Gun storage (with young kids)

[BabaBlueJay]

UPDATE: I bought the 8 gun stack on tonight. It may not have the security of a safe but with cable lacks on them within it and ammo in a separate pelican that is locked as well I think I am going to feel a lot more at peace when I'm not home.

I have a 4 and 1 year-old in the house. I have trained the 4 year old how to recognize all of Daddy´s ¨tools¨ and that they are not to be tampered with. Furthermore, if she sees ¨tools¨ anywhere outside our house, she knows to get an adult ala Eddie the Eagle training.

I store my long guns unloaded and with a cable lock or bolt removed in the case of my 22 rifle in a room they do not have access to. When not in use, they remain unloaded with the ammo locked separately in a pelican. I am a big fan of project childsafe, and try to follow their guidelines as much as possible, however, there is one I am not in compliance with and wondered if this added layer was necessary or not. The last layer according to them that I am lacking is a safe or gun cabinet. I am not interested in a safe due to cost and the lack of desire for fire protection. If my house burns down my guns are not high on my priority list as they can be replaced. I have been interested in the stack-on gun cabinet, as it is simple and affordable.

That being said, I am conflicted, because $200 is still not chump change when I pay for everything, including daycare, and my wife to go to college for nursing. I am the only source of income for two more years as she finishes school and money is tight. I am curious whether the cabinet is something that is mandatory in your eyes or if my current system of doing things is acceptable for a household with young kids. I will admit, that rather than a 5th gun, my next big purchase should be another layer of safety, I just wonder at what point it becomes redundant? I apologize if this is a question that has been asked or if I am being completely ignorant here, but I genuinely am torn on this one.

 

[bedwards]

My boys are in their mid and late 30s now. I trained them what a gun was and how to treat them with respect. Having said that, they are kids and their minds are not mature and don't think properly. I bought a nice safe and kept all but my and my wife's self defense gun in it. I think it was expensive but a good decision. I wish now, I had bought two!
You will be able to relax better if you do.

 

[Smoke]

Two things.

In my home a gun safe or locking cabinet whatever you want to call it is mandatory.

If I had children in my home I would want my guns secured in such a way that the kids could not get to them even if they wanted to.

2. This is something I say every time a discussion similar to this comes up. Get on Facebook Marketplace or even eBay I would suppose and look for people in your area who are selling a gun safe second hand.

I've mentioned previously, my current safe is a Liberty Centurion That retails at around 600 dollars. We bought it for $325 used

 

[BabaBlueJay]

Two things.

In my home a gun safe or locking cabinet whatever you want to call it is mandatory.

If I had children in my home I would want my guns secured in such a way that the kids could not get to them even if they wanted to.

2. This is something I say every time a discussion similar to this comes up. Get on Facebook Marketplace or even eBay I would suppose and look for people in your area who are selling a gun safe second hand.

I've mentioned previously, my current safe is a Liberty Centurion That retails at around 600 dollars. We bought it for $325 used

Thanks for the suggestion smoke! I will try to find a used one for a good deal near me. Maybe be patient and find one on sale or used during black Friday.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

It seems to me that the critical criterion is whether or not the gun can be used or stolen simply by resorting to common tools. Protecting against use, of course, is more important than protecting against burglary/larceny. Both are desirable. Whether a cable counts depends on its thickness and what tools you are protecting against. A locking cabinet usually doesn't count, because it can be forcibly opened with a common large screwdriver, but it probably does count against small children.

There are several kinds of firearms, and each is disabled in a different way. It is up to you to figure out which is rendered safe against which possible abusers. I am not familiar with "project childsafe" or their checklist, but you are probably capable of evaluating their checklist on your own.

 

[Eric300]

If you are satisfied with the way your long guns are secured and just want something that will secure handguns to deny access to curious children, for under $200.00 you can get a tool cabinet with locking drawers. Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, Tractor Supply, etc. They're easily movable on caster wheels and don't take up too much real estate. You can store ammo and handguns in the drawers and lock them. Just a thought.....

 

[Narragansett]

A safe is the best way to go. If you have access to a truck, there are a lot of used ones around. Try craigslist, Facebook market place etc. They can be had cheaply. Place an ad for wanted to buy in Craigslist or Facebook marketplace.

Check Tractor Supply for sales

This is some of the best money you will ever spend

 

[CB3]

Gun ownership comes with numerous responsibilities. Protecting others from being harmed unintentionally by the guns for which you are responsible is paramount. You are trying to do this within your budget. I get it.

However, if the relatively low level of security you have chosen proves ineffective and someone gets hurt or killed, that $200 (or $600) expense you are trying to avoid will seem miniscule.

When I was single and living in an apartment, I had two beautiful shotguns stolen from under my bed in less than two minutes. I don’t know what happened to or with them, but it will never happen to me again.

The first purchase before the gun is a proper gun safe, attached (bolted or wired) to an immovable object. It can be just a hard steel locking handgun safe for quick access, or a full size long gun safe as required. IMO, this is not really optional.

I have given guns of mine to children and grandchildren. They all have safes for them. I make sure of that.

You will never regret taking the higher level of safety precautions once that money has been expended. You will likely regret for the rest of your life, emotionally and financially, the consequences of having your minimal safety plan breached resulting in someone being harmed.

Don’t risk it. Find the money. Sell a gun. Buy used. Ask for a gift from someone. Whatever. Get a real safe.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I bought a cheap long gun safe at Dunham's Sports on sale under $200. I also use my tool chest to store a few things in, not tools to work with in 3 of the drawers. I would like to get 2 more of those ones from Dunhams, but the name eludes my brain at the present time. Nothing for the fire arms is fire proof, just out of anyone's easy to grab mitts. Mainly children. No adult people that I let in my place aren't that low to steal from me. For your kids I'd say to myself out of sight out of mind, but that's not always possible.
I just read what CB3 just wrote and that makes more sense to me . There aren't many, if any at all once a month or two, but it only takes one mistake.

 

[pantannojack]

A multiple gun owner with no safe is irresponsible. With kids: keep all guns locked in the safe, save one in your right front pocket, as your car keys (how many times have you lost your keys if kept this way?), or locked in the safe.

 

[gmanofsteel]

I agree with all the previous comments.... a safe is a must. Children can be curious and you wouldn't want one of your children or visiting children to play "show and tell" with one of your firearms. Exposure to gun safety at an early age is an excellent way to take the mystery out of firearms that a child may find/see at your home. When i was teaching first grade, I used the Eddy Eagle program during a "safety" lesson at the end of the school year... the NRA has since wrecked it,,, IMHO

 

[diyj98]

I agree 100% with the others about having a safe. I taught my daughter not to touch firearms from an early age, but I remember all the things I was taught from an early age and how many times I did things just the opposite of what I was taught. They're kids and they don't always make the right decisions.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Children can get into almost everything. Lots of good ideas and comments above. In a recent, similar thread it was pointed out that used safes are much more affordable than new ones but, at a minimum, gun cabinets are mandatory in my world. If you leave a child alone in a house, and I don't mean "alone you're not home" but just alone while you are doing something else the child WILL explore, WILL open drawers, and WILL find things that you do not want to be found. Trust me, I have experience with this. Get a gun cabinet. You can lock up guns, knives, maybe some ammunition, maybe some other valuables.

I do have a relatively expensive gun safe with all of the whistles and bells for fire, etc., but I admit to having a boatload of guns (none have sunk in the infamous river of "I lost my guns in a flood" foolishness), many folks have way more than I do, and I keep my less important long guns in a couple of locked gun cabinets. The Stack-On has been with me for many years, the red Winchester is newly acquired this year. They come in a variety of colors. Mine was on sale and way below $200 at the time. Long story for another time.

Since fire protection is not your priority, you can get a "Winchester Gun Cabinet" for less than $200, sometimes a lot less. They're on line and probably easily found or ordered at a sporting goods store near you.

The Winchester is matte red, is in my garage, and has a couple of old shotguns in it. The Stack-On is polished OD green and I had to turn off the lights to try to get a picture or it without my being reflected in it clearly, which was silly to look at, so the picture is difficult to see but it is almost the exact same size as the red one. Again, just some lesser long guns in there. There are other brands as well, you can find them at a variety of stores or on line.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

The thread I mentioned is still current:

Best safe for a few rifles/handguns

 

[WardenRoss]

When I was young, dumb and broke, long time ago...

I fabricated a false bottom beneath the bottom drawer of my chest-of-drawers to store valuables. Pull out the drawer, lift the cover.

In addition, I made an access door at the bottom of my Jacuzzi's base cabinet for storage too. Get a screwdriver, remove the screws, open the panel.

That said. I finally purchased a safe.

That safe is one of my most valued possessions. Peace of mind, priceless!


,

 

[GypsmJim]

When I was a kid in the 1950's my Dad had his long guns in cases standing up in his closet. I watched Cowboys and Indians on TV so I knew about guns. Once in a while I asked him to bring one out to look at it. He always complied. I would NEVER have touched it on my own. I would have had to suffer the consequences.

In the 1980's, when my boys were each 7 years old, they got .22 rifles. They were kept in the upstairs in a non-locked wooden gun cabinet. The ammo was locked in a basement metal locker. They both knew that they were not to touch the guns without me present, and God Forbid they would never show them to their friends. Other Dads in the neighborhood had guns as well, and their kids were also respectful. I trusted them, and they knew that there would be consequences if they disobeyed.

TODAY is a different world. Woke, govmt trying to ban guns, mass shootings, etc. No matter how well you teach your kids, they are subject to other bad kids (and misguided teachers as well). NO EXCUSE today. No matter what it costs, a gun safe is the only option, along with an ammo safe in a different part of the house.

Sorry to say all that, but times aren't good anymore. No matter how good a parent is, and how well behaved a kid is, peer pressure can be devastating. Today, EVERYONE (not just kids), understands that consequences are a thing of the past.

 

[Birdhunter6]

Look at Secureit lockers. The basic model is under $200 on Amazon. It's not a safe but will keep your firearms from unauthorized users.

A consideration later in life: You can't judge your safety precautions by the standards of just your own family. You must consider anyone your kids may welcome into your home. Think teenagers. That day will come.

 

[bobsguns]

Clearly, a safe is the best way to safely store firearms with young kids in the house.

With no safe in the house, *I* would keep the gun unloaded & the mag stored up high somewhere. Kids can't rack a slide at 4 or 1, IMO.

Another option might be to take the $200 budget, buy some pressure treated wood & build a safe. No, it won't be as strong as a real steel safe costing $500+. It most likely will be as strong as those Stack-On safes that are just sheet metal.

Putting the door hinges on the inside & using a quality hasp & lock will make it pretty secure, IMO. Screwing the back wall wood to the house studs will render it immobile, IMO. Is it perfect? No. Is it burglar proof? No. But it sure is kid-proof.

My .o2

 

[weatherby]

Some gun accessories I keep in a closet.
I have a deadbolt lock on it and I have the only access

 

[armadillo]

If you have Academy sporting goods stores in your area, they usually have good sale prices on the key-lock type safes at Christmastime.