There was another story in the news not long ago about a young boy who got ahold of his parents’ gun and accidentally shot and killed his younger sibling.
Tragedies like these come along far too often. Just once would be one too many, because in nearly every case, accidental shootings like these could have been prevented.
I understand the argument that a gun won’t help you defend yourself if it’s locked up or unloaded. But it’s not going to help you, anyway, if it’s in the back bedroom when someone breaks in. If your kid finds it in there and manages to fire it, though, an intruder is the least of your worries.
If you’re not packin’ it, lock it up. If your gun is secured on your body, nobody’s going to get ahold of it. If you’re carrying it, your kid’s not going to pick it up, get curious, and shoot somebody.
And you don’t have to spend a fortune to keep them out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have access to them. A big, fancy, fireproof safe is great, but you don’t have to have one. Quite a few companies make lock boxes that are more than adequate to keep your guns safe, and you can buy them for less than you’d pay for four or five boxes of .45 caliber ammo. These lock boxes won’t keep a seriously determined thief out, but it would take a whole lot more effort and time than walking into your bedroom and plucking your gun out of your nightstand.
Please, folks, don’t store your guns loaded. If you do, get a locking box for the gun you plan to leave loaded. Unload the rest of them, and put them in a locked lock box or a locked safe. Yes, it will be harder to get to them when you need them, but it’ll also be just about impossible for your kid or a nosy visitor to get ahold of them and harm or kill someone you care about.
