Home Defense and Kids...

[kimbercollector]

My 2 boys are 6 months and 3 years...Ive been a police officer for a few years, and just transfered from nights to days, so Im home each night. Ive always been cool to those I come into contact during duty, so Im not worried about retaliation...more worried that my squad car that is parked outside.

Cops have alot of tools/gear, and to the criminal mind...I can see them either intrigued with whats inside a cops house or deterred. I also know burglaries in the day are pretty mellow in fashion ( they expect no one to be home)...but if one happens at night, they expect violence and expect home-owner to be home. Night time proves more violence and wreckless in nature.

I have shelves in my closet, and on the highest one is my HD pistol. Presently, it is not in a safe, theres a mag inserted, not one in the chamber. I want to put the pistol in the safe, and have my 870 for HD. Both have lights attached, and I love them both, but something is pulling me towards the 870 for worst case scenario (would not will not store with one in the chamber).

From experience in USMC/Iraq and throughout my LEO career...I know that when things cook off, they cook off fast. Training creates muscle memory, tactics, techniques, procedures, habits, and Ive fallen back on these when needed more often than not...

Long story as short as I can:

I just dont feel Id have time to go to the safe, time to get between the boys and home-invader, call for help (do have an alarm for help there).

Is this a training issue? Are there others that dont have their HD weapon in a safe due to the speed that things go bad fast and fear you couldnt/wouldnt get to it in time?

 

[iChokePeople]

My HD weapons are not in a safe when they're on HD duty. I do not have young kids around, and understand your concern.

 

[churchmouse]

Kids are curious by nature. Concerns are warranted.
My kids are all adults now and own/carry.
My HD pieces are not in the safe but are out of sight. My 6 year old Grand daughter spends a lot of time with us as she lives next door. She understands guns as we are getting her involved with pellet rifle and soon a cricket. She sees all of us handling and carrying so she is not so curious.

 

[dprimm]

Good thread, as we are planning on kids and I'm trying to figure out how to deal with home defense and gun safety.

 

[RobbyMaQ]

We use a pistol lock box with a combination on a nightstand for faster access (than being locked in the safe). The biometric/fingerprint ones would be faster.
This may not be fast enough for your concerns, but for us, it's the solution we chose for our home with children.
I am not so concerned with our kids, as I had them get their curiosity satisfied by seeing, holding & manipulating the firearms. Nowadays they're older (youngest is now 11, oldest is out of the house) and they both shoot rifle and pistol. I'm more concerned about their friends being over and 'discovering' a firearm out in the open. Anything can happen with kids, so we chose to put it in a lockbox.

 

[ljk]

I have 2 little boys, 2yo and 6 months old. my HD guns are locked and out of their reach.


I understand everybody's situation is different. my theory is you may get a home invasion once in a blue moon but kids are at home every night, I just can take my chances. I've seen they dug out mom's jewleries which had supposedly be kept at "safe places". I just can trust them at that age.

I do train myself open these locks in a timely manner to my best ability.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Never underestimate a child when s/he has decided to go get something.

I still remember my brother and I going after some cookies or something in one of our cabinets while my folks were still in the bed asleep--this was a long, long time ago. But for some reason, having a huge pot of coffee falling on top of you as you fell off the counter top makes a lifelong impression.

 

[kimbercollector]

Liking the feedback, and appreciate the thoughts. Scary indeed when thinking of neighbors, kids, friends, etc. The good things is like all of us, when we have a gathering or people over, gun safety is always top of the list in terms of putting them away, securing them, etc. Tragedy is sometimes easy to avoid with common sense and fore-thought.

My plan is continue to review and rehearse our "drills" as in fire, tornado, home invasion, busted water pipe (wife now knows where shut off to the house is!!), gas smell/leak, solicitors, etc...

Never thought of this, but like that old "sword that comes out of a cane" and all those animals/insects with adaptations/spots on their butts to make it look like they are watching comes to mind...be nice to find an easy access (no lock) but heavily camo'ed area to hide the 870 in such as a dry-wall acees point, cut out behind a picture on the wall, mantle clock...I know blackhawk make those "tennis racket" carriers (who cares about a tennis racket,haha).

Good stuff...nice to know this is what cops are doing on a 12 hour shift with too much time on their hands...at least Im not doing traffic stops!

 

[Liberty Sanders]

Of course at toddler stage little ones must be kept physically separated from HD guns.

Once I hit about six years old, my father taught me the rules of our household (he, like me, was a LEO).

At any given time either his on-duty or off-duty was loaded and available to me. The rule was that I could handle guns in his presence and with his permission.

If he was NOT present I could not. The system was pretty simple. I never violated it.

At age six I could be handed a loaded sixgun, unload it, handle it, reload it and return it. I wasn't strong enough to do so with a self-loader but LEOs didn't use them in those days so it was a non-issue.

There was an exception to the rule. I was told that in any attempt by a criminal to violate the sanctity of our home I was to use whichever handgun was available to me to defend myself and my family.

People who run into problems with kids and guns are the ones who take the "forbidden fruit" approach. Kids can find and access anything that has been forbidden to them, as anyone here who was ever a kid can attest.

 

[squidvt]

This has been helpful in figuring how to teach my son about my firearm and how to do it safely. My son is very good about not touching my firearm, and when ever he wants to see it I always let him, in a safe manor.

I also have decided on a quick access safe from GunVault. I don't trust the biometric safes, they are easy to defeat and prone to failure.

 

[VERT]

We use a fast access safe but the electronic lock stopped working, we now open with a key. Key is on my key ring. Gun is either on my person or in the safe. I simply open the safe and lay my keys and wallet on the open door. Then I close the safe in the morning. Safe is on a high dresser away from the three year old. My 9 year old knows better.

We are actually in the market for a second fast access safe for the dedicated HD pistol. Old one would hold my carry gun. Wife wants to pick it out but the supply of safes for her to look at dried up after Christmas. When she finds what she wants I suppose she will buy it. This safe would stay closed all the time.

No long gun, too hard to secure. I have been looking at a Sentry home defense center that is on clearance. It holds a pistol and long gun.

 

[rbMPSH12]

I have been looking at a Sentry home defense center that is on clearance. It holds a pistol and long gun.

Where did you find one of these on clearance? I'm interested as well.

 

[Indysteel]

I keep mine in the safe but before I go to bed I unlock the safe for quick access.

 

[Mgderf]

This has been helpful in figuring how to teach my son about my firearm and how to do it safely. My son is very good about not touching my firearm, and when ever he wants to see it I always let him, in a safe manor.

You need to sign your son up for the NSSF's (National Shooting Sports Foundation) "First-Shots" program.

It's completely free of charge.
2nd Saturday of each month at;

Applied Ballistics Systems Inc.
3217 Olympia Dr
Lafayette, In. 47909
765-838-0700

Classes are booked up at least a month in advance. Free of charge, but you must call to reserve your spot(s). Generally three classes per Saturday.
Classes are limited to 10 shooters each.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Kimber, have you considered:

1. an el cheapo safe. Place by your bed, lock during the day and leave open at night?

2. Maybe a lockable ready rack installed along the side of the bed and a finger combo pistol safe?

3. Storing without the barrel or bolt in the 870 (just strip the barrel off and store it in another closet). But, to me, it would be a hassle reassembling when you get home.

That young, one should lock them up. It's funny, I grew up where they were proudly displayed in the living room with the ammo down below.

I am sure you'll figure out a solution.

 

[jaybird_123]

Well my wife and I have no kids of our own, but my nephews come over a lot. They have been coming to spend the night and weekends with us since they were around 8 years old. In my younger days I worked armed security for 18 years so I always had a gun handy. Now days with all the home invasions happening even in broad daylight, I open carry at home ALL the time. When going away I CC so as not to make others nervous or cause a situation with some bada$$ redneck saying "look at the show off with big ole gun" or some crap like that. Bottom line is, your kids are used to seeing you armed because of your job. Why un-arm yourself at home? Carry ALL the time. Teach them gun safety, but carry even at home. You cant get any faster path to your weapon, than carrying all the time.

 

[VERT]

Where did you find one of these on clearance? I'm interested as well.

WalMart in Scottsburg had one. $250. I think it is left from Christmas and the box was ripped up.

 

[Cat-Herder]

The rule here is: I'll stop what I'm doing and we'll go over the firearms whenever they want to. Otherwise, they are off-limits. The only thing I keep around for HD is a Mossberg 500. Even the oldest can't pick it up and cycle the action, and she's 8.
I take them all to the range and they have their own rifles they shoot.
They've been hearing about safety since they were in diapers.
The boy and his bb gun are near inseperable and I let him stake out the garden and snipe starlings..my girls really couldn't care less. They know how to hit paper at 50yds and don't have much interest around the house.
They know what all the guns are, how they work, and how dangerous they are. Taking all of the mystery out of it has really been the biggest factor.

 

[squidvt]

You need to sign your son up for the NSSF's (National Shooting Sports Foundation) "First-Shots" program.

It's completely free of charge.
2nd Saturday of each month at;

Applied Ballistics Systems Inc.
3217 Olympia Dr
Lafayette, In. 47909
765-838-0700

Classes are booked up at least a month in advance. Free of charge, but you must call to reserve your spot(s). Generally three classes per Saturday.
Classes are limited to 10 shooters each.

I will be doing that as soon as my son is old enough. He's only 4.

 

[rockhopper46038]

I think if we had young kids around I'd have to figure out a different plan, but since we don't my HD weapons are all loaded and easily accessible.

You expressed concern about criminals seeing your car and being curious about what is in it, or in the house. Can you put your police cruiser in the garage, instead of visible in the driveway?