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Keeping a Gun at Home for Protection - Concerned about Children?

7.2K views 53 replies 42 participants last post by  docnsx01  
#1 ·
I am teaching a young woman on guns, CCW and self protection. She is 30 years old and has two children at home (ages 5 & 8). She has a gun but now want to be in a position to use it personal protection. Obviously a gun for home protection has to be accessible. What are the better options out there - Biometric? Keypad?. I would think that the the gun should be fully loaded (loaded mag & one in chamber) when in this type safe. I have not thought about this for years as my kids are older.

Any advice appreciated.
 
#2 ·
It definitely needs to be locked in a place the kids (or their friends) can’t access. Personally I like the simplex-style locks because there’s no reliance on power and they’re easy to open quickly:

There are plenty of digital and biometric locks available, too - this is just my preference.

Personally, I don’t store my HD with a round loaded in the chamber just because of the risk when reaching in to get it out of the safe. Others will have different opinions but it works for me. It doesn’t sound like your friend is very experienced with guns, so adding a layer of safety - even if it means an extra step to use the gun (which should be part of her training/practice) - seems like a logical step.
 
#4 ·
Agree on the digital/biometric - just wanted a reality check.

Your assessment on my friend is correct. At the same time she is not arrogant - she know that she does not know much. She is anxious to learn and is willing to invest time in training and education. Additional layers safety are good. Big part of training is routine. Break up complicated tasks to multiple simple ones and then work on repeating task 1 through task xxx until things become automatic. Additional layers becomes part of the routine. Still working on what that routine is as I still need to access her skill level.
 
#3 ·
I understand the liability aspect of this topic, but this never seemed to be a challenge for me when our children were younger. I was able to find a hidy-hole, often in plain sight in multiple locations that they never observed me access. I taught them young about firearms safety and handling and to shoot. I taught them to never touch a firearm unless an adult was present, and because they were exposed to firearms regularly, they never had unfulfilled curiosity about them. We never, not once had any issues keeping readily accessible, loaded firearms in our home.
 
#5 ·
Personally I would never rely on hiding guns in my home as a way to keep them out of young hands, no matter how well trained my kids were. Kids have friends that come over to the house and those kids probably don't have the same level of knowledge or self-restraint. Kids explore and find things. They also grow into teenagers who may deal with depression, anxiety, etc. So mine stay locked up. State law requirements may also vary on what's legally required to keep kids safe at home. I use a biometric safe at my bedside but it's an expensive one and never fails to work but I know many would say don't trust electronics and to use a mechanical only safe which I wouldn't argue against. I keep mine chambered but it's DA/SA for a reason and I don't want to chamber a round at 3am and have a light single action trigger pull to deal with if the bad guy happens to be my teenager getting a late night snack in the kitchen. The other downside to a chambered firearm is a house fire but in my case I'm able to position the gun in the safe so that it points under the head of the bed into an outer wall with brick on the outside so for that reason I'm not overly concerned about the safety of any firemen if there was a house fire.
 
#6 ·
MMH.
Both of these guys make a solid case for Women, Firearms safety and Children. You cannot teach a child young enough. (Well, maybe while they are in the Bassinett). But security (Like we see in many small lock boxes) is pretty easy to get done. I have had 4 digit, 6 digit, Biometric and RFID units for years. Some of the new "iPhone" application units are a Gas for the young kids, but now you have to find the phone and then the box.
My compromise is one that was VERY expensive when I bought it, but has dropped in price a lot. It's called "Gunbox" and you see it at TheGunbox.com. A company called KONIG bought them a few months ago. I use the RFID sensor one and have it cable tied to a wall. This unit is Extremely reliable, the warranty is amazing, and I have had it for 7 years now.

Single gun, Round in chamber, DA on the first shot. (SIG 239 .40)
 
#7 ·
Absolutely agree that there has to be a safe of sorts. Just trying to figure out what is a good one. Maybe nothing wrong w/ biometric, but my dad had one and it was terrible. Would not open when he wanted it to but could get it to open when he didn't. Maybe technology is better and perhaps w/ higher quality biometric is OK.
 
#11 ·
She should buy another gun and teach her kids to shoot.
I recommend a 22 Charger. Ruger® 22 Charger™ Rimfire Pistol Model 4923
I started taking my kids to the range at when they were 4 and 5. By 6 and 7 they were well trained enough that I trusted them to not touch a firearm without adult supervision, in my house, or, more importantly, someone else's. I still keep my firearms locked up, but their training and lack of curiosity is a layer of safety now.
I would recommend your friend get the cheapest safe possible and train her kids (or have someone help her train them). There are lots of videos out there of people claiming certain brands of safe are cheap ****, bed bouncing them to open, etc. In reality, all they need to be is a light deterrent for children (or other kids visiting). The reality is unless you spend thousands of dollars, any safe can be easily opened by someone with access to YouTube and/or tools. Professional thieves are very expensive to thwart, and most of us only need a cheap deterrent for curious minds. Keyed gun security cabinets are cheap and work against small children for far less money (and are easier to move around as well).
 
#12 · (Edited)
I taught my kids about firearm safety at a young age. I also took them to the range to learn how to shoot safely and also included tearing down and clean up afterwards.

I have good luck with both RFID and biometrics safes so I can recommend either. With regards to accessibility by children, ithas to be locked at all times. Different states have different laws regrading children and firearm accessibility. Here in Florida, firearms have to locked and inaccessible to children under the age of 18.
 
#13 ·
Locking up the gun is a given. With the gun locked up, is having the gun loaded (condition one) a bad idea? If something bad happens, there may not be much time to react. The gun she has will be used as her CCW gun. When she get home, is it necessary to unload the gun before putting in safe?
 
#15 ·
I'm not an expert, but in my opinion it depends on what she's comfortable with, the gun and the safe. With the safe I just linked, if I only had one gun (whether I carried it or not), I would keep my P229 with a round chambered in the safe, but that's just me. She might feel more comfortable leaving it without a round chambered, especially if it's a striker-fired gun that she might be picking up from the box in low light while stressed.
 
#16 ·
I have several of these biometric safes strategically located in my home for HD. Purchased from Costco. In 18 months, the fingerprint sensor has worked every time, quickly and quietly. Still has same batteries, show 99% capacity remaining - must be a low power circuit driving the unit. Allows different users to have access (or not), so can add trusted people as desired. Has a key for backup in case of power failure. Very happy with it. Price has shot up in the past 6 months (but it has for everything!). As a long term solve, I highly recommend it.
Image
 
#18 ·
My biometric safe is a vaultek and I think was $400. It holds dozens of fingerprints and I input my thumbs at various angles and partials for every one of those so that probably helps. But mechanical sounds like a great option too. I never wanted to rely on a key since I would not sleep with a key on my person and anyone finding the key at any time could get in. And yes any safe can be defeated, many pretty easily, but not as likely to be defeated by a kid vs a determined pro.
 
#20 ·
A long time ago a friend of mine had guns in the house and children. The guns were not locked up but there were rules. You do not play with dad's guns. When they were old enough he took them out to their hunting camp and had them fire one of the guns at a tree. (I think it was a shotgun. They looked at the damage it did to the tree, he then had him chop down the tree. This was to show him what damage the gun can do quickly. It worked they learned that guns are not toys. If they are curious satisfy that curiosity. Education is the key next to discipline ..... .02
 
#21 ·
I am teaching a young woman on guns, CCW and self protection. She is 30 years old and has two children at home (ages 5 & 8). She has a gun but now want to be in a position to use it personal protection. Obviously a gun for home protection has to be accessible. What are the better options out there - Biometric? Keypad?. I would think that the the gun should be fully loaded (loaded mag & one in chamber) when in this type safe. I have not thought about this for years as my kids are older.

Any advice appreciated.
She should be good with a keypad safe. Additionally, maybe keep the chamber unloaded
She can have that gun in her hand inside of 3 seconds, after chambering a round.

If thats too long, whatever is happening would have to be a very horrible set of circumstances.
 
#33 ·
Also - Check the state law - here in TX, state law requires all guns to be kept in a safe if there are children under the age of 18 in the house. Even if no law in her state, she still needs to get something - anything - to keep that gun secured where a kid cannot get into it. And practice, practice, practice getting into it and getting the gun out. Just like drawing and firing.
 
#23 ·
Many biometric safe systems are unreliably opened. This small safe has tripple open redundency (push button combination, finger print and RFID). It is rugged and works quite well for rapid access. Purchase a Kensington PC cable lock to secure it to your bed frame. That said self-defense pistols should be on the body in a good holster or in a large gun safe. This gun safe is suitable for blocking access to children. I am not affiliated with this company.

Konig Formerly Guardian Gun Safe... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G4HUSH2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
 
#26 ·
All firearms and ammunition should be kept locked and secured from access by unauthorized persons, including children, at all times.

When you are using a firearm for self defense at home, it should be kept locked in a readily accessible lock box that is attached to the frame of your home.

My preference is for one with a mechanical Simplex type pushbutton lock. This is because battery powered electronic locks can fail when you need them most, especially if you do not regularly replace the batteries or if biometric devices become unreliable for any number of reasons.

The Simplex lock equipped boxes are generally of higher quality, and cost a bit more, but are worth it. Here are examples:






Don't be put off by the cost of these boxes. The cost of an accident or not having immediate secure access to your firearm in an emergency is much more.
 
#27 · (Edited)
Retired and no children to worry about. But we did have two daughters and I taught them early about firearms and safety with them. At one time I kept a Browning Hi-Power on my nightstand in full battery and never worried about them. Since that gun has a magazine disconnect safety, I kept the magazine within reach but hidden.
 
#41 ·
Retired and no children to worry about. But we did have two daughters and I taught them early about firearms and safety with them. At one time I kept a Browning Hi-Power on my nightstand in full battery and never worried about them. Since that gun has a magazine disconnect safety, I kept the magazine within reach but hidden.

BTW, the P365 also has a magazine safety. But when it comes to young children, it's always better to take the necessary steps to make certain your firearm is safely secured and ready for you and not them.
The Sig P365 does not actually have a magazine disconnect safety. If there is a round in the chamber and no magazine in the gun, it will fire if the trigger is pulled.
From the owner’s manual: REMOVING THE MAGAZINE FROM THE PISTOL DOES NOT PREVENT IT FROM BEING FIRED. PISTOL WILL FIRE A CHAMBERED CARTRIDGE EVEN WITH MAGAZINE REMOVED
 
#29 ·
I am teaching a young woman on guns, CCW and self protection. She is 30 years old and has two children at home (ages 5 & 8). She has a gun but now want to be in a position to use it personal protection. Obviously a gun for home protection has to be accessible. What are the better options out there - Biometric? Keypad?. I would think that the the gun should be fully loaded (loaded mag & one in chamber) when in this type safe. I have not thought about this for years as my kids are older.

Any advice appreciated.
My father taught me that guns had a purpose and playing with them was NOT their purpose. He was a difficult person but we never even thought of using guns for anything but their intended purpose. He had no safe.
I taught my son the same and we would have arguments (especially when he was in high school) and using guns for anything but their intended purpose. I had no safe.
Teach your children well...
Children are trainable and, generally, follow their training. Knowledge dis-spells curiosity. (Of course, this doesn't work is children who are psychopaths or sociopaths or narcissists or other unsafe people.)
 
#40 ·
Both you and your father were lucky. Your kids did listen to what you taught them and no visitor to your house (like your kid's friends) found the gun either. I would never trust just to that kind of luck.
I'm also a fan of the Simplex pushbutton lock boxes. The lock is very secure, programmable to your desired button sequence, extremely durable and not dependent on batteries or a sketchy biometric reader.

Bio metric. Nobody can open it but me.
Indeed, but all to often not you either.