I'm about to have a handgun in my home for the first time in my life. I have a nervous wife and two young, curious kids. My daughter is 7 and my son is 5.
My son, especially, loves guns. I have two questions:
1) What's the best way to teach young children about gun safety? I want to make sure they stay away from firearms until they are much older. This includes any guns they may encounter in friends' homes. Just about everyone in my neighborhood has a gun at home, so even if I safely lock away my own gun, I cannot guarantee the neighbors will do the same. Thoughts?
2) Also, I need to buy a gun safe. I will only have one handgun. At the most, in the future I may purchase a second gun. So I need a safe that can hold a maximum of two handguns. Any suggestions? Also, should I place the safe in my closet, which is unfortunately far from my bed? Under the bed (closer, but also where the kids sometimes play)? Should I keep the gun unloaded while in the safe?
I would be interested in how you manage this situation in your homes. Safety is the most important consideration for me. Any other tips/websites that you know of that can provide more information would be most welcome.
Thanks.
1) What's the best way to teach young children about gun safety? I want to make sure they stay away from firearms until they are much older. This includes any guns they may encounter in friends' homes. Just about everyone in my neighborhood has a gun at home, so even if I safely lock away my own gun, I cannot guarantee the neighbors will do the same. Thoughts?
2) Also, I need to buy a gun safe. I will only have one handgun. At the most, in the future I may purchase a second gun. So I need a safe that can hold a maximum of two handguns. Any suggestions? Also, should I place the safe in my closet, which is unfortunately far from my bed? Under the bed (closer, but also where the kids sometimes play)? Should I keep the gun unloaded while in the safe?
I would be interested in how you manage this situation in your homes. Safety is the most important consideration for me. Any other tips/websites that you know of that can provide more information would be most welcome.
Thanks.
