When I was a kid my dad had his guns locked up in a gun safe - and it didn't take long for me to figure out that the little funny shaped key on his key chain opened it.
On the other hand..
My grandfather never locked up his guns. I knew exactly where they where and where the ammo was kept.
I knew that I could look at them any time I wanted as long as I asked and was supervised. I also knew that a horrific spanking awaited me if I touched them without permission. I never touched them without permission.
I'm curious, do you also lock up all the car keys when they aren't in the pocket of an adult? If not, why not?
To both of you -- loaded firearm, deliberately cocked and prepared to fire, left in the reach of an unattended pre-schooler and toddler.
THAT seems equivalent to "locked in a safe but I knew where the key was..." and "knew where the guns and ammo were kept..." etc?
A kid old enough, and strong enough, and willful enough to go locate a gun that has been stored away, locate the ammo, figure out how to load it, and cock it, and then fire and shoot someone is a far cry from two kids, just (or not even) out of diapers being left with a gun one brief tug from firing.
I really can't beleive any responsible gun owner would look at this and throw up their hands like, "Oh, there's nothing that could have been done!" Yes there was, and you damned well know it.
I, and everyone I knew as a kid, had access to the car keys, knives and guns and nothing bad ever came of it.
Yeah? That's how I grew up as well, and I knew of two childhood fatalities from kids either finding and "playing with" guns or from otherwise poor gun-handling by kids. One boy in my elementary school shot his brother to death with their Dad's shotgun they thought was unloaded.
It DOES happen and it CAN be so easily avoided. We need to stop acting like we can't learn anything from others' mistakes.