21]

shoot the kid

 

[MaxDepth]

Invest in knives or broadswords

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Be open about the firearm. Teach them about safety and don't make it a taboo subject.

When they dont' see it as some mystical object that they only hear about, they'll naturally be curious.

Take them out, teach them about. My roommates were initially slightly unnerved about my safe full, but after taking them all out to the range, showing them the safety aspects, they're completely fine with me carrying one around the house. Of course, mine are also locked in a safe or on my person at all times. They don't see it unless under supervision.

Your roommates must be really shady characters if you have to carry your gun around the house.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
http://www.gunvault.com/

I'm still on my orig batteries 4+ years later.

How long is the combination for this, and do you feel you, and you wife if you are married, would be able to reliably access this in a panicked situation?

 

[JulesMaximus]

For the first few years I'd just store it in a place they can't get to but you can get to quickly. I'd recommend you store the ammo seperately but again, ready to go that way you have a second level of protection from small hands.

When they get older you'll need to get some time of active security like a safe or a locking gun storage box you can bolt to the floor or your bed frame to store a pistol. It's not ideal but it's better than having your child find a loaded gun and something tragic happens as a result.

Get an alarm system if you're worried about someone surprising you at the foot of your bed at night...or a big dog with a loud bark.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: sirjonk
You put the gun someplace a kid would never look, like in your dresser drawer, under the bed, or in the closet. That oughta do it.

God it's awful but I LOLed :laugh:

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
http://www.gunvault.com/

I'm still on my orig batteries 4+ years later.

How long is the combination for this, and do you feel you, and you wife if you are married, would be able to reliably access this in a panicked situation?

3 finger presses, and yes, faster than digging through a drawer...

 

[Injury]

Build a dress with a hidden drawer

 

[Zenmervolt]

I keep my handguns in a "GunVault". It's a great way to keep guns out of your kids' hands while maintaining fast access.

I also second what Orsorum said. I grew up knowing that my dad kept a .38 Special in his sock drawer but it wasn't something that was taboo. Once I was old enough, I was taught how to use it and how to care for it. Obviously, this won't work for a 15-month-old, so the gunvault route is definitely the way to go for now.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Be open about the firearm. Teach them about safety and don't make it a taboo subject.

When they dont' see it as some mystical object that they only hear about, they'll naturally be curious.

Take them out, teach them about. My roommates were initially slightly unnerved about my safe full, but after taking them all out to the range, showing them the safety aspects, they're completely fine with me carrying one around the house. Of course, mine are also locked in a safe or on my person at all times. They don't see it unless under supervision.

Your roommates must be really shady characters if you have to carry your gun around the house.

Because when someone breaks into your house they will of course graciously allow you to run back to your gun safe, open it, and find your weapon before they attack you.

ZV

 

[GRIFFIN1]

Teaching your children about guns is probably the best way to prevent them from playing with a gun if they find one. The problem is that your child's friends might have parent's that are anti gun and wouldn't even let their child touch a toy gun. If one of these children happen to pick up your gun, then the chances of something bad happening go way up.

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: GRIFFIN1
gunvault

Fast and secure.

are the batteries inside the safe? if so, what happens if the battery dies?