[Wanderer]

My mom works as an RN at the local hospital part-time and isn't home when I get home from school, since she goes to work at two. She carries there, but uses a different piece than usual. She usually leaves me her Glock in her fanny pack, so it looks like nothing out of the ordinary, in an certain place (can't be too safe). She doesn't have a problem with me taking the fanny pack and putting it next to the computer, where I play games and stuff. After my stepdad gets home, I put the fanny pack back where I got it from. So far, no problems with this system.

I came home from school today, and I go to pick up the fanny pack. It feels about 27.5 ounces lighter than usual, so I unzip it a bit and find that I am armed with one spare mag. Handy, huh?

I decide that I'm not going to be unarmed. I remember my mom telling me that she keeps my 686 in her room, hot, in a holster, just in case I need to use it sometime. I go up and get it from her closet. I check and make sure it is loaded, while practicing the safety rules, then replace it in the holster. I go downstairs and start to play on the computer.

Two hours later my stepdad comes home, and I explain the situation to him, while handing him the holstered revolver. I tell him that, yes, I did have a reason for going in his closet. He still seems pretty angry. I can understand why he would be. I can't emphasize enough that I was in their room for less than 30 seconds. I went in, got the gun, and checked it, then left the room. You would think from the tone of his voice that I was raiding the room, looking for any dirt on them I could get on them.

You would think I would get a little more sympathy from the people who taught me the basics of self-defense. A gun in a closet on another floor is a lot different in usefulness than a gun at arms length. It's amazing how I have pretty much no right to privacy, whereas one thirty-second visit can be a travesty to them. How would you handle explaining all this to them?

[TallPine]

I wish my little girls were as defense minded as you are.

Not sure what to tell you ...

Is the issue that you went into their private room or that you had the gun?

How come they don't let you keep the gun in your room?

Maybe they have some little games that they don't want you to know about ... didn't see any rope in that closet, did you? ;)

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

Well, I will try to help! First thing I see wrong with the picture,
is the fact that your mom is armed while on duty at her work
site; the hospital.:uhoh: While it is permissible to carry to and
from work; I would like to think she would not need a firearm
inside a hospital, especially if they have armed security.
Her encounters should be with mostly sick persons, the
elderly, and patient's vistors. When ending her tour of duty,
all she needs to do is ask for and armed escort to her
vechile. I know from previous experience in hospital security
that any employee who enters the facilty armed other
than security personnel are subject to immediate termination
if detected.:(

Now, moving on to the rif between you and your dad. There
are several ways to look at this situation. Think about the
word FEAR for a minute. We all have the fear factor.
I think that enters into your dads thought's as well. Most
likely he fears you being left alone, without any adult type
supervision. Also, he fears what the consequences might
be if you have to use a weapon against an intruder. Lots
of times the result of an investigation will turn into criminal
negligence against the rightful owner of the firearm.:(

I don't think you and your dad have a real big problem.
Perhaps, the family (you, mom, and dad) need to sit down
over supper and discuss this in its entirety.:D

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Wanderer]

Well, my mom works in the psyche (sp?) ward, which can get ugly sometimes. She keeps the gun in her locker. She leaves at ~11 at night, and has somewhat of a walk to her car, so she doesn't want to get mugged or raped.

The main issue is that I went into their room. The reason why they don't let me keep my gun in my room is because of my 9 year old brother. He doesn't know we have arms yet, and until he's mature, as my parents have said, he won't find out.

No rope, and thank God I didn't find that!

[Ala Dan]

Well, that is kind'a self explanatory. And important rule to
remember, "Keep All Firearms Away From Children".
This really means, locked and the keys in your pocket!

I don't know why such a big deal was made by you going
into their bedroom? Maybe they had some adult material
in there that they didn't want you or little brother to find?
Just a guess, but its as good as any I reckon.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[TallPine]

The reason why they don't let me keep my gun in my room is because of my 9 year old brother. He doesn't know we have arms yet, and until he's mature, as my parents have said, he won't find out.
Oh! This is frightening.

Just what makes them think that your brother won't find that (or another) gun in your parents' closet ?????

He will find out before anyone knows.

Nine years old is plenty old enough to teach some basic safety rules, even if just stop, don't touch, tell an adult (or big sister)

You need to have a discussion with your parents about your safety when you are home alone.

Best bet might be a gun safe that you have the combination to.

But they need to do something about leaving guns around in a house with a nine year old :eek:

[son of a gun]

All those guns in the house need to be locked up, that 9 year old is going to be so excited and curious to find the gun who knows what. He might even think a burgular lost it during a theft.

[Wanderer]

It was high enough that he couldn't have seen the gun, let alone gotten it without someone seeing him dragging a chair upstairs. I will discuss the idea of a safe with them though. I've been meaning to talk to them about that for some time, but never got the chance. They really don't have a whole lot of room though. They keep all of the guns, except their carry guns, the HD shotgun (no round chambered, would need to be pumped, and safety taken off) and my Smith loaded.

As for adult material, my Mom and my Stepdad are both Christians, so I wouldn't be snooping around anywhere for that type of stuff.

Thanks for tips, though.

BTW, we are going to start teaching him how to shoot a pellet gun, so he will learn the rules there. Maybe if he stops having extreme cases of rage, we'll move him to a bolt .22

[Kharn]

Wanderer:
Why not check out the small desk/office safes Walmart, OfficeMax and Staples have? A pistol could definitely fit in one of them (along with any important papers you want protected from fire) and your little brother would never be able to get in one.

Kharn

[Ala Dan]

Wanderer

How old are you, since you didn't include it in your
original post?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[keederdag]

Wow, definitly get a pistol safe; Ive seen them for as little as $30. As far as that HD shotgun, I know dillon precision sell's an inexpesive receiver lock, that mounts to the wall stud's with lag-bolts. Just a twist of a key, and you have access. Please don't let anything happen to your little brother man. I would figure out a way to make things safer, if I were you. Familly protection is what it's all about right?:)

[Standing Wolf]

You need to have a discussion with your parents about your safety when you are home alone.

I'll concur with that, and add this: I believe you need a gun of your own and a way to secure it on your own—obviously with parental oversight and supervision. You seem responsible enough, and there's no time like the present.

[Wanderer]

Well, I'm thirteen, so I'm not quite sure how my parents would feel about me keeping a gun in my room. We're moving to Vermont next summer if everything goes according to plan, so I would definitely be carrying a gun on my person when I'm taking walks in the woods behind our 30-some acre yard. I'll ask anyway. Can't hurt.

[Wanderer]

Sorry for the two consectutive posts, but I just discussed the gunsafe idea with my stepdad, and he said that it would be a good idea, and that he would look into getting one. I then asked about keeping my gun in my room, secured by one of those fireproof lockbox deals, and he said he thought it was a great idea! :what: He said to ask for one for Christmas, so that's gonna be near the top of my list!

[keederdag]

Yea, when I was 13 I carried My very own Taurus .357 M-66 on all my desert adventures. Course it was also legal here to do so then (not all that long ago, I'm only 30) Do have that talk soon though, would Ya?:)

[Wanderer]

If I were to carry, I would have to figure a way to carry a 4" Smith 686 on my 135lb 5'7" frame, concealed. Still the brother factor there.

[another okie]

Every person must make their own decisions, and it's not up to us to tell you and your parents what to do. I would (right now) at least get one of those cheap or sometimes free gun locks for any gun out of your sight if you've got a 9 year old in the house. I say that even though I was raised with two unlocked guns in the house, but times have changed.

As far as the hospital, Dan may be right about the risk to employment, but believe me, a psych nurse can always get work. You can't get another life. Again, it's the person's decision - there is not necessarily a decision that is always right.

In the next town over a nut case ran into a hospital for no reason and shot a nurse at her desk. He didn't know her or have any grudge against the hospital, as far as we know. (He was shot and killed by a police officer outside the hospital.) That hospital had security and rules against guns in the hospital. Neither helped that nurse, who left behind a baffled and hurt family.

[Intune]

Maybe if he stops having extreme cases of rage, we'll move him to a bolt .22
:what:
And you people have unsecured loaded weapons around. When (notice I didn't say if) he finds them, the weapons you guys have been "hiding" from him, someone is going to be in for a world of hurt. Has he ever been taught gun safety? So he might only shoot himself. My 8yo can see any weapon I own, anytime. He does NOT have free access to my loaded ones. He does not fly off in fits of rage. Unload ALL of your unsecured weapons NOW and buy a safe. A small one meant for valuables if that's all you can afford. This situation is a disaster in the making.

[Stickjockey]

For good security and easy access in time of need, might I suggest looking at these doohickeys (http://www.life-jacket.com). Key operated, covers the entire action, and can be attached to a wall/bedframe/insert other surface here. And only about $20-$30 for the pistol model.

[son of a gun]

I'm concerned for some reason you might get called away from the computer (to take a crap or something) and leave the gun unattended and little brother goes to play a game.

The second concern is Questionable characters your brother might have over, when I was a kid I hung with several idiots just because they were the only kids my age in the neighborhood.

[Quartus]

The main issue is that I went into their room.


Well, there it is, my young friend. Absent a real and PRESENT emergency, that was a no-no. An apology is in order.

You sound like a very level headed young man, and it speaks well of you that your folks allow you to carry. But I think you blew it on this one, and need to apologize.


And I fully concur with getting some safety training going as soon as possible! I know what a 9 year old can do. It's just NOT a good idea to assume he can't find a gun if it's not locked up. He needs to know the 4 rules.

[duckfoot]

Never went out in the swamp without a rifle as a kid living out in the middle of nowhere FL. Yaws never know what you'll find out there. So I can understand where you’re coming from.

But a nine year old that hasn’t been taught the 4 rules and has never handled a rifle, in a house full of firearms is bad mojo. More than likely he already knows where they are and might have handled one already. I know when I found my mom's .38 it was loaded stuck in her mattress, heaven knows what could have happened if I didn't know how to respect a firearm already, and that thought has stuck with me through the years.

Kids are smarter than everyone will suspect.

As for your Pop flipping out about you going into that room, that's just a reaction to a situation that he didn't like. I asked once why I wasn't allowed to do something after I was told not to do it. Answer was "I told you so", reaction: did it anyway, and got an a$$ full of rock salt for it. Sometimes you don't know why you are told to do or not to do something and not told why. Most times you are better off not knowing, but it never hurts to ask. (Well most times)


Just my .02 and is just as worthless as yours

[Parker Dean]

Definitely get that closet gun in a safe! I'll just bet he knows EXACTLY where that gun is already. Even if he doesn't yet, if your parents room is that seriously off-limits it's only a matter of time before he decides he's gonna do some exploring to find out why.

[son of a gun]

And lastly no one's ever went to He1L for having a pocket rockethttp://www.stupid-boy.com/smilies/otn/funny/tdo13.gif

[BluesBear]

Well, I will try to help! First thing I see wrong with the picture, is the fact that your mom is armed while on duty at her work site; the hospital.
First thing I see wrong with that reply is that it's none of our bloody business where her mom carries. Especially since we weren't asked for our opinion on that matter. I am sure her mother is familiar with the rules/risks of her actions. I have seen numerous threads here with people expounding the fact that they carry concealed in a workplace that prohibits CCW.

As for the actual question...

Y'all got it covered. Keep up the good work. :)

[Wanderer]

I'm concerned for some reason you might get called away from the computer (to take a crap or something) and leave the gun unattended and little brother goes to play a game.

Oh no, I keep it with me wherever I go in the house whenever my parents aren't home. As for questionable characters, there really aren't that many kids his age around. When he has people over, they basically play in the basement, and my parents are home. I feel I haven't fully explained part of this situation.

The guns that are not locked up are hidden, their magazines out, and ammo stored seperately. For my brother to access and use one of the guns, he would have to get a magazine, load it with the proper ammo, insert it in the firearm correctly, pull the bolt, take the safety off, then pull the trigger. As for the HD shotgun, he would have to press the little doodad in front of the triggerguard while pumping it. My parents carry pieces are on them or within reach, in fanny packs, during the day. He wouldn't get to them. For my brother to find and use my revolver, he would need to find and unholster it, then find a way to pull a 12 or so pound trigger. We are currently looking for safes anyway.

I'm not trying to justify keeping the guns out, but we have done as much as we can without safes or locks.

I think my actions were justifiable Quartus, because if there was a real emergency, I wouldn't have the time to run upstairs. I'm not real fast. Same reason why people carry, you never know when you might need it, and it's usually the time you don't have it that you do need it.

[Intune]

I'm not trying to justify keeping the guns out, but we have done as much as we can without safes or locks.
Yes, you are trying to justify. You have a brother who flies into "fits of rage" and who, apparently, your family does not trust. Do you pick your weapon up each & every time you go to answer the phone, get a glass of water, grab a snack, etc? Have you NEVER forgotten to? COULD you? Is there a tiny chance you may some day? Let me ask you this, would it be safer to have a trigger lock on the loaded weapons and a key on a chain around your neck? Yes, someone may rappel from the roof and crash through the window next to you and get the drop on ya but most entries and situations short of this probably would allow you time to unlock your weapon, yes?
He WILL find the ammo, he WILL figure out the matching firearm, he WILL fumble & find the shotties bolt release and he WILL find a way to actuate a 12+lb trigger pull. Do you know what the favorite method is for kids to pull a heavy trigger if two fingers won't do it? Two thumbs with the weapon pointed right at their chest or face.
Please, please, PLEASE get your parents to get some trigger locks. I think they can be had for free by some organizations. If you make it almost impossible (almost) for him to discharge a weapon it will be almost impossible for an accident to occur by HIS hands. I'm not raggin' you, I'm trying to help you and your loved ones. Once again, please.

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

It took me most of the day to calm down after reading the
FLAMES from Blues Bear's post; as I was merely
trying to help the situation, and I offered to share what
I had learned from previous experience. :rolleyes: But,
when all is said and done, the right time and at the right
place I feel that this issue can be resolved. Gun safes
are a big help, in a situation like this; but proper training
supercedes all else, bar none!:) To be honest, I think
the ages of 7 to 9 are perfect for teaching children the
10 commandments of firearms safety. Hope you all have
a wonderful and safe day!:D

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Wanderer]

We are working on it right now, and both I and my stepdad are looking for safes online. Does anyone know a large safe that would have the buttons instead of the dial? That would be accessable fast, if neccessary. one of the reasons I keep the gun next to me, hidden, is because my computer is right next to a pair of two sliding glass doors that lead to our deck. If someone were to try to break in, this would be the place they'd try to get to first.

REPEAT: WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING A SAFE

[TheLastBoyScout]

Well, there it is, my young friend. Absent a real and PRESENT emergency, that was a no-no. An apology is in order.

I disagree. If the situation at home from a self protection standpoint made it a good idea for me to have a ready weapon in arms reach at all times, and my "normal" weapon was not available, I would definitely make sure another WAS.

If mom decided to take the Glock, then I would not have gone on blind faith that the .357 was where it should have been.

If the situation demands that I be armed, then I will be armed.



HOWEVER, the situation with the unlocked weapons and the rage prone, untrained 9 year old is a time bomb.

[Intune]

I use Gun Vault for the small button type hangun safes. I know you guys are trying and that I for one may seem harsh. I don't mean to come across that way and it is from concern not superiority. SCREW a SAFE! We're not worried about your brother stealing the guns & selling them... Yet. Get some darn trigger locks. Everyone will be safe(er) I swear there are places that give them out free. If not, they are cheap. Please realise that I don't react like this to every household with an unsecured loaded weapon. Your situation has alarm bells ringing though. Please buy just one tomorrow and see how fast you can pop that sucker off. I don't know what else to say.

[BogBabe]

Wanderer, I'm a little confused about exactly what the situation is at your house.

You wrote:
The guns that are not locked up are hidden, their magazines out, and ammo stored seperately.

But you also wrote:
She usually leaves me her Glock in her fanny pack,
and
I remember my mom telling me that she keeps my 686 in her room, hot, in a holster, just in case I need to use it sometime.
and
They keep all of the guns, except their carry guns, the HD shotgun (no round chambered, would need to be pumped, and safety taken off) and my Smith loaded.

I won't comment on the contradictions in what you've stated, but it sounds to me like there are loaded guns lying all over your house. A loaded revolver in the closet. A shotgun with shells in the tube leaning up behind a door. A Glock in a fanny pack. And your parents somehow think your 9-year-old brother doesn't know about them and won't find them?

Do you remember when you were 9? I remember 9. I knew where my dad kept his revolver hidden. And the .22 rifle. I knew about a lot of things they probably thought a 9-year-old wouldn't find. :D

Nine-year-olds are incredibly inquisitive and inventive. I remember dragging chairs around to go exploring in closets. If a chair isn't handy, a stool will do. Or perhaps just a broomstick to poke at stuff and make it fall off the shelves.

Christmas isn't soon enough. You need a gun safe and/or trigger locks now. Give yourselves an early Christmas present, and keep your whole family safe.

[Hemicuda]

By the time I was 9, I had a key to my dads gun closet, on a chain, around my neck...

the same as most kids carried house keys (my house was NEVER locked... so the only key I ever needed was to that one, ever so cool closet...

Dads only problem was me taking one and heading the 2 blocks to the indoor range... (and using the key that hung in the closet) to shoot one...

they even had a "super duty" backdrop, where we could shoot the BIG guns...

at 11 years old, Dad cought me W/ his pre-64 Winchester 300 H&H Mag down at the range... his only comment was "shooting that thing prone will leave one helluva bruise"... (dad was right!)

[jwmoore]

Does anyone know a large safe that would have the buttons instead of the dial?

http://www.handgunsafe.com

~W

[BluesBear]

Does anyone know a large safe that would have the buttons instead of the dial?

Do you mean a small 2 handgun safe like this?
(http://www.gunvault.com/multistandard.asp)

Or a Full Size safe like this? (http://www.remington.com/accessories/safes/gold_elite.htm)



I just happened to be looking at the GunBox yesterday. I found the push buttons (and knob) to be cheap & gritty feeling.

[Mornard]

I'd just like to add one thing from my perspective. All three of my children were experienced gun handlers by the time they were nine. They started at 5 or 6, depending on the child.

The point of this is that they have never "played" with guns - as they knew what they were and had no curiosity about them.