Child-proofing your home defense arsenal

I asked this same question on here some years ago when I D.C.F. Handed us a 11 year old boy from druggy parents.At first I was overwhelmed as I had always kept loaded guns around (first rule all guns are always loaded) I was used to grabbing the most useful firearm for whatever I was going to do woods,fishing,go to town ride my motorcycle all seemed to need a different firearm.So I locked them up unloaded and picked up a Redhawk 45/45acp as a do all gun.I then started teaching him a about guns especially the first rule and bought him his first gun a 22 crikit that stayed in my safe as
“His rifle “then a fishing rod and I had to teach him to ride a bicycle .He has moved out this year,but I still live with the only gun not locked up is the one on my body and he knows his first gun is still in unkle’s safe for when he wants to teach his kids to shoot.
Buy a good safe and teach children about gun safety and use and fun .

Lock your guns up man. The chance of an “invasion” is minimal and the chance your kid gets curious is much greater. Not to mention your kid’s friends. You can’t hide anything from kids. And even an unloaded gun can get somebody shot by a cop if theyre playing with it in public.

And continue teaching them. Youtube education isn’t going to do them any good.

Offhand McFlan said:

... is a high functioning person diagnosed on the autistic spectrum with ADD...

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Not knowing the fullness of your situation, but well aware of your struggles with the kiddo, I would recommend not attempting to stage weapons in the home. I have two on the spectrum, the oldest (13yo) being moderate-high functioning and ADHD also, and the other being very high functioning so much so we were not aware she (10yo) was on the spectrum and just assumed it was quirks due to living with her brother. Our pistol safe sits in on the counter with only car and house keys in it since we can't trust the oldest to not get into the vehicles and try turning them on. Boy will some robber be disappointed it he gets into that.

We live in the country with 12 acres of our own and surrounded by farmland. Around the home we have about an acre of lawn and garden (and range in the back). The kids have free range of the whole house (even locked doors with "indoor locks" don't keep the older of the two out) and the yard portion of the property. We are very country living where we are at. So our threats are most likely of targeted robbery or home invasion rather than opportunistic. In a city or subdivision and depending on the nature of your surroundings your most common threats might be different.

Instead of staging firearms around the house I simply carry when home, and since I work from home most of the time it works well enough. I'm armed if I answer the door without having to head to the safe or someone is breaking in or just going to the kitchen for toast. The Mrs doesn't carry, but knows where the safe is and how to get into it. And has spent some time on the backyard range to at least make a stand.

There is a numbers game always involved. Most people will never need a firearm. On most days you won't need a firearm. Most time you won't need a rifle. Most of the time you won't need more than a few rounds. Most of the time you won't need extra magazines. You can prepare based on most days or prepare for an antifa mob kicking down your door. Or more reasonably somewhere between. So based on your situation plan for the most common needs rather than a hypothetical antifa mob. If the antifa mob is a likely scenario, don't stage, but get a sling and carry an AR around the house with you.

I agree with this.

You arent hiding anything from kids. If you think you are, you're fooling yourself. You had better lock up guns unless you're directly supervising.

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I knew where everything was before I was old enough my Father trusted me but I knew better than to touch any of them or even let him know I knew. That said a “time out” only existed in sports back then and not me or any of my friends had ever even heard of CPS.

I guess if I lived in a place where I didn’t trust anyone, I’d just stick with my carry gun, I always have on me and keep it in a safe beside me when I fall asleep.

I have a niece and a nephew from different families that I don't trust at all. And while they're not likely to visit, I never know when they just might. My guns stay locked up, other than my carry weapons, which are unsecured only when I may be in my loungewear or asleep, when they are next to me. My gun safe is easy for me to get into quickly, and there are loaded magazines in 5.56 and 7.62 NATO, not in the rifles, and loaded RTG pistols in .45ACP, 9mm, and 10mm. I'm in a rural area of low crime, but was raised in the Detroit area, and will likely always be on the lookout. Plus the Antifa/covid-fueled rioting nonsense has reared it's ugly head not more than 10 miles away.

Use a well made quick access handgun safe that is bolted down to help keep it secure. Keep the long guns in the safe. I keep a chambered shotgun and rifle in the safe if needed. The handgun is primary since it is very quick to access next to my bed.

Lock up guns.

Lock up ammo separately.

Home defense: the handgun you keep on your person at all times you're awake. When you're asleep, in a bedside handgun safe.
Gun safety: everything you're responsible for that is not in your immediate control, locked up.

In my opinion, you way overcomplicate "home defense" with a mixed arsenal of different weapons. The handgun on you is the only solution you need. Don't overthink scenarios or desire different equipment as fetishes. Keep it simple.

I would also advise not to use a security cabinet with a keyed lock unless you keep the key around your neck or in a safe with a combination or biometric lock. You cannot possibly expect to hide the key. See post #25.

Don't think that you need an expensive Liberty or Fort Knox gun safe just to keep kids safe. Those safe's are mostly for pride of ownership, for elegant display, and for protection from some fire and burglary risks. If you end up with a problem teenager who is left at home unsupervised for long enough they can use powertools to open a lesser security cabinet, you might need something more. For pre-adolescent kids that aren't going to use power tools or a 6-foot breaker bar to tear into the cabinet, a locking steel cabinet can be adequate. Stack-On or Secure-It are some examples. Most of the handgun safes have a similar level of security. They won't withstand powerful tool-use or fire, but they are enough to keep children out.

labnoti said:

I would also advise not to use a security cabinet with a keyed lock unless you keep the key around your neck or in a safe with a combination or biometric lock. You cannot possibly expect to hide the key.

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Several years ago a coworker's clinically depressed boyfriend stole the key she tried to keep in her purse at all times, and used her locked up shotgun to commit suicide while she was at work. Yes, protect the key with your life.

I read all the posts here. While all are good, Armored farmer's made the most sense because it cut to the chase. I kept them locked up when the children were in the house. My dad did the same. He would always add that he keeps all guns fully loaded and ready to shoot. He didn't. He also had a rule that I could see any gun at almost anytime if I wanted. When he was home of course. I kept the tradition with my own. As for locking up firearms. Lock em up, but remember your children are smart. They might figure out how you lock them. So plan accordingly.