Children and Loaded Guns

[Kim]

No Kids. Handgun loaded at all times. One shotgun loaded at all times. Sho gun in BR. Handgun within reach at all times. If I think something is maybe wrong Shotgun within reach at all times also. Other guns is safes unloaded. Except another shotgun and Ruger .22 unloaded with mag and shells nearby. Gotta have the skunk and snake gun handy. I always unload and store guns and ammo seperate if kids in home or visiting. Except at night when things can go bump --loaded handgun within reach of me and not kids.

 

[Sean Dempsey]

I have a one year old boy who is walking now and gets into everything. I fully believe he could DEFINITLEY fire a loaded gun, as well as swallow rounds, nitro solvent, earplugs...

I have a RSC with my ammo and guns in it, always locked, and then right under my bed I have a guvault with a XD, loaded mag, empty chamber.

The ONLY time I have a round in the chamber is when a gun is in my:

-custody
-care
-control

A gun safe does NOT meet this requirements. Unless it's in my hand or in a holster/pocket, its not chambered. If I had to get my gun, it's in the gun vault, and the added half-second of racking the slide is a risk I'm willing to take.

That's me. Maybe someday I'll be found dead with my hand on the keypad of a locked gunvault (but I doubt it).

 

[bumm]

My kids are grown, and I don't anticipate having visiting kids prowling around the house getting into things. However, it's not an impossibility. The only loaded gun in the house is locked in a push-button gun safe. The others are all unloaded and either in a safe or behind a locked door.
Marty

 

[Hazzard]

I keep loaded guns at home. My kids are 18 and 20, and they know how to use 'em. If there's any BG's out there, better pay attention!

 

[skidooman]

im only 21 myself so no kids but as far back as i can remember my dad had a loaded .44 revolver in his night stand, and also all the long guns in the closet were unloaded but readily available, and all the ammo was up, but with some effort i could have gotten to it. would i have?? never!! i would have gotten the piss beat out of me, not only that, i have been shooting since i got my first .22 at i think about 7yo. and knew what they could do, and how they could be dangerous if handled improperly. when my dad was home i could "play" with what ever i wanted, he would just make me show him it was unloaded and i knew how to work the action, and i couldnt point it at anything i wasnt supposed to, as if it were loaded. worked for me.

 

[geekWithA.45]

2 kids, aged 4 & 5, thoroughly gunproofed, with periodic refreshers.

Numerous gunsafes, some are "fast access", some are not.

A handgun is frequently on my person, ready to go. Most of the time, the kids consider it a convenient foothold for climbing on daddy's back.

Guns in the "fast access" safes are at least one step away from ready to fire. Autoloaders have a mag in, but no round in the chamber, and revolvers have an open crane with a speedloader nearby.


And yes, someone hypnotized by the ASK campaign actually asked my wife about it, and my daughter's little friend could not come over to play, despite assurances concerning gunsafes. It's generally regarded as a Good Thing that my wife happened to answer the phone, rather than me.

 

[Shweboner]

My baby girl is almost three. I keep it loaded, and up where she cannot reach it. Although she might try to climb for it, it is not possible and in my small house, I know everything that happens, before she even thinks it.

If she could scale the 10 feet to reach the pistol, she would be physically unable to fire it.

In addition, of everything in the house... she is pretty disinterested in it all together. She sees it all the time, its almost routine. I could leave it out and she probably not even touch it, let alone mess with it. Not willing to test it though, so it stays up high.

 

[aaronrkelly]

I have two children and 32 guns.

Kids are age 18 mnths and 5 years. Guns range from 58 years old to newborns.

Guns are locked up unloaded, ammunition is in my bedroom closet (which is not locked).

Carry guns that are loaded are locked in a pistol safe - currently thats 3 guns. My gun comes off when I sleep and goes into the box. After I get showered/dressed for the day I put the gun back on my person, even if Im around the house.

Its easier to keep track of a gun thats hanging of your hip.....alot easier.

 

[swingset]

My daughter knows we have two loaded guns in the house, but she's VERY safe around guns, has been since she was 6, and shows no interest in them whatsoever.....she knows what they are there for, and has her own guns so there's no "forbidden fruit" stuff going on. We also told her, and made her swear that those guns and their locations are NEVER to be told about to friends, or other kids, or anyone. It's a family secret, so to speak.

Ours are in a bed-safe, and in an instant-open safe along one wall, both loaded and ready to go.

It works for us, but we have a very responsible daughter. Before she was old enough to be trusted, we didn't tell her we had them, or where they were. They are not in a place that's easy to see or get to by young kids.

The rest of the collection is in 2 safes.

 

[distra]

Just_a...., have not been asked, but have asked our daycare provider. Her husband hunts so I knew there were firearms in the house. I spoke with him directly, checked out the setup and approved. Actually, it makes me feel better that he has them and he is home during the day (works 3rd shift) just in case SHTF.

 

[ChopperKen]

Yes, loaded under the pillow in my bed.
Yes, 7 year old girl.
She has been learning about guns since she could walk,Not scared of them.
I let her handle any gun she wants as long as she asks me and we check to see that its unloaded.
She knows the 4 rules,and has seen what guns can do(deer).
If her cousins are over I unload and put it up,They havent been taught like my daughter has.
I believe that if you take the mystery out of guns and teach safety to them
as a child you give them a gift for life.

 

[Glockfan.45]

2 kids, one four year old, and a infant. I keep all my guns in a safe in the bedroom closet (bolted to the floor, and wall studs). The ammo is on a rubbermaid shelf next to the safe. All the guns in the safe are unloaded, except for a shotgun which has 8 rounds in the tube, none in the chamber. I do keep a Glock on the top of the safe with a loaded mag inserted/empty chamber when I am home. When not home all guns go in the safe. At night before bed the Glock goes on the nightstand. I dont worry about the Glock my wife cant rack the slide so I feel safe my 4 y.o cant, plus she would need a step ladder to reach it. I have never had parents ask but if they did I would not feel inclined to tell them. I keep my hobby to mself for the most part. My inlaws hate guns though and are as anti as they come. The last time they were over I showed them my new AR .

 

[Mr White]

2 boys. 12 and 10. A few guns loaded outside the safe.

Both are happy, well adjusted kids and they're probably more responsible and safety conscious with guns than many people here. They shoot competitively and both have been through NRA safety classes.

They both know where the guns are, how to use them and when to use them. They both know exactly what I mean when I tell them "If something really bad happens, you know what to do." There is no confusion about that.

They both know that their friends are never to know where the guns are or even that they exist. They know that there are consequences if I ever find out that they breached this trust. In short, they're good, trustworthy kids and leaving them unable to protect themselves in the direst of circimstances would be a failure on my part.

I don't advocate this approach for all kids. I know my kids and feel that its an acceptable choice. I know this flies in the face of most conventional thought on the matter and that I'll probably get flamed, but you asked for honesty.

 

[ScottsGT]

I've got 4 kids (7 to 15) and 18 guns in the house. I keep them in a locked up cabinet that the kids cannot get into. I trust my kids, sometimes......It's the kids they have over that I worry about. I don't know what kind of gun safety lessons they have had, and I don't want to find out the hard way.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

I grew up with access to loaded guns and my step-daughter grew up with access to loaded guns. Training at the proper age was the key for both of us.

 

[donkee]

I don't keep loaded guns in the house with the kids around, they can load them just as quick as I can if necessary.

 

[Colt]

All but 2 pistols are locked, unloaded, in a floor-standing safe. Mainly to protect them from fire and theft.

2 loaded carry pistols are kept in a quick-opening sport safe, bolted to the top of the big safe. The safe is on my way out of the bedroom.

I have an antique muzzle-loader hanging over the fireplace in the den. I use that as my litmus test for potential neighborhood friends/parents. Most find it interesting, and ask if "I'm into guns." I tell them I am, and then answer any questions they have about safety, how they're stored, etc...

I haven't had any problems so far. No one has refused to let their kids play at our place, or ours at theirs.

I'm sure I'll come across an anti sheep one of these days, and I have my response ready to go:

"If you can't trust me to safely store a gun, why on earth would you trust me with your child?"

 

[XDKingslayer]

I’d like a bit of honesty without the stock reply. How many of you have children in your homes AND loaded guns? Anyone? Or if that’s too much, do any of you have unlocked guns and loaded mags close by?

I know the stock reply and I’m fully aware of the reasons and statistics. However, common sense tells me that a locked gun in the closet with its ammo in a drawer across the room does not equal a home defense weapon.

And if there is anyone who does have children AND loaded guns/mags, what’s your set up?

Yes I have children in my house along with loaded guns. And sometimes, <whisper>I even let them shoot them!</whisper>...

My setup is simple. All of the non-home defense weapons are in the closet in a gun safe. It's not a kabillion dollar safe that's fire proof, but it's enough to keep the kiddies out. My home defense weapon and a spare mag sits in a handgun safe bolted to my nightstand. It takes a finger keyed combination to open it.

 

[Erebus]

No kids but I have friends that drop by unannounced all the time(I welcome it) and they have kids so i don't take chances. If it isn't on me it's in the safe. If I'm in the shower the bathroom door is locked and it's on the vanity. Very squeaky towel rack on the back of the door if someone tries to open it. Dog barks if anyone approaches the house. Never been asked if I have gun as most of my friends are shooters and hunters. Most common question is if I have any NEW guns.

 

[TexasRifleman]

I don't keep loaded guns in the house with the kids around, they can load them just as quick as I can if necessary.

OK, I'm not ashamed to admit that my 11 year old is quicker with his Cx4 Storm on target than I am with my AR from an unloaded and safe condition.

We've had that race enough times at the range to convince me

 

[Big Calhoun]

Well, I don't have children...yet. In another 8 months or so, God willing, that will change. With five firearms in our condo, it has come to mind. My initial thoughts are that everything aside from my CCW will be unloaded, slide open, and cable locked. My CCW will always be with me, so that is less of a concern. Once our home finished, I had planned on getting a large safe anyway. The CCW would still always be within arms reach.

 

[hso]

When the kids are too young to gun-proof you've got to kid-proof your guns.

Since my daughter learned to shoot and fully understand the serious nature of firearms safety I no longer need to kid-proof the guns for her. When her little friends come over the guns are not accessable to anyone, but my wife and I.

Only one parent has asked the "gun question". They were told that we had guns and that they were secured against the kids getting to them and that I had already had a talk with the kids about guns and gun safety and that they could look at anything they wanted to if they just asked. I also offered to teach the little critters to shoot. No parents have freaked out and some of them were delighted I would teach their kids to shoot.

 

[hankdatank1362]

im only 21 myself so no kids

I'm only 22, and am the proud father of a 2 year old boy. Any guns are kept in a safe, except for one loaded DA Dan Wesson .357 revolver (wanted something simple yet effective for the wife in case I'm not home), and one loaded handgun (whatever I'mm CCWing at the time.) I wear mine until I go to bed, and then it's off and in an unlocked pistol case on a shelf about 8 feet up in our closet. The .357 is right underneath it.

Question for all you parents: I think I'll know how to handle if another parent asks me if I keep any guns in the house. But If I ask them the same question, and they say yes, I think I would be really afraid to let my son go over there. It's just the distrusting nature in me. How do y'all deal with it?

 

[TexasRifleman]

But If I ask them the same question, and they say yes, I think I would be really afraid to let my son go over there. It's just the distrusting nature in me. How do y'all deal with it?

Well it's only happend to me once.

In that case I quizzed the kid for a while, see if he'd been taught anything about firearms and safety. Turns out the kid could recite the 4 rules, then went on and on about his last hunting trip, and the hunter safety classes etc.

I was OK with that.

I figure if someone has guns but has NOT taught their kids anything about gun safety then I'm not about to let my son go to that house.

 

[USMC_2674]

I agree with everyone who has stated that they have loaded guns in their house with access to their children. The children have been educated.

Loaded weapons are on my body, unless I'm sleeping and then they are next to the bed (hidden from the bad guy, but reachable without showing my hand / same for the wife).

Everything else is "unloaded" in the safe (loaded magazine in the semi's / pumps / lever actions, no round in chamber... no round in the firing chamber of revolvers and others).

My children are currently 10 (girl), 8 (girl), and in the womb (born in 2 months). The girls have shot all my guns that they can handle recoil on (no 12 ga or .300 weatherby mag) including the full-autos. They like to shoot, hunt, etc. And, I allow the 10 year old to carry her own loaded firearm on hikes, camping trips, etc. Amazingly, she pulls it out and shoots the rabbit / squirrel when appropriate and then tops off the mag and puts it back in the holster.

Semper Fidelis