[Adjutant]

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.

 

[michaell2019]

Vaultek has the best features for a quick access safe. She should set a monthly reminder to practice opening the safe.

Also a home alarm system with a panic button. Do a test of the panic button so her kids know the alarm sound and what to do when it goes off.

 

[LARSX]

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

 

[NDG12]

Education is the key next to discipline ..... .02

I concur......every child is different & reacts to education & discipline in different ways, both will have to be tailor made to fit each child. I would feel better if the gun had a manual safety if a round were in the chamber (in the safe), but that's just me.

 

[Noctilucent]

Absolutely recommend an easy-open lock box of some sort with kiddos/friends around. Nobody ever has a problem with kids finding hidden guns until they have a problem, despite parental talks, pleas, instruction, ad nausem. Potential criminal charges letting kids grab a gun. Gun should be hot, in a clip-on holster, in the box.

 

[mrerick]

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:

THE SIMPLEX LOCK | HandgunSafeResearch

This page addresses common questions about the 5-button Simplex lock used widely on handgun safes.

www.handgunsaferesearch.com

Handgun Safes with Simplex Lock Mechanisms: Secure, Fast & Easy Access

www.police1.com

simplex lock Archives - V-Line Ind.

www.vlineind.com

Handgun and Pistol Safes

Safe & Vault Store: Handgun safes, pistol safes, and gun safes. Protect your family while getting quick and easy access in the event you need your gun.

www.safeandvaultstore.com

Handgun Safes & Pistol Boxes | Fort Knox

www.ftknox.com

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.

 

[SouthernBoy]

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.

 

[GaryNC]

One of my friend had a bedside single handgun safe that had a "fingerprint" reader to open. The "fingerprint" reader was not reliable and did now work a lot of the time. I purchased the same thing he has without the "fingerprint" reader and it has worked great for 9-years.

 

[hiketheball]

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.)

 

[JV]

My favorite handgun box has a push-button Simplex lock and is reasonably secure. It is made by American Security (AmSec), a manufacturer of safes. A locking file cabinet might be a good secure hiding place if it’s made by a real office furniture company like Steelcase… especially if the kids think it only holds filed papers like taxes, paid bills, insurance.

Give her a copy of Massad Ayoob‘s 1986 booklet “Gun-Proof Your Children!” which is reprinted as a bonus section in many editions of his “Handgun Primer” book. He has another book titled “Gun Safety in the Home” that likely includes the same info about educating kids, satisfying their curiosity, reducing the temptation of forbidden fruit. Look on abebooks.com or Alibris or Amazon. I think he’s posted a free video about gun-proofing children.

NRA also publishes info about securing guns in the home, educating kids, dealing with the kids’ friends and acquaintances.

A kid-sized .22 rifle might be a good second weapon for her to buy. I’d lean towards single shot, bolt-action, or lever gun - avoiding the temptation to spray and pray.

Best physical security would be on-person concealed carry during waking hours, locking it away only when sleeping or going to prohibited locations. Do not give kids and their friends opportunities to spend unsupervised hours trying to access the stored weapon in its box or safe.

Some of the popular quick-access vaults / safes / boxes have been easily defeated by kids using simple tools (magnet, hammer, screwdriver, pliers, or just banging the corner with a shoe!). Some years ago a mom challenged her 12 year old then posted scathing reviews of several of them describing how easily he broke them open. Lock-picking instructions abound on the internet… so I am not a fan of most “keyed backup access” for electronic security devices.

 

[KarlF12]

I have young children, and I keep a VAULTEK biometric safe by the bed. The thumbprint scanner can be a little finicky but works well enough.

 

[sigkimber]

My kids are now in college but I still have my loaded HD pistols (upstairs and downstairs ) in biometric safe. I might be paranoid but I don’t want a a bad buy gets in my home, find it and use it against me (it actually happened to a gun owner in the area where I live) .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Red78]

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.

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.

 

[SOS24]

There are several quick access gun safes out their with biometric or keypdad.
one option that I have and like is the Vaultek Slider. The one I have is accessible via biometric, keypad, emergency key and some remote key. When it slides open the gun is presented in a grip first draw position. Some versions have where you can get alerts if tampered, attempted open, etc. It does have a spot for a magazine in case she wanted to keep unloaded.

 

[sparkyv]

It IS an offense if an unsupervised child gains access to a firearm with some exceptions including for SD, but Texas law does not require this:

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.

PENAL CODE CHAPTER 46. WEAPONS

 

[Adjutant]

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

Same thing here. We knew not to mess with them. However, I would look under the mattress once in awhile
I would hold the revolver, but NEVER put my finger on the trigger, and never pointed it anywhere except the floor

I was in 4th grade when I first shot a 12gauge. The power/kick was shocking. That gave me instant respect for
how powerful it was

 

[ralph.mclean]

Vaultek. My biometric/keypad/barrel-keyed/phone app-enabled version is on the wall, bolted to a stud. If anyone wants to steal it, they are going to need a sledgehammer and a few minutes, or a chainsaw. And I can get into it 2-3 seconds.

 

[MoRivera]

 

[Montana]

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.

Bio metric. Nobody can open it but me. Sentry Safe. Simple one finger to activate and your finger print.
Holds a 320 9mm full frame with Sig LIMA laser grip module.

 

[SteelChallenge]

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.)

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.