How would you handle this?

[Wanderer]

I'm concerned for some reason you might get called away from the computer (to take a crap or something) and leave the gun unattended and little brother goes to play a game.

Oh no, I keep it with me wherever I go in the house whenever my parents aren't home. As for questionable characters, there really aren't that many kids his age around. When he has people over, they basically play in the basement, and my parents are home. I feel I haven't fully explained part of this situation.

The guns that are not locked up are hidden, their magazines out, and ammo stored seperately. For my brother to access and use one of the guns, he would have to get a magazine, load it with the proper ammo, insert it in the firearm correctly, pull the bolt, take the safety off, then pull the trigger. As for the HD shotgun, he would have to press the little doodad in front of the triggerguard while pumping it. My parents carry pieces are on them or within reach, in fanny packs, during the day. He wouldn't get to them. For my brother to find and use my revolver, he would need to find and unholster it, then find a way to pull a 12 or so pound trigger. We are currently looking for safes anyway.

I'm not trying to justify keeping the guns out, but we have done as much as we can without safes or locks.

I think my actions were justifiable Quartus, because if there was a real emergency, I wouldn't have the time to run upstairs. I'm not real fast. Same reason why people carry, you never know when you might need it, and it's usually the time you don't have it that you do need it.

 

[Intune]

I'm not trying to justify keeping the guns out, but we have done as much as we can without safes or locks.

Yes, you are trying to justify. You have a brother who flies into "fits of rage" and who, apparently, your family does not trust. Do you pick your weapon up each & every time you go to answer the phone, get a glass of water, grab a snack, etc? Have you NEVER forgotten to? COULD you? Is there a tiny chance you may some day? Let me ask you this, would it be safer to have a trigger lock on the loaded weapons and a key on a chain around your neck? Yes, someone may rappel from the roof and crash through the window next to you and get the drop on ya but most entries and situations short of this probably would allow you time to unlock your weapon, yes?
He WILL find the ammo, he WILL figure out the matching firearm, he WILL fumble & find the shotties bolt release and he WILL find a way to actuate a 12+lb trigger pull. Do you know what the favorite method is for kids to pull a heavy trigger if two fingers won't do it? Two thumbs with the weapon pointed right at their chest or face.
Please, please, PLEASE get your parents to get some trigger locks. I think they can be had for free by some organizations. If you make it almost impossible (almost) for him to discharge a weapon it will be almost impossible for an accident to occur by HIS hands. I'm not raggin' you, I'm trying to help you and your loved ones. Once again, please.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

It took me most of the day to calm down after reading the
FLAMES from Blues Bear's post; as I was merely
trying to help the situation, and I offered to share what
I had learned from previous experience. But,
when all is said and done, the right time and at the right
place I feel that this issue can be resolved. Gun safes
are a big help, in a situation like this; but proper training
supercedes all else, bar none! To be honest, I think
the ages of 7 to 9 are perfect for teaching children the
10 commandments of firearms safety. Hope you all have
a wonderful and safe day!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Wanderer]

We are working on it right now, and both I and my stepdad are looking for safes online. Does anyone know a large safe that would have the buttons instead of the dial? That would be accessable fast, if neccessary. one of the reasons I keep the gun next to me, hidden, is because my computer is right next to a pair of two sliding glass doors that lead to our deck. If someone were to try to break in, this would be the place they'd try to get to first.

REPEAT: WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING A SAFE

 

[TheLastBoyScout]

Well, there it is, my young friend. Absent a real and PRESENT emergency, that was a no-no. An apology is in order.

I disagree. If the situation at home from a self protection standpoint made it a good idea for me to have a ready weapon in arms reach at all times, and my "normal" weapon was not available, I would definitely make sure another WAS.

If mom decided to take the Glock, then I would not have gone on blind faith that the .357 was where it should have been.

If the situation demands that I be armed, then I will be armed.



HOWEVER, the situation with the unlocked weapons and the rage prone, untrained 9 year old is a time bomb.

 

[Intune]

I use Gun Vault for the small button type hangun safes. I know you guys are trying and that I for one may seem harsh. I don't mean to come across that way and it is from concern not superiority. SCREW a SAFE! We're not worried about your brother stealing the guns & selling them... Yet. Get some darn trigger locks. Everyone will be safe(er) I swear there are places that give them out free. If not, they are cheap. Please realise that I don't react like this to every household with an unsecured loaded weapon. Your situation has alarm bells ringing though. Please buy just one tomorrow and see how fast you can pop that sucker off. I don't know what else to say.

 

[BogBabe]

Wanderer, I'm a little confused about exactly what the situation is at your house.

You wrote:

The guns that are not locked up are hidden, their magazines out, and ammo stored seperately.

But you also wrote:

She usually leaves me her Glock in her fanny pack,

and

I remember my mom telling me that she keeps my 686 in her room, hot, in a holster, just in case I need to use it sometime.

and

They keep all of the guns, except their carry guns, the HD shotgun (no round chambered, would need to be pumped, and safety taken off) and my Smith loaded.

I won't comment on the contradictions in what you've stated, but it sounds to me like there are loaded guns lying all over your house. A loaded revolver in the closet. A shotgun with shells in the tube leaning up behind a door. A Glock in a fanny pack. And your parents somehow think your 9-year-old brother doesn't know about them and won't find them?

Do you remember when you were 9? I remember 9. I knew where my dad kept his revolver hidden. And the .22 rifle. I knew about a lot of things they probably thought a 9-year-old wouldn't find.

Nine-year-olds are incredibly inquisitive and inventive. I remember dragging chairs around to go exploring in closets. If a chair isn't handy, a stool will do. Or perhaps just a broomstick to poke at stuff and make it fall off the shelves.

Christmas isn't soon enough. You need a gun safe and/or trigger locks now. Give yourselves an early Christmas present, and keep your whole family safe.

 

[Hemicuda]

By the time I was 9, I had a key to my dads gun closet, on a chain, around my neck...

the same as most kids carried house keys (my house was NEVER locked... so the only key I ever needed was to that one, ever so cool closet...

Dads only problem was me taking one and heading the 2 blocks to the indoor range... (and using the key that hung in the closet) to shoot one...

they even had a "super duty" backdrop, where we could shoot the BIG guns...

at 11 years old, Dad cought me W/ his pre-64 Winchester 300 H&H Mag down at the range... his only comment was "shooting that thing prone will leave one helluva bruise"... (dad was right!)

 

[jwmoore]

Does anyone know a large safe that would have the buttons instead of the dial?

http://www.handgunsafe.com

~W

 

[BluesBear]

Does anyone know a large safe that would have the buttons instead of the dial?

Do you mean a small 2 handgun safe like this?


Or a Full Size safe like this?



I just happened to be looking at the GunBox yesterday. I found the push buttons (and knob) to be cheap & gritty feeling.

 

[Mornard]

I'd just like to add one thing from my perspective. All three of my children were experienced gun handlers by the time they were nine. They started at 5 or 6, depending on the child.

The point of this is that they have never "played" with guns - as they knew what they were and had no curiosity about them.