Do any of you gun owners have children, and how do you store guns?

[Banana]

This is something I've wondered about...

In case of self-defense (e.g. a burglar for example), how would you intend to store a gun so it's easily accessible, but too easily for a tyke to wander in and go bang-bang.

For other circumstances such as hunting or self defense against government, would you feel that a safe is necessary?

Finally, do you do any training with your kids to have proper respect for firearms? How?

[Merk]

I have a 4 year old daughter and 11 month old son.

The 4 year old has already had extensive firearms safety training ala http://www.corneredcat.com so if she comes into contact with a firearm unsupervised she knows what to do... Don't touch and go get dad or mom ASAP. Our goal has been to totally eliminate any mystery regarding firearms and get down to what they are, very dangerous tools, not mythical taboo items that are to be sought out. When I first started teaching her safety she would ask to see and hold guns almost every day. Now she almost never asks and I think her curiosity has been disarmed, although we still continue safety drills and always will and she is allowed to look at and hold a firearm with me supervising whenever she wants. She has never seen TV for more than a couple of minutes (we dumped the toob almost 15 years ago and haven't missed it) and therefore has not been polluted with media hyper-violence that attempts to glamorize firearms and violence.

I have a gun safe for long guns. Just standard fare bolted to the floor.

I have a GunVault with electronic keypad entry that I keep my every day carry handgun in next to the bed when it is not on my belt. I also keep a 50 round AR mag in the GunVault that I can pop into an AR that is hidden in case things get really tense. I can get the GunVault open from dead sleep, one-handed, in about 2-4 seconds.

[Dr.3D]

I would store my pistols in one of those electronic combination safes. The kind where you put your fingers on the four buttons and press them in the correct order to get it open. It only takes a couple of seconds to open one if you know the combination. Also, some of them report attempts to open them that failed so you know somebody was trying to open it.

One of those with a pistol should give you time to unlock your shotgun and load it should the need arise. Just a trigger lock on the shotgun is good enough, one of those with a four digit combination is the easiest to use because you don't need to fumble for a key.

Also locking up your ammunition is a very good idea, just in case somehow the combination for your trigger lock is discovered. Another combination lock with the four numbers is a good choice for a pad lock to go on your ammo case. Remember to use a different combination for your ammo case.

[yongrel]

I don't have any kids (thank god) but there are often small children in my house. I've got a pretty standard 5' tall gun safe in the basement bolted to the wall (i didn't feel like drilling into concrete), and a smaller fireproof safe upstairs where I keep a few handguns, among other things.

[WilliamC]

Wouldn't it be better to gun proof your children rather than child proof your guns?

My wife is still not ready to let me get so much as a shotgun in the house, and I agree that proper storage is critical.

But educating the kids is more important IMHO.

[yongrel]

Wouldn't it be better to gun proof your children rather than child proof your guns?

My wife is still not ready to let me get so much as a shotgun in the house, and I agree that proper storage is critical.

But educating the kids is more important IMHO.

Agreed. When I was very young, my father and grandfather both emphasized this. I was taken hunting starting at 4, and would be made to just sit in the duck blind or the deer stand or whatever and just watch. I got fairly comfortable around guns after a few years of this, and learned to respect them. They never had to come out and say "Guns are dangerous, respect them," because I learned by watching.

I've never been much of a fan of hunting (I'm not an outdoorsy kinda guy) but I'm still glad I was taken on all of those hunting trips.

[Banana]

....how would you intend to store a gun so it's easily accessible, but **NOT** too easily for a tyke to wander in and go bang-bang....

This is what happen when I type a post late night! Like the hell I want a tyke to go running with a gun!



Anyhow, thanks to everyone for thoughtful response. I've heard of safety training for kids and think it's great thing. Sometime I do wonder because I've seen some gun owners have too cavalier attitude about guns and fool with it, so their kids don't have the proper respect for the gun, treating it like a big boy toy.

[Elijah]

I would store my pistols in one of those electronic combination safes. The kind where you put your fingers on the four buttons and press them in the correct order to get it open. It only takes a couple of seconds to open one if you know the combination. Also, some of them report attempts to open them that failed so you know somebody was trying to open it.

One of those with a pistol should give you time to unlock your shotgun and load it should the need arise. Just a trigger lock on the shotgun is good enough, one of those with a four digit combination is the easiest to use because you don't need to fumble for a key.

Also locking up your ammunition is a very good idea, just in case somehow the combination for your trigger lock is discovered. Another combination lock with the four numbers is a good choice for a pad lock to go on your ammo case. Remember to use a different combination for your ammo case.

This is a good device to have! NOt just for kids but other people that might enter your home.

here is the Amsec brand
http://www.imlss2.com/inventory.php?...&iS=1&iN=1&D=1

There is another that the door opens vertically that has bigger buttons and they light up at night. I believe it is a Gardell.

Edit - Here is a Biovault, this one has 2 doors and uses your fingerprint. http://www.safetysafeguards.com/site...roduct/BVSB1-B

[CountryboyRonPaul]

This is something I've wondered about...

In case of self-defense (e.g. a burglar for example), how would you intend to store a gun so it's easily accessible, but too easily for a tyke to wander in and go bang-bang.

For other circumstances such as hunting or self defense against government, would you feel that a safe is necessary?

Finally, do you do any training with your kids to have proper respect for firearms? How?

Well, I don't have kids...

But my father taught me at a VERY early age how to shoot, and how to handle a firearm responsibly.

At 4 I was shooting a .22, and at 8 I had my own double barrell .22/.410.

He never tried to hide his guns from me, and he kept a .45 under his nightstand.

At about 16 I started keeping a shotgun next to my bed.


It may sound scary to some, but I truly believe learning proper respect for a firearm at an early age is the best way to make responsible children.

[mad212]

This is a good device to have! NOt just for kids but other people that might enter your home.

here is the Amsec brand
http://www.imlss2.com/inventory.php?...&iS=1&iN=1&D=1

There is another that the door opens vertically that has bigger buttons and they light up at night. I believe it is a Gardell.

Edit - Here is a Biovault, this one has 2 doors and uses your fingerprint. http://www.safetysafeguards.com/site...roduct/BVSB1-B

get a gunvault is much better then that amsec safe. Never use a fingerprint biovault unless you don't care how long it takes under stress to get it open.

I have a four year old in the house, when im home and awake the gun stays on my hip. When im sleeping it stays safely near me, but out of his little grubby reach.

Whats the point of having a gun if you cannot quickly defend against home invasions while up or asleep?

[mad212]

Well, I don't have kids...

But my father taught me at a VERY early age how to shoot, and how to handle a firearm responsibly.

At 4 I was shooting a .22, and at 8 I had my own double barrell .22/.410.

He never tried to hide his guns from me, and he kept a .45 under his nightstand.

At about 16 I started keeping a shotgun next to my bed.


It may sound scary to some, but I truly believe learning proper respect for a firearm at an early age is the best way to make responsible children.

I firmly believe children should be taught, and allowed to get their curiosity out, then trained responsibly. Its like the forbidden fruit, hide it and say don't touch and it just increases the little curious monkey in them.

[Banana]

What about those who are late-comers? (e.g. a parent bought gun when their kids are 8 years old or adopted a kid who never seen a gun?) Would they need to be trained differently?

[SpamBots Attack!!!]

When I am at home, my pistol is in a very safe place, on my hip during daylight hours. When its time far sleep, my daughter is sleeping soundly, in her crib, and my pistol is within my reach, and if shes having a hard time sleeping, and wants to be in bed with us, the pistol is still within my reach. No trigger lock, no safety box with combination, nothing. It has been that way in my family for generations, and will continue to be so, unless my daughter decides different when she is a parent. Gun safety is being aware of the location of your weapon at all times. Assume nothing, if it is not in your physical possession then put it in a locked box, or locker, or safe, you decide. Educate your children. They are curious small human beings. Educate yourself, if you have a firearm, be responsible for it, at all times. If you have children, then do society a favor, and be responsible for them, at all times. They are your chance to change the world.

[spudea]

I don't have any kids (thank god) but there are often small children in my house.

This raises many questions

[yongrel]

This raises many questions

[CountryboyRonPaul]

What about those who are late-comers? (e.g. a parent bought gun when their kids are 8 years old or adopted a kid who never seen a gun?) Would they need to be trained differently?

I would think any time is the right time to be taught respect for weapons.

Then again, I'm only 24 and have put little thought into how to raise my kids. I can only tell you what worked on me.

Having said that, I know some younger kids that should probably not be allowed anywhere near guns until they're old enough to buy them themselves, simply due to bad parenting/no parenting.

[mad212]

What about those who are late-comers? (e.g. a parent bought gun when their kids are 8 years old or adopted a kid who never seen a gun?) Would they need to be trained differently?

I came into the gun game a bit late, around 12 or so when my dad (military) taught me. My mother went to a training course that lasted a few weeks and learned safety and proper handling.

I think it really comes down to you properly getting trained and educated first, then being able to pass that knowledge to your kids at the right time/age. Some kids are ready to have responsibility earlier then others, but nothing beats basic education and training!

I also believe once you let them fire a weapon once, they'll realize its not a toy and respect it more, I know I did.

[Doktor_Jeep]

When there be kiddies about, there are only two good places for a gun:

Those that are not kept ready for defense are secured away. No not taken apart and buried like they prescribe in those communist states. Just get a decent gun locker.

Those that are kept ready have only ONE place to be: under your own shirt or coat. Nowhere else. If you take a shower take it into the bathroom and lock the door (unless you are a hippie and never lock the door when you are naked but hey even hippies - the original ones - handled the steel).

If your ready gun happens to be a rifle, same rules. Hey everyone gotta have a security blanket. If it's a shotgun, sit out front and have one-side conversations with it. Keeps the neigbors from getting nosy.

[elahewu]

http://gunvault.com/

[mad212]

gun vaults are good, but Todd G pointed out that he forgot his code but was able to open his safe in 20 minutes of trial and error. If you have kids get something more secure, my four year old isn't at the level of opening a gunvault, but a 15yr old will.

[Sandra]

First, we showed the kids what a gun could do on a rotton pumpkin. They need to know what it does and how it can cause harm. The 14 year old has been taught how to use a gun safely, but until he was taught, he stayed away from them.

[Dr.3D]

First, we showed the kids what a gun could do on a rotton pumpkin. They need to know what it does and how it can cause harm. The 14 year old has been taught how to use a gun safely, but until he was taught, he stayed away from them.

A plastic milk jug filled with jelled red Jello is an excellent target to show just what a gun can do. Not for the faint of heart though. It is quite dramatic when it explodes and throws all that red stuff around.

[Johnny Crab]

Mine were locked or out of reach when they were toddlers.

They learn BB guns between 4 and 7.
They got to shoot .22 semiauto(with adult present) once they got the BB gun down.
They got carried to 4-H Rifle Classes and Competitions for a few years.
After the first year of SERIOUS 4-H rifle, they got to target shoot with higher caliber rifles.
Maintenance was taught for every gun used(cleaning, takedown, etc.).
They are now 15 and 17 and can use any firearm.
They have REAL swords in their rooms too.

As long as they learn to be competent and the rules(treat every gun as loaded, don't point one at something you don't want destroyed, etc.) seriously, it is not a problem. Education, ability, and respect for weapons works wonders.

[Dequeant]

I never let my guns out of my sight. And i lock my children in the safe.

just kidding of course.....only have 1 child and she stays with her mother.