Kids in the house & firearms

[Kodiak]

Ok all.

I know a lot of PAFOAers have kids so this is primarily for you but I dont mind if anyone chimes in.

My daughters is 8 months old and more then likely will grow up before I finish this post...it just seems to happen that fast.

I do have long-guns locked away in one of those keyed "stackon" gun cabs.

And I do have a few handguns bedside in a gun-vault...one of the finger code deals.

I know the "stackon" cabs are not the best but they will do until I move and get a real gun-safe sometime later this year. I know a keyed anything is a bad idea because of the key...but its better then nothing IMO.

Aside from teaching her about them when she is old enough...what precautions have you all taken in addition to just locking them away...trigger locks....ammo in locked cans etc.

Thanks in advance!

[jshwak]

Ok all.

I know a lot of PAFOAers have kids so this is primarily for you but I dont mind if anyone chimes in.

My daughters is 8 months old and more then likely will grow up before I finish this post...it just seems to happen that fast.

I do have long-guns locked away in one of those keyed "stackon" gun cabs.

And I do have a few handguns bedside in a gun-vault...one of the finger code deals.

I know the "stackon" cabs are not the best but they will do until I move and get a real gun-safe sometime later this year. I know a keyed anything is a bad idea because of the key...but its better then nothing IMO.

Aside from teaching her about them when she is old enough...what precautions have you all taken in addition to just locking them away...trigger locks....ammo in locked cans etc.

Thanks in advance!

Most of my guns are locked up in a safe. I do have two guns that are in the house for Home-Defense purposes. The one is downstairs up on a cupboard that is so high my wife can't even reach it, and the second one is on top of my upstairs office desk. I have the magazine inserted but a round is not chambered. They are also secured in a holster as well. Trigger locks make me nervous, I'm always afraid I wouldn't have time to get it unlocked, etc...

my daughter is 2.4 years, and my son is 1 year old.. so it's definitely something that is constantly on my mind..

[kimbershooter]

I dont have any kids but I know that I learned at a very young age that I was to respect firearms and they were not toys. Can remember plinking cans in the back yard with dad, the first time he let me shoot a 12 gauge, that was a learning experience. My nephew shot his first gun at the age of 3. Think a proper firearms education is the best way to keep kids safe around firearms.

Now not saying you need to take your 8 month old out shooting, but when you feel she is old enough to understand what you would teaching her I would begin introducing firearms to her. For now I would keep them locked up as well as you can, keep the ammo locked up separately. Any firearm you wish to keep out for home defense I would try to keep as high up as you can, this will only work till she gets to the climbing stage. Amazing what kids are capable of getting into.

Just my opinions and the things I thought about since I do watch my nephew from time to time.

[ddefazio]

I have my pistol in my night stand ready to go and the rest of my guns are in a safe. I carry my one gun on me all of the time. I have a three year old and a one year old. Ever since they were born I had them around me while I would clean my firearms after range trips. I have bought them toy guns that we use soley for going over gun safety. My three year old son is already getting it. Supervision is still the best form of safety in my opinion.

When I grew up my dad had guns around and we all knew where they were and we all knew not to mess with them unless dad was there to instruct. I also do not put plug protectors and baby gates up in my house. I have a thread on the forum where my three year old son teaches the guy behind the gun counter at my local dealer about gun safety.

[donm]

Most of my guns are locked up in a safe. I do have two guns that are in the house for Home-Defense purposes. The one is downstairs up on a cupboard that is so high my wife can't even reach it, and the second one is on top of my upstairs office desk. I have the magazine inserted but a round is not chambered. They are also secured in a holster as well. Trigger locks make me nervous, I'm always afraid I wouldn't have time to get it unlocked, etc...

I agree that trigger locks are a bad idea for a HD gun. I also think that relying on it being up high and without a round in the chamber isn't adequate. It's been a while since my kids were young but I recall that they were accomplished climbers and very creative about getting to something they wanted. Two kids together can be downright ingenious. When we have grandchildren around the place (none in sight at the moment) I'll probably go with a gun vault as the OP has done.

[ErSwnn]

First thing by all means is educate her. If the curiosity is removed a child has no reason to wonder. Your a ways off from that but she'll be growing up seeing firearms so the object will be familar to her soon, if not already. Myself, I see no reason to attempt to shield her from them like their porn or sex toys. I've know a few owners who kept the gun secret from the kids. That seems a bit contradictorial. Just teach them and get it over with. Nothing beats a nice .22 and some range time with the kids.

I don't keep mine locked up to keep my kids away from them, though that is a part of the consideration. I do it mainly to keep their friends away from my guns as well as the random thief who might find it's way into my house (good luck with that bub). I have no idea what their friends know about guns nor a clear picture of their character and equally I feel a responsibility towards any other children in my home and do what I would expect other parents to do. Lock up the dangerous stuff kids like to get into. I have two safes. One for guns, one for ammo and accessories. My go-to house handgun is in that safe also, my primary housegun is a nicely concealed shotgun.

Just use common sense. Their not toys but they aren't evil, just like a kitchen knife or electrical outlet. My kids see my guns like they see my tools, just another thing Dad has and something he prefers they ask for rather than just go mess with. Prefer=ask first. Or else. With a safe it becomes easy to not worry.

If budget is a problem start looking around for old ATM safes. They are a lot thicker than Stack-Ons with better locks. Though not fireproof they aren't going to be opened with a good swing from a hammer. I can be in your Stack-On in less than a minute. It'll keep the kids out but a mildly determined interloper won't be slowed much at all. One of mine I got for free (bartered my service) and the other was $35. Bought another one for a kid I got into the shooting sports for $50. Unfortunately the fellow I got them from switched employers and no longer gets his hands on them.

[pahuntnfool]

Both of my kids are grown now. My son is 21 has his LTCF and carrys and is a hunter as well. My daughter hunts with me as well. When they were growing up I had an old wooden gun cabinet that was kept locked with key out of reach. But I was always hunting and cleaning my guns around them and teaching them all the safety rules. They both started shooting at age 5 just like I did. They were taught how to properly handle a firearm and safety rules. They knew they were not toys. The new fire safes are great we just bought one for the son and future daughter n law for a wedding gift. Unfortunatelly i have seen way too many trigger locks and the cable locks for actions break or fail. The hardest part i have noticed teaching new shooters especially younger ones. With long guns they tend to swing their body where they look hence sweeping the gun and muzzle where it shouldn't point. Yes before you know it they are in college. Good luck and be safe

[spacemanvic]

Our long arms are locked up. The pistols are kept high up, and only one of them has a magazine that is loaded and that magazine is kept in another location.

Ive gone through gun safety with my 11, 9, twin 6 and 4 year olds, more than once. When the weather clears, we will go through a safety check again. I use a BB-gun with the little ones, the older ones use the 11yo's 22 pistol when going through gun safety.

When dealing with little children, you cant go wrong with vigilance and repetition.

[Metz]

All the guns are in safes. Unless they are on me. At this point (my daughter just turned 3) I'm planning to get a pack of Eddie Eagle stickers and start educating her. Not sure if it's too early for her, so I totally appreciate input of other dads and moms, who already did this. Another problem is - she's girly girl and it appears that she might have little or no interest in guns. And she never asked me about the one that is on me all the time... kinda upsetting

[normanvin]

Ok all.

I know a lot of PAFOAers have kids so this is primarily for you but I dont mind if anyone chimes in.

My daughters is 8 months old and more then likely will grow up before I finish this post...it just seems to happen that fast.

I do have long-guns locked away in one of those keyed "stackon" gun cabs.

And I do have a few handguns bedside in a gun-vault...one of the finger code deals.

I know the "stackon" cabs are not the best but they will do until I move and get a real gun-safe sometime later this year. I know a keyed anything is a bad idea because of the key...but its better then nothing IMO.

Aside from teaching her about them when she is old enough...what precautions have you all taken in addition to just locking them away...trigger locks....ammo in locked cans etc.

Thanks in advance!

I think you more or less have it covered. Teach them about the guns and how to shoot them. It will lessen the curiosity that kids always has. You already have them locked away with plans to upgrade to a safe.

My greatest concern was never what my kids would do but rather what the kids friends might do when invited over.