Guns Throughout the Home

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Bobson

Bobson

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I see a lot of posts where people describe things like this, but I've never seen a thread dedicated to the topic. In addition, a search of the forum failed to produce results.

Some of you have mentioned that you keep a firearm (or firearms) in every single room of your home. I assume you don't relocate those arms to a specific area of the home every time a guest comes over; I also assume you don't just have handguns lying on top of kitchen counter-tops, living room coffee tables, and shotguns propped in corners in the halls.

I realize I may have described some of your homes quite well, and if so, great. That isn't what I want to do, but my wife and I are both very interested in a "firearm in each room" kind of home. Taking into consideration that we have a 10 month old daughter, and plans to grow the family with another couple of kids or so in the near future, simply "teaching my kids not to handle the guns" isn't going to work for now. Even if it did, I'm just not comfortable having guns lying around in plain view, especially considering many of my in-laws (parents & siblings alike) are more of the, "Oh no - guns! Run!" sort of people.

What are some options for strategic placement of firearms throughout the home? I've given serious consideration to a false floorboard or loose section of carpet in each room of the home (combined with a pre-built compartment set in the concrete foundation or something), but this option doesn't seem beneficial for hurried acquisition of arms in the event of a home invasion. I've also considered loose/false sections of walls, or those safes placed behind wall-mounted pictures in movies.

I want to keep it realistic and efficient, but I also don't have an unlimited amount of money to spend. If this arming process takes a few years to complete, that's alright, but the sooner the better, obviously. My wife has said she'd be okay just carrying a firearm on her person all the time, even at home, but I don't want to burden her with that. Additionally, I'd like to develop a system that would allow my kids to reach a firearm just as quickly as anyone else, should the need arise (once they're old enough, of course - which I'll decide :p).

Thanks for the suggestions, and sorry for the wall of text.
 
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There are Guns

In every room of my apartment (1BR). A 12ga Mossberg M500 and six rounds of OOO Buckshot is upstairs, and a Glock Model 17 handgun and 35 rounds of +p+ 115gr JHPs on me! :D
 
I have two handguns on the first floor in the rooms that I spend the most time in. One handgun and shotgun in the bedroom upstairs.

My children are grown now so no problems there. When my kids were little I was not into guns yet, so there was no problem.

For you, keeping guns handy with children present will present a challenge. Maybe just keep a small pocket pistol on you when in the house. Something like a Bersa 380CC possibly?
 
You can get small electronic safes from Harbor Freight for $25. See http://www.harborfreight.com/9-inch-x-6-inch-x-6-inch-digital-safe-94985.html .

Cheap enough to get one for each room, small enough to hide easily, big enough to hold a couple of handguns and magazines, secure enough to keep your kids out. Reasonably quick access.

These can be hidden on a bookshelf behind a few books, placed in a storage cabinet, hidden behind a plate in a china cabinet, hidden behind a few pictures in a curio cabinet, placed in the kitchen in a cupboard or under a counter or sink, kept on a shelf in a bedroom closet, stashed under the bathroom sink, etc.
 
Bobson said:
my wife and I are both very interested in a "firearm in each room" kind of home. Taking into consideration that we have a 10 month old daughter, and plans to grow the family with another couple of kids or so in the near future, simply "teaching my kids not to handle the guns" isn't going to work for now. Even if it did, I'm just not comfortable having guns lying around in plain view, especially considering many of my in-laws (parents & siblings alike) are more of the, "Oh no - guns! Run!" sort of people.
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This came up for me many years ago. I'll tell you what I worked out as the best plan, but it isn't what I ended up with...we didn't have children at the time and seldom had family over. :)

Children are actually the perfect situation for a gun with a magazine safety...back then I was looking at a S&W 2nd Gen M639, now I'd look at the S&W M&P9. You place the guns in various rooms with a chambered round and no magazine inserted...cannot be discharged without a magazine inserted. You, and your wife, wear a magazine on your belt while in the house. If you need a gun, all you have to do is reach for one and insert the magazine...I'd recommend a chamber check if you have time.

For the family, place the guns high or behind items...out of sight, out of mind...book cases and pictures are great places.

I just keep a gun in my most frequented places and near entries...they are meant to fight my way back to the bedroom where the long guns are
 
We have no children, so that is a non-issue for us. My wife is not into guns, however, I think she knows by now, after I have warned her on a number of occasions, that, if you see a handgun on my dresser, on my desk, in any other of a number of locations, DO NOT pick it up, pulling the trigger to see what will happen, as the gun WILL go off! She has never shot any of my pistols, however if she needed protection and I was not around, she would know, by pulling the trigger, the gun will go off! I told her that, not only for her safety but the safety of everything including the house and of ME! I certainly don't want to get shot "by accident!"

All my pistols are double action, so it takes a bit of trigger pull to fire that first round. If we have people over, they stay out of certain rooms. If people come here to sleep, any visible guns are put away in such locations that the guests would need to actually be LOOKING for them to find any of them. Even though no guns are in sight, I am ready on a simple-moments' notice to have a loaded weapon in my hands.
 
I once told a friend of mine about a really attractive woman I had chatted up the previous day at a Borders store (2+ yrs before the chain shut down). It wasn't just her looks that caught my eye - it was the massive pile of gun magazines she was looking through.
"This is a woman after my own heart" I told this friend. "She has a gun on every floor for her protection."
"Sounds like she's got you beat." My friend replied back.
"I only have one floor." I said in return.
 
I used to keep handguns in a couple of hidden locations, but started to get spooked by the idea of a child finding them. I have a 4.5 year old daughter who has been taught since birth not to touch a gun, but I worry about her friends.

I only keep two handguns "out" now, both in our nightstands. They are in hidden drawers that most children won't find. They are loaded, but don't have one in the chamber.

I think leaving them having to be cocked is important. The two guns both take muscle to cock. My wife has to use most of her strength to cock them, but is now proficient in the action. No young child would be able to cock either gun. I will have to revisit once the children in our house get older, as kids can be resourceful.

I also have one of those keypad pistol safes and they are excellent. I'm not sure I'd trust the fingerprint versions, but I'm sure some here have had good results with them.

I would NEVER leave a gun with one in the chamber "out". Children will find your hiding places. They will find the false floors and hollowed out books. If all it takes is one trigger pull, I fear a tragic event may be around the corner. Good luck.
 
I used to keep guns all over the house, until I realized that it was far easier and safer just to always carry.

Az
 
Similar deal - I have several kids under 4 yrs old (lots of busy hands and prying fingers). Firearms are secured in several models of quick access GunVaults at key areas in the house (there had been home invasions in this part of the county, so while safes are not in every room, they safes are strategically located). That's where creativity comes in ...

The microvault and biometric 500 are very useful, and can fit behind books in a book case or covered with a larger book binding to look like book itself. Just pick an uninteresting binding, in case any visitors want to browse. Or enclose in a binder titled something like 2008 Tax Code ... so boring it will deter the most inquisitive of eyes (unless you have a bunch of accountants as friends LOL).

The Multivault is good for a closet or inside a larger drawer, but is too tall to fit under many beds (might want to check the minivault for that).

The nanovault is the smallest in their product line, and frankly I found it the most useless. Too small & thin for anything I have except for a Makarov ... and way too hard to open in a panic situation (poor fit and finishing of that product). And way too small for a handgun plus several magazines.

Other firearms are secured in a vault, in a locked room, in a locked basement. Same goes for my 15 and 18 y.o. scotch!

I personally don't find carrying at home that convenient ... hard to carry when you're chasing around todders in your boxers/PJs from dawn to dusk :)
 
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We have a 10 month old daughter
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At 10 months old you have a few years to worry about your daughter getting into your firearms; I do though applaud your thinking about so early on. I was raised in a home with handguns in almost every room and was taught from a very early age that these were not toys and not to be handled without permission and only with adult supervision, which was always given when I asked. I never handled any of my father’s firearms without his permission. I believe that proper training and removing the mystery is the proper way to keep young hands away from any dangerous device, be it firearms, knives, or whatever the case may be.

Where to keep your handguns, I keep one in the hall tree near the front door, a second in the file cabinet/end table in the living room, a third in my desk which is located in the basement rec room, and the last in my nightstand in the bedroom. I’m not much of an long gun person so that is not an issue for me. Best of luck with whatever you do.
 
wojownik said:
The nanovault is the smallest in their product line, and frankly I found it the most useless. Too small & thin for anything I have except for a Makarov ... and way too hard to open in a panic situation (poor fit and finishing of that product).
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This is one of my main concerns. Not that I was specifically considering this product, I just want to avoid things that will be a burden to get to on a moment's notice. The three items linked by rduchateau2954 [welcome to THR, by the way] all look appealing, but like Mr. Blue said, kids will find hiding places. Even if we placed them high up out of reach, the kids could always grab a chair or something if mom's taking a nap - when they're older, obviously.

I never handled any of my father’s firearms without his permission. I believe that proper training and removing the mystery is the proper way to keep young hands away from any dangerous device, be it firearms, knives, or whatever the case may be.
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I absolutely agree. Our home was the same way when I was a kid. My parents knew we (my siblings and I) knew where the guns were, and they introduced us to supervised firearm safety around the time I was 7 years old.

Edit:

Fortunately, we have some time to give this plenty of thought. We live in an apartment right now, and plan to buy our first house sometime in 2012. Been doing a lot of house-hunting lately, and that's what really sent it home, for me at least, to start giving this some serious consideration.
 
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When I was growing up my dad had guns all over the place. I was too scared to pick one up without his permission. Now that I have three kids of my own I use the same approach. But I do not have a gun in every room. I don't see the need.
 
I've not felt the need.

My Great Uncle had a pistol in every room of the house, as he used to arrest people it was probably wise to do so as he didn't tend to CCW in the house.

My little sister and I used to make a game of finding them all. No touching allowed of course.
 
This has already been mentioned, and may not be the solution you are looking for, but I personally think that the best solution is to always carry a small lightweight pistol on your person, and leave the rest locked up.
I think this is best because
1. it is always faster to draw on your person than it is to remember where the gun is located in that particular room, say you are loading the dishwasher and an armed felon suddenly kicks open the door behind you. Would you rather pull a gun from your waistband or ankle as you take cover? or would you want to try racing across the room and lifting the carpet, reaching on top of the fridge etc while he is coming in and maybe shooting?
2. What if an intruder is in your house when you come home? Maybe he came in a back window and you came in the front door? He might very well have found one of your guns and he might try shooting his way out if you stumble across him. But if all your guns are in the safe except for the one on your belt, you don't have as much to worry about. And I'm sure the LEOs would be much more comfortable searching a broken into home knowing that the guns aren't where the perp can grab them.
3. You can hide guns from kids, teach them safety and such, but if all of the guns are locked up or on your belt there is NO way that they will get ahold of them. Period. And I do believe that even very young kids can be trusted to not touch guns if trained properly, but what about kids friends? A very curious kid will probably find them. And you don't have to scurry around removing guns before company arrives if the guns are only on you or locked up.
4. Fire. If your house catches fire, you don't have to worry about multiple guns burning down with the house as you grab the kids and run. They are all in the safe except for the one on your hip.

Now it might seem extreme or burdensome to have a gun on your person 24/7. I used to think so myself. But I would suggest you try something like a Ruger LCP in your back pocket or at the small of your back. If you wear it constantly for 10-12 days it feels weird NOT to have it. If you want something smaller go for a Dixie Derringer. http://www.charterfirearms.com/products/Charter_Dixie_62313.html
Experiment to find what works best for you. If you try hard enough you will find a gun or carry method that is comfortable all day long.
If you want extra firepower available at night next to you bed, try this. http://www.shotlock.com/Details.asp with the shotlock you can still have the gun on your person, and all other guns locked down, but when you hear that bump in the night you can quickly grab a serious duty home defense gun.
If this doesn't work for you I understand, but its just something to think about.
Congrats on the kid. :) Always good to see future shooters in the making.
 
I have a couple of handguns tucked away that a reasonably handy. I would like them even MORE readily available. My wife's concerned a BG would get them from you if they're TOO convenient...that's the reason I don't have a loaded shotgun at the ready.....Anyone have the same concern?
 
One in my back pocket while home. It's ALWAYS where I can get to it and I don't have to worry where it is or worry about other people getting to it.
 
Sonic82 said:
Anyone have the same concern?
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I can see how a person might, depending on the layout of the home. But where we live now, our bedroom is the farthest room from the door to the apartment. And the shotgun is in the far corner of the bedroom. Basically, if someone breaks in while we're home, and reaches that shotgun before I do, I'm betting that he had control of the situation before he grabbed my shotgun. So no, I don't have that concern.

Now, if the apartment wasn't on the third floor, and the bedroom window was a likely access point, I might feel differently.

I do subscribe to the whole "handguns are just there to help you reach the rifle/shotgun" thing, though. So even if I did feel that concern, I'd try and find a way to beat it while still keeping a shotgun or AR15 handy.
 
Dnaltrop said:
I've not felt the need.

My Great Uncle had a pistol in every room of the house, as he used to arrest people it was probably wise to do so as he didn't tend to CCW in the house.

My little sister and I used to make a game of finding them all. No touching allowed of course.
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that is a problem with kids no matter how well you hide things they seem to find it and It wasn't my kids I would worry about but their friends.
 
My best advise to you after raising 4 kids and have a 7 year old (damn right Im too old for that but oh well) is to familiarize your child/children with the firearms. Take the mystery out as has already been stated. Even my oldest will STILL not touch one of my firearms without the express permission to do so and he is in his 30's! They all shoot on a regular basis and they all have their own rifles/handguns/shotguns/muzzle loaders. The little one has a .22lr all her own and I am having her a stock custom made for a TC 7mm.08. She can already handle mine but the rifle is just too big for her to shoulder well.

As far as placement in the home, I have handguns readily accessible in every room of my house and a shotgun hung over the entry door of my bedroom. They are all hidden out of immediate sight but are easy to get to in a time of need. Even have a little .38 derringer in the bathroom! The little one knows where each and every one of them are and she knows the very first and most important rule in this house which is NEVER TOUCH DADDYS GUNS UNLESS SOMEONE HAS BROKEN IN AND I GOTTA SHOOT THEM! All my kids have followed that rule as will all my grandkids.
 
my wife and I are both very interested in a "firearm in each room" kind of home. Taking into consideration that we have a 10 month old daughter, and plans to grow the family with another couple of kids or so in the near future, simply "teaching my kids not to handle the guns" isn't going to work for now.
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My personal opinion is that the idea of a "gun in every room" is simply incompatible with a household that includes children.

The fact is, it is impossible to prevent children from accessing unsecured firearms no matter how or where you hide them. Put them some place you think they will never look, and they will look there. Put them someplace you are sure they will never reach, and they will find a way to reach it.

The only safe way for children and firearms to coexist safely is for one or the other to be locked up. Since locking your children up for the first 18 years of their lives is not an option, then the only thing to do is to lock up your firearms. There are 'quick access' gun boxes for pistols that you might look placing in strategic locations around the home or you could just wear a gun around the house in a proper holster but I think attempting to hide them in your situation is just an invitation to disaster.
 
"The fact is, it is impossible to prevent children from accessing unsecured firearms no matter how or where you hide them. Put them some place you think they will never look, and they will look there. Put them someplace you are sure they will never reach, and they will find a way to reach it."

+1

My sister and I were raised with gun safety from the beginning. Imagine the consequences if we had been otherwise.
 
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