Are Firearms Family Friendly?

November 20, 2008

Loaded weapons and lil ones don't mix in my opinion. I hope my daughter and son never wrap their hands around a gun. Not now or ever. Growing up in San Francisco in the 80s, it wasn't all too unusual to see a gun cabinet at a friend's house or hear a rumor that their father had a gun. My own dad took me target shooting when I was ten. But, times have changed and I'm not keen on my children attending a playdate in a home that had firearms. Why? Because accidents happen and not all people take the proper precautions in storing weapons and as a result, kids die.

We told you about the four-year-old that shot herself when she pulled her grandma's loaded gun from her purse in Sam's Club and a father who forced his six-year-old daughter to pose with a pistol. Yesterday, news reports said a child was shot when her drunk father cleaned his firearms. Though the headlines are few and far between, every fatality is worrisome. Are you a gun free family?

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119 Comments

Kaizykat 4 years 25 weeks

My dad worked around the police force for several years (He wasn't an officer because he's blind in one eye, but was the president of MADD for the county that I live in) and he keeps a police issued gun in the house. He is the only one that can handle it. We live in an 'okay' neighborhood, but there have been several stabbings and one homicide in the last 15 years. If anyone comes onto our property at night my dad gets the gun out. He's never fired it before, but it seriously deters people. I honestly feel a lot safer when he does that because I know that if anything were to happen that there would a lesser chance of my family getting hurt (Did I mention that he took police courses on shooting?). I didn't know we owned a gun until I was about 7 or 8 because my dad made sure that he kept it locked in a place that I couldn't get to. He still keeps it unloaded with the trigger locked. When I finally move out of the house, I will most likely buy my own gun. I would rather have the firearm be there in case I needed it instead of having someone break into the house and kill me before I can kill them (Because that's what it comes down to when you're attempting to defend yourself). If I ever have children, I will keep it locked somewhere that they will never be able to get into. I am no fool.

Kaizykat 4 years 25 weeks

My dad worked around the police force for several years (He wasn't an officer because he's blind in one eye, but was the president of MADD for the county that I live in) and he keeps a police issued gun in the house. He is the only one that can handle it.We live in an 'okay' neighborhood, but there have been several stabbings and one homicide in the last 15 years. If anyone comes onto our property at night my dad gets the gun out. He's never fired it before, but it seriously deters people. I honestly feel a lot safer when he does that because I know that if anything were to happen that there would a lesser chance of my family getting hurt (Did I mention that he took police courses on shooting?). I didn't know we owned a gun until I was about 7 or 8 because my dad made sure that he kept it locked in a place that I couldn't get to. He still keeps it unloaded with the trigger locked.When I finally move out of the house, I will most likely buy my own gun. I would rather have the firearm be there in case I needed it instead of having someone break into the house and kill me before I can kill them (Because that's what it comes down to when you're attempting to defend yourself). If I ever have children, I will keep it locked somewhere that they will never be able to get into. I am no fool.

RenSis 4 years 26 weeks

A little less than a year ago I was robbed at gun point at my job. I was completely unable to control how the man that robbed me was going to use that gun! I've never been in a situation before where I had absolutely no control over my being. Therefore; I hate guns! I think they are violent regardless of how they are used. I believe that they should have never been created, and I will never own one …EVER, however; my brother loves to hunt, I have many friends that own guns responsibly, and my mother (whom is my closest friend) even has a small hand gun. I would never tell my mom, brother, or friends that my child wasn't allowed at their house because they owned guns. I trust my friends and family to keep an eye on my daughter while she's at their home and if I ever felt like they weren't then that's why she wouldn't be there. I wouldn't entrust my daughter to people that wouldn't be just as safe with her as I would be. What keeps her from stabbing herself with my large kitchen knives? Proper storage and an attentive mom!

RenSis 4 years 26 weeks

lildorothyparker 4 years 26 weeks

I don't have any use for guns, but if someone else wants to own one that's his or her prerogative. I live in Canada though, and aside from hunting, the idea of the "right to bare arms" isn't as pervasive as it is in the States... and according to Michael Moore we all leave our doors unlocked so we Canadians are all trusting (not true by the way... about the doors at least).

lildorothyparker 4 years 26 weeks

rocketgirl 4 years 26 weeks

I grew up in a house with guns and learned from an early age not to play with them and was instructed in what to do if a friend showed me a gun (say no, don't touch it, call Mom). When treated properly, I think guns are a great form of recreation and just as safe as other sports.

foxie 4 years 26 weeks

"Still with that, if someone sneaks into your house and into your bedroom undetected" They don't have to make it into your bedroom for you to need/need to retrieve a gun. Thanks for sharing about the case though, I certainly am pretty unaware of the different cases there are available.

foxie 4 years 26 weeks

"Still with that, if someone sneaks into your house and into your bedroom undetected"They don't have to make it into your bedroom for you to need/need to retrieve a gun. Thanks for sharing about the case though, I certainly am pretty unaware of the different cases there are available.

macgirl 4 years 26 weeks

I think some are not realizing there are other cases besides ones that have locks with actual keys. The ex had a gun case that had like 6 little black nobs and you had to push in 5 in a certain sequence to open it. It could be done in the dark. The gun was kept in this case loaded. Still with that, if someone sneaks into your house and into your bedroom undetected you won't have time to retrieve that gun for protection. Not to say there wouldn't be other times that the protection would be needed. That said, with my current husband we don't have a gun and probably won't. I just feel that the chances of me needing that gun is slim, and the chances of me needing it and being able to access it when needed are even slimmer. I am just going to pass. I've got the baseball bat and if that's not enough then it wasn't meant to be.

foxie 4 years 26 weeks

It's only lame if you can't comprehend other solutions besides two separate locking cases outside of the bedroom. The first thing that comes to my mind is a small locking case for the gun, with the key and the ammo being stored in drawers too tall for children to reach. It would take minimal time to ready while still putting safety at the forefront. Naturally, this is just one example. People who actually own guns probably know plenty of other handy solutions. I'm sure if you could think of a few others yourself if you actually gave it some thought rather than just frantically explaining and re-explaining how long it takes you to unlock something.

skigurl 4 years 26 weeks

oh, and another thing...in order to actually be able to unlock and load, the case would have to be wherever you were - so not in the basement for example. it would have to be near the bedrooms, if you would agree most home invasions happening while people were home would happen during the sleeping hours, therefore you'd be in your bedroom. i agree, many home invasions do happen during the day but most of the time people aren't home at that time, making it a moot point.

skigurl 4 years 26 weeks

foxie, i'm not sure if leene agrees with me, but your answer to our question was pretty lame, to be honest. as i said, it would take quite a bit of time to unlock a properly locked gun in a locked case and then also unlock the ammo and load the gun...by the time you knew you were being invaded, there wouldn't be time for that. i don't need more of an answer, but i don't think your point is really very valid. in order to protect your family and "take a human life" like kate said (well said), it would have to be loaded, and therefore create an unsafe environment for children.

runningesq 4 years 26 weeks

Going back to the original topic ... ;) I don't own a gun, but my dad owns several. I didn't even KNOW where they were when I was younger (locked in the basement) and he goes target and clay duck shooting. It's not my thing but - like Greggie said - if someone is a responsible gun owner and keeps their guns unloaded and locked, I think it's fine.

runningesq 4 years 26 weeks

Going back to the original topic ... ;)I don't own a gun, but my dad owns several. I didn't even KNOW where they were when I was younger (locked in the basement) and he goes target and clay duck shooting.It's not my thing but - like Greggie said - if someone is a responsible gun owner and keeps their guns unloaded and locked, I think it's fine.

Greggie 4 years 26 weeks

That again goes back to storing properly - if you've ever tried to break the lock on a properly stored gun, it's virtually impossible. It's like a firesafe, you can't just break it open. There are improperly stored guns and cases, and those wouldn't fit into my category of being ok with it around, properly stored.

Greggie 4 years 26 weeks

That again goes back to storing properly - if you've ever tried to break the lock on a properly stored gun, it's virtually impossible. It's like a firesafe, you can't just break it open.There are improperly stored guns and cases, and those wouldn't fit into my category of being ok with it around, properly stored.

katedavis 4 years 26 weeks

I am very opposed to having a gun in my home. I live in NY and do not hunt and so in my mind a gun has one purpose only- to take a human life. I think the odds of an armed robber breaking into my home are minuscule at best, and would not want such a weapon in my home. That being said my dad had a rifle when I was growing up (and I assume still does). I remember seeing the case only a couple of times and went with him to the shooting range once. I have no idea where he keeps the ammo and have never seen the gun out of the case in my home. However, a few years back there was someone who would enter the back yards on my parents block at night (I'm not sure if he was breaking into houses), and I know that my dad kept the gun by his bed at night until the man was caught. He would wait until we were asleep and then take the gun out of its storage place (I have no clue where he keeps it). I understand wanting protection, but I still would not want a weapon in my home. Also, this conversation has focused on babies- what about teens? I think teens who want to get their hands on guns won't let a lock stop them. And if you trust your kids, what about their friends?

katedavis 4 years 26 weeks

I am very opposed to having a gun in my home. I live in NY and do not hunt and so in my mind a gun has one purpose only- to take a human life. I think the odds of an armed robber breaking into my home are minuscule at best, and would not want such a weapon in my home. That being said my dad had a rifle when I was growing up (and I assume still does). I remember seeing the case only a couple of times and went with him to the shooting range once. I have no idea where he keeps the ammo and have never seen the gun out of the case in my home. However, a few years back there was someone who would enter the back yards on my parents block at night (I'm not sure if he was breaking into houses), and I know that my dad kept the gun by his bed at night until the man was caught. He would wait until we were asleep and then take the gun out of its storage place (I have no clue where he keeps it). I understand wanting protection, but I still would not want a weapon in my home.Also, this conversation has focused on babies- what about teens? I think teens who want to get their hands on guns won't let a lock stop them. And if you trust your kids, what about their friends?

Greggie 4 years 26 weeks

Am I the only one who automatically added Mr Mackey's "nkay?" to "Hiding in dryers is bad"?

CaterpillarGirl 4 years 26 weeks

hiding in dryers is bad?

CaterpillarGirl 4 years 26 weeks

hiding in dryers is bad?

foxie 4 years 26 weeks

Um, it seems simple enough to me. One could store the gun unloaded, but keep the ammunition somewhere easily accessible to them, but not to their children. Pretty easy concept.

afordster 4 years 26 weeks

So anyone who is saying they would not send their child to a gun- friendly home. are they also saying they would not allow their child to play with the son/ daughter of a police officer?

Leene 4 years 26 weeks

Yeah, Foxie - if you could please answer the question from skigurl and I.

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