Kids and firearms

[kmg70]

Hello,
I was curious as to how to ensure the safety of your kid(s) at home when it comes to firearms. Obviously common sense and responsibility are important, but for those of you that are required to carry a firearm, I'm assuming you lock them up somewhere inside the home, or would it be better to leave them locked up in your vehicle and never bring them inside?

We've all heard horror stories about kids and their curiosity with guns and the danger involved. I have a 3 year old son at home, and if I'm fortunate enough to land a career in law enforcement, I just want to do what I can to prevent any accidents from happening. Thanks for your input.

[Signal9TN]

The NRA has some great info on this.

My kids are 9, 12, 16 and they all shoot.

I have a gun safe that i keep all my pistols in and my long guns have trigger locks. I keep my duty Sig and backup loaded in the safe, my 16 yr old knows the combo in case she needs them to defend herself and her bothers if a badguy breaks in.

[gaboy]

I've got 2 small boys 5 and 2. I think that the most important thing that you can do is educate them at an early age. When my oldest son first asked about my gun and if he could see it, I explained to him gun safety and then unloaded it and let him hold it. He held it for about 2 minutes and handed it back to me. About 2 weeks later he asked if he could hold it again. I did the same thing and his curiosity was satisisfied. He has never asked to see it again. This took place about a year ago. Treat your firearms with the respect with which they deserve but don't treat them like forbidden fruit or else your kids will be drawn to them.

Also no matter how good you think you've educated your kids, always keep your guns and children a safe distance apart. A safe distance will be different depending on your kids. Some may require a safe or locked cabinet, while others might just be up in a high closet shelf. If you are not sure, go with the a locking device. Your child will amaze you with their ability to build makeshift ladders and bridges.

[DelC]

As far as the education part goes, I believe just letting them hold a gun, even an unloaded one, is a bad idea. They may get the idea its ok to handle it when the parent is not around, as the parent let them handle it before. I firmly believe, before they can fully understand the danger involved, they need to fire the weapon and see first hand the destructive force it has.

I’ve never had a problem with my own children; it was their teenage friend that stole my backup weapon.

A gun safe is the only way to go.