Side question on "Having a Safe Home"

[SixShooter44]

I live with two other individuals in my house (not family members, just friends). They are not opposed to having a weapon in the house but they are not exactly excited about it. I keep it locked up unless i'm taking it out for shooting. My question is:

Is it more important to respect my roommates and their relative feelings of safety OR is it more important to have the weapon loaded at night, ready to go in case of an intrusion (and locked up during the day)?

 

[up_onus]

they have a such thing as lockbox's that are button opened....
like 5 seconds at the most?? probably less???
http://www.botac.com/vlinecombat.html
just as an example.

Whos home is it? That should answer your question...although more complicated if children are around.

 

[SixShooter44]

oh, interesting suggestion. i'm not sure why i never thought of that...probably because i don't have much money to spend and since i already have a lock box i guess it wasn't an option.

anyway, some close friends of mine own our house and the three of us are renting. no one can really steak a claim and there are no children. i will have to look into those boxes you suggested. thank you...

 

[up_onus]

no problem, I would suggest lookin at them first hand, they are fast, simple and safe.
Also, walmart carries them....

 

[mpmarty]

Hold on.

You live there too! As long as you're not sleeping with your "friends" what the hell difference does it make if you have it loaded under your pillow at night? Who will know? Or Care??

 

[Srigs]

You should do what you think is right!

A locked quick access gun safe would work and also a carry permit so you can carry all the time no mader what.

 

[tank mechanic]

I had as similiar situation with my two room mates, one who invited over some rather shady characters. My solution was to carry every waking hour and not inform anyone. At night it sat on the night stand next to the surefire. it went into the bathroom with me when I showered and no one was ever the wiser. My personal safety and responsibility to retain my firearm required it to be kept personal and that is what i did.

 

[SniperStraz]

Try to explain to your roomies why they are safer when you are packing. You should be able to do what you want in your room.

 

[JLStorm]

I was in this situation a while ago and I was told my an attorney over casual conversation that since the house was devided and I was specifically renting one of the rooms to live in I was afforded all of my rights for that specific room as if it was my home, however common areas did not fall under that law. He worded it much better, but thats the basic idea, so do whatever you want in your room but when you are in any other areas compromise is a good idea.

 

[BobTheTomato]

One idea I heard once was keep the gun in a locked lockbox when not home. Then when you are home you can leave it unlocked so you dont have to worry about opening it. Just one more idea on what you can do.

 

[tepin]

Personal safety is a personal decision. Guns are in fact safe (mostly). It tends to be the operator that causes accidents. If you didn’t have an agreement with your friends regarding weapons prior to moving in, I would say that what they “think” doesn’t really matter. They can move out if it’s a problem. All of you need to keep each other informed about your schedules etc… You don’t want to accidentally shoot a roommate thinking they are a home invader at 3AM on a Saturday morning.

 

[bogie]

WHY do you have it locked up? Are your friends afraid it'll jump up and go after them? I see a need for education...

 

[razorburn]

They're the majority in the place you're renting, right? And they're all uncomfortable? Unless you're responsible for most of the rent, it's more their place than yours, and I think you should respect their decision. They can kick you out. Try to re-educate them and make them feel more comfortable but if they don't, you'll have to respect that. Or get one of those lockboxes.

 

[clt46910]

The electronic lock boxes that open with a finger combination take about a second to open once you understand them. You can be mounted to your headboard or under the bed. Some of them had a alarm or warning light if someone attempts to open them with the wrong conbination. You will know when someone is messing around with it and trying to open it. I think that would be your best bet.

It would have been best to have that kind of stuff worked out before you moved in. We live and learn, you will know better the next time.

 

[ripcurlksm]

I have the same situation with roommates, but they are not anti. My concerns is to keep the weapons in my control 100%.

Keep it loaded and store it in a quick-access safe.

Take care.

 

[Snappy_13]

what they dont know cant hurt them

 

[crebralfix]

First, if you signed a lease, then you cannot be "kicked out" unless you violate the terms of the lease. I have seen leases where weapons were forbidden (yes, in typical apartments).

Second, your gun is NONE of their business. They should not be going into your room. However, you should keep the gun under lock-and-key if it is not on your body or otherwise under your control.

My advice would be to carry it as much as possible and keep it unlocked and "on defense duty" when you are sleeping in your *locked* bedroom.

 

[torpid]

Good points above.

Quick access lockbox for when you're away.

Your roomies may be decent and honest folks, but their friends (and friend's friends) popping in/out may not be.

Thieves of opportunity pop up in all sorts of places.

 

[nemoaz]

Take your friends shooting! You'd be surprised how many rabid anti's you can change if you just teach them the basics, stressing safety and responsibility, then let them have some damn fun. They all think that if they touch a Glock, they will immediately have psychotic thoughts of robbing a store or kiling themselves. Then again, maybe they will, so the lockbox is still a good idea. They are hardly slower than retrieving a weapon from a holster from the drawer under the underwear. (I know you are thinking, "How did he know that is where I keep it?")

 

[answerguy]

The electronic lock boxes that open with a finger combination take about a second to open once you understand them. You can be mounted to your headboard or under the bed. Some of them had a alarm or warning light if someone attempts to open them with the wrong conbination. You will know when someone is messing around with it and trying to open it. I think that would be your best bet.

I think you were drifting off target with this comment: "You can be mounted to your headboard or under the bed"