Thanks, Meplat. I see what you are saying now. Good point. Most folks here would agree with you, I think.
Leatherneck, don't you think that you might be slightly overstating your position? Many of us grew up in households where guns were on the walls, over fireplaces, or in wooden furniture gun cabinets, which may or may not have been locked, and even if locked, would not present much of a challenge to a determined thief. We never used to call people who stored like that irresponsible gun owners. Folks who steel are where our anger should be rightly directed, rather than at each other. I have three gun safes, but I must admit that at any given time, quite a few of my guns are leaning against walls. I have a dog that inspires fear in your average punk, and I have a lock on all my doors, so I feel that they are well secured, at least well enough for me. Now, if I go on vacation, or even spend a weekend away, with the dog in the kennel or with me, then I cram them all in the safes, no question about it. I just think your position is over stated, and was wondering if you were sure you didn't want to tone it down a bit, maybe not be so universal in your condemnations of so many people who, just a few decades ago, were considered upstanding and responsible gun owners. Just maybe you have been influenced a bit too much by the gun banners who are eager to move us ever so gradually, step by step, incrementally, towards lock-up-your-guns laws, like they have in the UK. The first step in their plan is to create the general impression, even among gun people, that unless all your guns are locked up, you are an irresponsible gun owner. So maybe we shouldn't be helping them out with such blanket statements as you've made. Yes, it's a darn good idea to have gun safes, and to lock your guns, and other valuables in there when you can't supervise them, but lets keep in perspective that this is primarily for the security of our valuables, guns included, and only secondarily for other reasons. Thieves are the ones at fault when they steal guns from people's houses and bad things follow. I think we should keep that fact clear in our minds in any discussion of securing our firearms. Just my opinion.