Nightstand gun with children in the house?
- Thread starter ratt_finkel
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I use the following pistol box from Fort Knox:
http://www.ftknox.com/redesign/pistolboxes/
The lock is an all-mechanical Simplex push-button unit with no batteries or key backup required (doesn't have one anyway
). It's robust, reliable, and quick and easy to use.
Personally, I don't trust electronic locks because they rely on batteries, and I'd have to keep a backup mechanical key handy all the time--a key that could potentially be found by those I'm trying to keep out.
http://www.ftknox.com/redesign/pistolboxes/
The lock is an all-mechanical Simplex push-button unit with no batteries or key backup required (doesn't have one anyway
). It's robust, reliable, and quick and easy to use.Personally, I don't trust electronic locks because they rely on batteries, and I'd have to keep a backup mechanical key handy all the time--a key that could potentially be found by those I'm trying to keep out.
jbr
Member
When old enough i agree with training, exposure etc... I will say this, kids to not have impulse control. you can not trust them to keep their hands off. I came home from hunting one day and left my rifle in a hard plastic case in my bedroom - unloaded of course. Told the kids i need to clean it - not to get near it. Came home found out from the baby sitter that my son had opened the case to show a friend the rifle. I asked her why she didn't stop him - but she is only 17 and doesn't know anything about guns. That was less than 1 hour after i told him not to touch it! You have to lock them up - it's not hard to keep them handy but safe. And he's my kid that usually does exactly as he is told and is more cautious of guns than my daughter. Sometimes "kool" over rides fear and discipline! You can get a decent handgun safe for $100 or so.
jonmerritt
Member.
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- 463
we were tought at a young age, guns are not toys, and what they are used for. You could leave a gun laying out in the open, we wouldn't touch it. It was loaded (as far as we knew) get mom or dad. I was when we were older we were allowed to handle a gun by ourselves (teens).
WardenWolf
member
Depends on the individual safe, but biometric technology has improved a LOT in the last few years. I'm in the computer field. Nowadays, lots of laptops come with fingerprint scanners and they work, unlike the previous generations that were flaky at best. With the good safes, you can enter multiple fingers to allow more than one person to access it and to ensure you can access it if your preferred finger is injured and unreadable. Fact is, if you do your research and get a good one, biometric is, by far, the fastest, easiest, and most reliable method of getting into your safe. They all come with a key, too, in case something happens and you need to get into it manually.
swinokur
Member
I use a Gunvault deluxe on the bottom shelf of my nightstand. I open it at bedtime and close it in the morning.It use an electronic keypad which is very fast to open. I keep a full size 1911 and 2 Glocks with spare mags in it. (G29 and G30)
I have a locking Stack On wall cabinet with my spare ammo and 870 in it. Same drill, open at night close and lock in the morning.
My other precaution is to have no round in the chamber. I am hopeful I will have time to rack the slide. Rather safe than sorry. IMO
www.gunvault.com
www.center-of-mass.com
I have a locking Stack On wall cabinet with my spare ammo and 870 in it. Same drill, open at night close and lock in the morning.
My other precaution is to have no round in the chamber. I am hopeful I will have time to rack the slide. Rather safe than sorry. IMO
www.gunvault.com
www.center-of-mass.com
xfyrfiter
Member
I have to agree with the theory that you can't childproof anything, so you have to gunproof the child. BTW teens are worse than preschoolers.
DammitBoy
Member
Seriously, if you know a preschooler who can rack the slide on a full sized 1911 - get them off the steroids...
Jesse Heywood
Member
ratt_finkel said:
You might want to wait until you have the custody issue settled. If the ex's attorney gets wind of having loaded guns in the house it could be used against you. Not all judges are sympathetic with gun owners. I would at least run it by my attorney and get his opinion. It might not be a problem, but you need to know if it is.
25cschaefer
Member
I hide mine in the bottom of the toy chest, they will never look there. Just kidding, I have a baby, and a gunvault, coming in may.
Mikesull415
Member
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- Jan 2, 2011
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- 13
I agree with others on here about kids being smarter than most give them credit for. I dont have any of my own, but between 2 older sisters have 7 nieces and nephews, and they're scary smart as far as paying attention when you think they aren't. If your gun isn't on you then It really needs to be locked up
sailorken
Member
My 1911 with laser sight is loaded, cocked and locked - kept in a handgun safe on my bedside table. Access is by a 4 push button combination accessable in the dark. All the rest of my guns are in a locked gun cabinet.
A good way to get killed is using a gun lock on your "ready gun".
The only child frequenting my house is now a teen and trained in firearm safety (and a good marksman too.) She knows where the guns are and all the rules.
A good way to get killed is using a gun lock on your "ready gun".
The only child frequenting my house is now a teen and trained in firearm safety (and a good marksman too.) She knows where the guns are and all the rules.
Dulvarian
Member
YMMV.
I've trained my kids over and over and over on safety. Basically the Eddie Eagle course with no eagle.
During the last monthly 'Daddy takes out the guns and you get to look at them' we found that my oldest was able to rack the slide on not one, but two of the handguns that I keep loaded (but not chambered).
I have no concerns that my daughter will be playing with my guns. There is no mystery, nothing other than a constant drilling in about safety.
My Glock sits on the top of my nightstand. None of the children have ever touched it. It sits in the same spot, and has for so long that there is a dust free spot where the gun sits.
I learned how to pick locks breaking into my dad's gun cabinet. There isn't a lock that can't be defeated if your kids really want to. Same thing with a criminal. My kids worst punishment for mishandling, or handling without permission would be a swift corporal punishment followed by an uninvite to the next time out to the range.
They know they can't handle the guns without my permission just like they aren't allowed to use my tools without supervision. Same exact concept. I'm actually much more scared of injuries if the garage with power tools than I am in the rest of the house with firearms.
When my oldest locked the slide back on two handguns, my wife and I had a little discussion that night about whether we wanted to move to putting them in the safes. We jointly decided that our eldest has the discretion and sense not to handle them without permission and that we didn't need it.
My kids get the same rules of safety with using 'tools' as they do firearms, because to me, they are just tools.
However, if I had revolvers in the house, I would take additional steps to secure them. I'll also add that my kids are never unattended at home, and they have strict instruction and repeated lessons on what to do if they are somewhere else and become unattended around firearms.
I trust my kids. They have earned it.
While on the note of securing handguns, are all of your knives secure? I have dozens of knives all over, and most of them are sharp enough to shave with. Those are left where they are for the same reason that the guns are. They are where I want them in case I need them. What about kitchen knives? And they get the same kinds of lessons with knives as they do with other 'tools', to include firearms and power tools, etc. I've been giving them these types of lessons since they were old enough to talk.
Like I said, YMMV. Talk to your wife, figure out what works for you. My children are also well behaved, and emotionally balanced. If you had some concerns with your child's behavior and ability or desire to follow instruction, prudence would dictate that you take additional precautions.
I've trained my kids over and over and over on safety. Basically the Eddie Eagle course with no eagle.
During the last monthly 'Daddy takes out the guns and you get to look at them' we found that my oldest was able to rack the slide on not one, but two of the handguns that I keep loaded (but not chambered).
I have no concerns that my daughter will be playing with my guns. There is no mystery, nothing other than a constant drilling in about safety.
My Glock sits on the top of my nightstand. None of the children have ever touched it. It sits in the same spot, and has for so long that there is a dust free spot where the gun sits.
I learned how to pick locks breaking into my dad's gun cabinet. There isn't a lock that can't be defeated if your kids really want to. Same thing with a criminal. My kids worst punishment for mishandling, or handling without permission would be a swift corporal punishment followed by an uninvite to the next time out to the range.
They know they can't handle the guns without my permission just like they aren't allowed to use my tools without supervision. Same exact concept. I'm actually much more scared of injuries if the garage with power tools than I am in the rest of the house with firearms.
When my oldest locked the slide back on two handguns, my wife and I had a little discussion that night about whether we wanted to move to putting them in the safes. We jointly decided that our eldest has the discretion and sense not to handle them without permission and that we didn't need it.
My kids get the same rules of safety with using 'tools' as they do firearms, because to me, they are just tools.
However, if I had revolvers in the house, I would take additional steps to secure them. I'll also add that my kids are never unattended at home, and they have strict instruction and repeated lessons on what to do if they are somewhere else and become unattended around firearms.
I trust my kids. They have earned it.
While on the note of securing handguns, are all of your knives secure? I have dozens of knives all over, and most of them are sharp enough to shave with. Those are left where they are for the same reason that the guns are. They are where I want them in case I need them. What about kitchen knives? And they get the same kinds of lessons with knives as they do with other 'tools', to include firearms and power tools, etc. I've been giving them these types of lessons since they were old enough to talk.
Like I said, YMMV. Talk to your wife, figure out what works for you. My children are also well behaved, and emotionally balanced. If you had some concerns with your child's behavior and ability or desire to follow instruction, prudence would dictate that you take additional precautions.
DammitBoy
Member
Dulvarian, how old is your oldest?
Arkansas Paul
Member
Exactly!
I keep mine beside the bed, magazine in, chamber empty.
I had a GP-100 by the bed before my daughter was born but I got nervous about a double action revolver being loaded and in reach. I was afraid of her maybe handling it and dropping it, causing it to fire. I don't know if that was a rational thought or not, but it bothered me, so it got put away and an autoloader with an empty chamber took it's place. I feel it's safer, and the time needed for me to rack the slide is almost non-exsistent.
She's 7 now by the way, and likes to go out shooting her pink Cricket. She can recite the 4 rules as well as anyone on here and she follows them to the letter. I couldn't be more proud.
sniper5
Member
No children in the house. When the little ones visit (they live 1800 miles away so they don't "drop in") the shotgun goes in the lockbox rack (Mossberg, like a cop's car mount) in the closet and the wife's revolver goes in the safe. Everything else is locked into the safe.
DammitBoy
Member
Wait til she's a teenager and she outshoots all the men who want to know why there's a girl on the range! Mine makes me grin like a racoon everytime we go.
FAS1
Member
My kids are grown and gone but I still keep my HD handgun secured but accessible at my bedside. That way I don't have a concern no matter who visits. Educate your kids, but don't underestimate their curiosity or abilities.
rocky branch
Member
saw an interesting study years ago.
In a clinic they had a group of kids around 5-8 years old, playing in a room with no adults.
Some were from "gun" homes.
Anyways one opened a toybox and it contained several real pistols.
Very quickly they all were in the hands of the kids who were waving them about, pointing at each other and dry firing them.
Parents were in the next room behind a one way mirror-they were aghast.
Most thought their kids "knew better."
Never put anything past a curious kid given the right opportunity.
Also their friends, if in your house.
In a clinic they had a group of kids around 5-8 years old, playing in a room with no adults.
Some were from "gun" homes.
Anyways one opened a toybox and it contained several real pistols.
Very quickly they all were in the hands of the kids who were waving them about, pointing at each other and dry firing them.
Parents were in the next room behind a one way mirror-they were aghast.
Most thought their kids "knew better."
Never put anything past a curious kid given the right opportunity.
Also their friends, if in your house.
DammitBoy
Member
Not sure if he racked it or not as the camera doesnt show it... Heres what a 2-3yr old can do.
Link to vid
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=053_1229002851&c=1
Ohio Gun Guy
Member
I've got kids and pistol safes are the way to go IMO.
I also teach my kids; Even though they are locked up, I do not leave one in the chamber.
I also teach my kids; Even though they are locked up, I do not leave one in the chamber.
Smoovbiscuit
Member
Don't underestimate a child's ability to find stuff. putting guns up high is not sufficient unless you have a toddler, or a mature trained teenager. Any age in between you should have a safe. When I was a kid I was always looking around trying to see if my dad had a gun (he always said he didn't but for some reason I didn't believe him, he always seemed like he was hiding something) and when I was in my teens I was snoopin for pills and drugs. My parents never suspected anything, so even if your kids are trained don't trust them too much!
I didn't learn gun safety until I was about 15 and my over protective parents finally let me go shooting with my friends father, who taught me gun safety and how to shoot/handle firearms safely.
I now live near my family members, and my 10 year old cousin comes over to visit sometimes. He is quite immature for his age, and not trained in guns or gun safety at all, and he doesn't have respect for other peoples property.
He once told me how his friends dad had made his friend and him angry (don't remember why) so they went looking for his gun to "bend the barrel" he said. They found the gun but
luckily they could not find the ammo. and obviously they couldn't bend the barrel.. I scolded him for doing that but he did seem to get the message or understand the severity of the situation. To him it was a big joke.
I now have to keep a deadbolt on my bedroom door and my pistols in a lock box. I keep my door locked whenever I am not in it. I open the box at night for quick access to my guns.
I really wish my aunt and uncle would take some time to teach their kid gun safety and respect. They are both in the Army too, I shouldn't have to tell them to teach their kid gun safety and basic respect of others property.
I didn't learn gun safety until I was about 15 and my over protective parents finally let me go shooting with my friends father, who taught me gun safety and how to shoot/handle firearms safely.
I now live near my family members, and my 10 year old cousin comes over to visit sometimes. He is quite immature for his age, and not trained in guns or gun safety at all, and he doesn't have respect for other peoples property.
He once told me how his friends dad had made his friend and him angry (don't remember why) so they went looking for his gun to "bend the barrel" he said. They found the gun but
luckily they could not find the ammo. and obviously they couldn't bend the barrel.. I scolded him for doing that but he did seem to get the message or understand the severity of the situation. To him it was a big joke.
I now have to keep a deadbolt on my bedroom door and my pistols in a lock box. I keep my door locked whenever I am not in it. I open the box at night for quick access to my guns.
I really wish my aunt and uncle would take some time to teach their kid gun safety and respect. They are both in the Army too, I shouldn't have to tell them to teach their kid gun safety and basic respect of others property.
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