Keeping weapons locked up

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

dmazur

Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2007
Messages
2,263
Location
Pacific NW
A few years ago, I had a relative visit who asked me to make sure my guns were locked up during her visit, out of concern for her children's safety.

I have appropriate safes, so this wasn't hard to do. Just a slight change in routine for the CCW pistol...

I have heard that some states have legal requirements on keeping weapons secure from children.

As I don't have any children, I'm trying to understand how the safety vs. access question would be resolved in homes with children. Does everyone have a quick-access gun safe?
 
I really like pax's idea: keep it loaded and on your hip (or elsewhere on your person). Not only does this keep the firearm under responsible control at all times, it also allows ready access in the unlikely event that it is needed.

Before someone spouts off to say that wearing a gun around the house is simply ridiculous and silly, keep this in mind: with the utterly vast majority of houses in the USA, the elapsed time from the moment the first noise is heard at the front or back door to the time the intruder is standing in your living room is about two seconds. How fast can you open your gun safe?
 
I don't have any children either, but mine and the wife's are either under our direct control or locked up. The exception being asleep at night where we each have ours in the respective nightstands. And yes I wear my rig arounde the house. It's just that easy to wear that I'm used to it.
 
During the day when I'm home I'll have it on my person, but at night it's in a Gun Vault quick access safe. The HD shotty is in the closet with a Life Jacket on it. I have 2yr running around so things are locked up unless on me or my wife. CT has "proper" storage laws that basically state you have to have it unavailable to minors under 16. When my son gets older he will know how to properly handle a firearm and when to use it. I'd rather fight the "storage law" in the event someone breaks-in and my under 16yr son defends himself than for things to go like they did in Chesire CT this past summer.
 
MA. has storage laws like DC - no loaded/unlocked unless under "direct control."

I just wear my pistol all the time. It isn't a bother. It's like putting your boots on after waking up. If I go outside for an errand , a ride , whatever - then I already have my boots on. ... and a pistol.
 
FWIW . . .I've been considering the "Bio" Gunvault and was playing with one recently. It seems to be the best approach beyond having it in a holster on your person. It does take about 2 seconds to get access to your gun though. (Put finger on reader, press button, wait .8 seconds for door to pop.

Have a good one,
Dave
 
dmazur
A few years ago, I had a relative visit who asked me to make sure my guns were locked up during her visit, out of concern for her children's safety.
Click to expand...

nothing wrong with that, so far as the gun safe is concerned. As for my defense weapon, no. If she can't live with that, she can leave the kids at her house.
 
I used to have guns sitting in corners, in drawers, on table tops, etc. My children are grown and are responsible enough and knowledgeable enough when it comes to guns. My daughter (25 then) moved in with us while going through a divorce. No problem. She does not have kids. Ok! I came home from work one day and there were two boys, about 8 and 10, running around the house. Whoa there! Where did they come from? Well, my daughter had a friend who has kids and were visiting. This opened my eyes. I had to do things different after that. Just because you don't have young children, that does not mean that they could not show up. I know some of you will indicate that I should not have to give up my routine and it's my house and I should set the rules, etc. True! BUT I would rather be safe than sorry. Routines can change with little to no effect. Small price to pay!
 
Except for what is on my person, all others are locked securely in vaults.
 
One gun is usually unlocked when I'm home, usually on my person during the day. At night, and when it isn't on my person it sits on the pistol safe near the bed. When I'm not home or when I have guests, unattended guns are locked.
 
If I am having company over, or am away from the house, all my guns are locked in the safes. Well, other than the one I have on my person. I would be insulted that anyone would find it necessarry to tell me to do so.
str1
 
I have 3 fire arms not "locked up" 1 my carry, it's on my hip until I go shower, then the alarm is armed and it's locked up in the gun safe and my bedside safe is 2.5 sec. from open. 2 cheap hi point you have to know where it is and be 6 ft tall to get it (my wife can't even reach it), and 3 her Bersa with 3 mags, it's loaded and within her reach but it's going to have to be moved, the grand children are getting close to being able to reach it.

As far as I'm concerned, it's my house and I'm not locking up all my guns for anyone. If you don't like my rules then stay the you know what home.

With my carry I also carry 2 extra mags fully loaded. (no I'm not a mall ninja, I just believe in being prepared).
 
Thanks for the responses. I do keep everything locked up except what I'm carrying. Next time they visit, they can just live with the concept of CCW or stay home. (I like that ...)
 
I have all but one of my guns locked up in a gun safe. The only one that is not locked up is my S&W Model 10 .38 special (loaded with Corbon 125 gr. +P). That particular gun is in our bedroom in an accessible area of our closet if we need to get to it. If we do have friends or family that come to our house and they do have children, ALL children AND their parents are instructed that children are not allowed in our bedroom under any circumstances. Not only because of the gun in the closet, but I feel that our bedroom is a private area and no one should be in there for any reason. I abide by the rules of anyones house I go into, so I expect the same from anyone else when it comes to my home.

For someone to ask me to make sure all my guns are locked up is rude. That would make me feel as that person believes I cannot be trusted and that I am irresponsible.That would be as rude as me saying "If you come to my home control your kid."
 
I guess I do not understand you just let people bring their kids over and let them run around your house? If you ware watching the kids during the visit I do not see a problem. At least in that instance.

In my house the only gun that is not locked up is min but I do lock the door to my room, our other guns are however locked in security safes.
 
All but one of mine are locked in the safe, and I keep the key with me at all times. The only one that isn't is the .38Spl that's hidden in the clock next to my bed. Then again, I can't remember the last time I had little kids in my house, so I'm not too worried about it.
 
Guns are put away and locked up unloaded. They are treated with respect in my house. Shotgun in the bedroom has an empy pipe and located in a not so very obvious location. 45 in the garage, same thing.
 
I keep my guns in a regular RSC, that stays unlocked* when I am
home. Also, I have a three year old grand-daughter that lives with me; and
she has been properly trained to not touch firearms. If she wants to look at
one (and believe me, all kids do~!); I make the weapon safe, and let her
do a close-up inspection and then return it to the safe~! ;) :cool:

*FootNote: Unless I'm away for a few moments; like in the backyard feeding
or watering my land sharks~!
 
Last edited:
If she wants to look at
one (and believe me, all kids do~!); I make the weapon safe, and let her
do a close-up inspection and then return it to the safe~!

Good for you! That's the proper way to handle kids around guns!! A least it worked for me.
str1
 
Teaching them sounds fine, but in practice, they will dig out your guns when you aren't looking or when they have friends in the house. Be forewarned. Restrict access as best you can. It never ceases to amaze me the little things our 5 year old grandson (or worse the 9 year old) digs up and shows me.... forgot I had that...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
Parents naive about children's access to guns in the house
Replies
19
Views
876
Shootcraps
S
D
  • Locked
(CA) Keep kids safe near firearms
Replies
10
Views
602
CB900F
C
D
  • Locked
(IN) Precautions can keep guns away from kids
Replies
7
Views
630
Otherguy Overby
O
D
  • Locked
Focus on home gun safety
Replies
1
Views
548
JPM70535
J
J
  • Locked
Safe and accessible gun storage around home
Replies
12
Views
715
RetiredUSNChief
RetiredUSNChief
Back
Top