Kids and guns

[black2002ls]

Well, the time has come. We had a baby in June, so it is time for me to start thinking about safety while having guns around the house. I have a safe for storing. What are you guys using for around the house safety? lock boxes? hot wires? claymores?

[Blackpony]

Only the past couple years have I been keeping guns "accessible" to myself. Prior to that they were all kept unloaded and locked away. I keep my pistol in my nightstand next to my bed at night, but grab it on the way out every morning. The biggest thing I have done is to constantly remind my daughter about the danger guns can be if not treated with respect. She is 8 and sorta hit and miss about her interest in them. She loves to help me clean them after a shoot and load the mags. But imo education is the most important thing.

[LANTIRN]

All guns except two locked in the safe. The two handguns (mine and my wife's) are either on us, or on top of the bookshelf or closet in the master bedroom. My son is 4. He wasn't able to get to things on the top shelf until 2 or 3. I never hid the guns away like some do. He would see m come in from hunting or shooting and clean guns. He always wanted to see what daddy was doing so from the first time he showed interest we cleaned guns together and talked about them. When he was a bit older he would clean his toy cap guns while I cleaned mine. I always discussed gun safety during these times, and made sure to show him every gun in the safe.

My theory is that kids are curious about hidden or mysteriously banned items and want to touch them. These kids find daddy's secret gun and accidents happen. By making them accessable under my supervision and making them a regular every day item, I have taken the mystery out of them. I took him shooting his first time when he was 4 with the suppressed .22. He enjoyed it and has even helped me reload ammo a few times. I talk about gun safety any time guns are present, and when they arent. We have gun safety quizzes in the car on occasion.

I don't leave loaded shotguns and ARs laying in his bedroom or by the tv, but I put unloaded guns in the entryway gettng ready for a hunt and observed his reaction, which was none since that is a routine thing for him now. He is a smart and pretty responsible kid, but I also put the hammer down when it comes to discipline and behavior. I thinka combination of that and the approach of guns aren't mysterious is a a good one. He seems to regard my guns with the same interest as my tools, clothes, or books.

I don't know that mine is the best approach, but I felt the need to do something other than hide them and hope he doesn't find them, plus I want him to share my hobby.

[KBScobravert]

All mine are locked up except a daily carry gun and a bedside gun.

Daily carry gets put up on the bar counter where my 4yr can't reach. However, the wife told me she has been hoisting herself up on the counter and putting things in the mircrowave above the stove. A story for another day. When I get home, I may have to shift my plans a little.

My bedside is in a drawer that is way too tall for her. Hell it's even above my wife's head.

I have thought about those mirrors and pictures that insert into the wall and use a magnetic key to slide open revealing ample long gun or pistol storage.

Well, the time has come. We had a baby in June, so it is time for me to start thinking about safety while having guns around the house. I have a safe for storing. What are you guys using for around the house safety? lock boxes? hot wires? claymores?

But to answer your OP, you have a few years to have to really worry. Kid won't be able to even reach on top of counters until 2-3. Put your daily up high, higher than they can reach or climb.

My daughter started early walking. Climbing and problem solving came real soon after that. Every kid is different. But when they start problem solving, such as, using what is available to them to get what they want, that is when you have to really be ahead of them. My daughter started by dragging her bathroom potty stool into the kitchen and climbing up to reach in the drawers (that had locks - she defeated them instantly). Or she would use her stick horse, turn it around and flip on and off lights and fans in the house. Every week she learns more and gets into more and more stuff if left alone. Congrats on the kiddo, they are life changers for the better....most of the time.

[KBScobravert]

I've tested my daughter several times and will continue to do so. There have been plenty of instances where I have had unloaded ARs or other guns I was working on/cleaning/etc laying out. Even with my daily carry gun I will ask her "what is that?" and point to them. She will tell me real quick "Daddy's gun". And if I ask her if she can touch them she will always say no. When I think she is old enough in a few years, she will get the talk (about guns) from me.

Hell, I built her a 100% poly .22lr AR SBR for her to learn on. But could be a few years before we let her shoot or handle. But you can bet your ass that she will learn and be proficient well beyond her peers.

[Mach1Run]

Education and exposure. Everything but my ccw and a single rifle stay locked up. Rifle and ccw go on top shelf in my closet. I made a point to remove the mystery factor for both my kids by teach safety and handling as soon as I felt they could handle it. And I make a point to schedule a trip to the pit to shoot whenever my oldest (12) gets the itch to shoot so he has no reason to monkey with anything secretly. My daughter (5) will start this year I think since she's showing interest.

[Gtracer]

Man, my son turns 3 in September and he already turns everything into a gun, Legos, cars, gift cards, the number 7...the straws. He hides around the door and swings out, aims, makes some noise and pivots back around the corner.

I am saving my vacay for the parent teacher conferences now


I have a gun safe, he knows what they are but I always tell him not to touch because they will hurt him. Can't wait to buy him a cricket though.

[ceyko]

This is all personal preference stuff for sure. I know for a fact my kids will run to an adult yelling "Danger" if they find a gun in the open that they do not know about.

Here is what I do. I have a couple of these in specific spots....

http://www.costco.com/VelocityVault-by-Cannon-Handgun-Safe-.product.100140526.html

...that works well and is about as quick as you're going to get. No, it's not like just having the gun in the open but *I* prefer to keep my loaded guns locked up. Only because there are no 2nd chances with guns and kids. They are smart, safe and exposed to guns a fair amount. HOWEVER, they are kids and kids do stupid things. Additionally, other people's kids are in my house a lot and I have no idea what they have or have not been taught.

Now I do keep unloaded guns in the open. Magazines and shells (shotgun) are hidden out of reach. These are typically guns that will kill coyotes and snakes though. I've had zero problems with this approach so far. I've had one parent get a little concerned that I had a black rifle out in the kitchen in plain sight, but she eased up after explaining no ammo in it...etc. Ultimately, guests can screw themselves if they don't like it - but I can understand a little explanation helping ease their mind. (In this case, it's an AR looking rifle - but a 22)

Some folks leave all guns/ammo out and some lock everything up. Teaching them gun safety, teaching to shoot and get hands on the guns goes a LOOOONG way in helping. I just prefer my way, but to each their own. Kids used to have a lot of access to guns and most make it just fine.

[black2002ls]

Thanks for the input. When he is old enough, education will most definitely happen. The only run that ever stays outside of the safe is my daily carry. My main concern is at bedtime. I leave it on the nightstand. Which is about as tall as our bed. I guess my other option, without a bedside lock box, when the time comes is the top of the dresser, which is on the way to the bedroom door.

[ceyko]

Thanks for the input. When he is old enough, education will most definitely happen. The only run that ever stays outside of the safe is my daily carry. My main concern is at bedtime. I leave it on the nightstand. Which is about as tall as our bed. I guess my other option, without a bedside lock box, when the time comes is the top of the dresser, which is on the way to the bedroom door.

Recommend picking a permanent solution, the years fly by with these dang kids and they are climbing monkeys too.

[inline 6]

Some of mine have been out and accessible since my boy was a baby. Not making it taboo but explaining the danger has worked so far. He seems to not care at all and pays them no attention as I don't make it a "forbidden" thing to him.

[Sgt Beavis]

I went with LockSAF for a quick access safe. I was concerned with stories of kids finding ways to break into these safes. LockSAF was compared to multiple quick access safes at DEFCON and was the only one found to be difficult to crack. My son is Autisic, so I feel I need to be extra careful.

http://www.locksaf.com/biometric-safe-manufacturer/

[KBScobravert]

Recommend picking a permanent solution, the years fly by with these dang kids and they are climbing monkeys too.

Mine, not even 4 yet, climbed up on the counter, stood up and got into the cabinet above the microwave and pulled out a box of candy. My wife can barely reach up there without a step stool.

As you can read above, I am an advocate for familiarization, safety and training. We keep our dogs kenneled in my gun room and my wife uses the same room to exercise in alot too. So our daughter is in there non stop. She sees what I work on and thus far has kept to the rules of not touching "guns". She is very comfortable in there. Hell, she even climbs on top of my ammo can stack and sits to watch her mom get her workout on.

[LANTIRN]

Also, if you instill a fear of heights into them at an early age they don't climb on shit. Did that by accident with my son, but wouldn't call you a bad parent for doing it on purpose.

[juiceweezl]

Like everyone else here has stated, I'll echo that education is key. My kids know what firearms are, have some of their own (locked away in safe), and enjoy shooting. The oldest just turned 13 and the youngest is 8. They know that if they see one out, they can ask me and I will allow them to handle it, cycle it, etc. They know basic safety, and they know not to touch one unless I'm there beside them. That being said, I keep pretty much everything in the safe save for a shotgun that is locked in the gun cabinet in my room and a pistol in the nightstand. It's in a hidden compartment as my nightstand is something like this. I didn't know it had the compartment when we bought it years ago and only discovered it carrying it into the house when it slid open. The boys have no clue there is a compartment there as you can't see it looking at it. It also doesn't just slide open without a little effort, so it's perfect for keeping a handgun accessible.