Safety question ?

[LisaR]

Thank you for answering the question. You are different because you said that you keep a gun at the ready and I was asking about the PP who said that guns should be kept unloaded at all times.

Maybe the car example was a bad one. People say at home they keep their gun in a gun safe. How is that helpful if someone breaks in in the middle of the night? You won't have time to get the gun if the intruder is standing over you when you wake up. I'm not trying to be argumentative, just trying to maybe see a different angle.

If you look at the number of children in the US who are easily able to pick up a gun sitting on their kitchen table, in a bedroom, by the front door, or in the console of their car and proceed to shoot themselves, their parent, sibling, cousin, friend, grandparent, or neighbor, you'll realize that there are plenty of people who do not keep their guns locked up or, in many cases, even hidden.

 

[Jennasis]

Seriously, every time the term BLM comes up I keep thinking "WHY is the Bureau of Land Management protesting anything??" Are the mustangs getting out of hand?



OP...no, you should not worry. You should download the Waze app. It will automatically redirect you around any traffic issues without you having to do anything. It's a Godsend when we drive from NC to WDW.

 

[Mizzoufan]

You can't live your life in fear.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

I can actually vouch for these kinds of drills because my children have them too. It's how they do lockdown drills since Sandyhook(at my twins' school anyway). The blinds are closed, paper over the little window in the door... I don't know what else, but my kids have told me about it.

It still saddens me that they are even necessary, and the concept truly sounded quite out there to me. I guess I live and learn.

 

[diznygirl]

I just want to put in a PSA here for Twitter. It's a social media platform that can give you immediate local information. Local LE and news outlets will post, as well as people in the area. Keep it in mind if you want information. Just do a search for the area/freeway/town.

 

[LiveYourLife]

The best you can do is live your life.

Best advice yet, if I do say so myself!

 

[LiveYourLife]

I just want to put in a PSA here for Twitter. It's a social media platform that can give you immediate local information. Local LE and news outlets will post, as well as people in the area. Keep it in mind if you want information. Just do a search for the area/freeway/town.

Excellent advice! Twitter was so helpful in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy at Pulse.

 

[LiveYourLife]

When I left to go to a birthday bar crawl at DS (DTD) last night this thread was on page five, maybe six. I woke up and it's on page 20. You guys are fast, and I am really enjoying reading this with my hair of the dog this morning!

Now, where did I leave my Advil???

 

[MainMom]

Ok, so here's a question and it's not an argument question, it's a genuine question. Say you are in your car with your unloaded gun and you are stopped at a red light. Someone comes up to your window and points a gun at you and wants to carjack you. What's the point of having your gun if it's useless in the situation? You obviously won't have time to get it out of your pocket or holster or wherever and, being responsible, it's not even loaded so why need it?

There is no point. We have conceal carry in my state. Those guns would have bullets in them. My DH owns guns for hunting and some are heirlooms passed down from his Grandpa. All guns have a lock, keys are in a separate place locked, ammunition is in a 3rd location. He could not use them for protection should something happen in our home unless the criminal was a candidate for a Darwin Award. I have never used a gun. My kids have had safety talks, but they don't know where the guns are and do not care.

 

[CPanther95]

There is no point. We have conceal carry in my state. Those guns would have bullets in them. My DH owns guns for hunting and some are heirlooms passed down from his Grandpa. All guns have a lock, keys are in a separate place locked, ammunition is in a 3rd location. He could not use them for protection should something happen in our home unless the criminal was a candidate for a Darwin Award. I have never used a gun. My kids have had safety talks, but they don't know where the guns are and do not care.

Yeah, there's no point in carrying a gun that isn't loaded and chambered.

At home, all guns or ammo should be locked or out of reach at least until the point that everyone in the household is familiar with their use. Even then, if they aren't locked up, they should be in a location that nobody at all (guests, workers, etc.) can access unless you are present. If that won't allow quick access in the event you need it - then there are fast access safes and lock boxes available.

... and no, you don't want an unloaded shotgun for home protection so that when you rack it, "the sound will scare off" an intruder.

 

[JoeA]

Thank you for answering the question. You are different because you said that you keep a gun at the ready and I was asking about the PP who said that guns should be kept unloaded at all times.

Maybe the car example was a bad one. People say at home they keep their gun in a gun safe. How is that helpful if someone breaks in in the middle of the night? You won't have time to get the gun if the intruder is standing over you when you wake up. I'm not trying to be argumentative, just trying to maybe see a different angle.

Chances are, if you wake up when the person is already on you then its too late to reach for a gun, locked up or not. Having something for self defense, under lock, is really for those times when you hear something go bump in the night, when nothing is supposed to be bumping! There are also biometric safes which open quickly that you can leave at your bedside. In my situation, I don't have children at home so I would feel safe having a gun unlocked and quickly accessible.

People have guns for different reason. Some say defense, some just to target shoot, others to hunt. I have long guns in the basement that are stored, unloaded, with a trigger lock. If these were intended for self defense then I'd have to ask the person breaking in if they'd like some coffee and to give me 10 mins and I'll be right back!

And honestly, there are people who have a pistol locked in a safe that just haven't a clue! Chances are these people will get themselves killed if they tried to use the darn thing.

 

[CPanther95]

Chances are, if you wake up when the person is already on you then.........

...it's time to have a nice long talk with your dogs.

 

[LisaR]

The Dallas police released a picture of an armed man who was thought to be the shooter. He was completely innocent, as I'm sure everyone is aware of. I read a statement from a relative or friend of his the next day that said the gun that he was carrying in that picture wasn't even loaded. I don't know if that statement proved to be true or false, but if true my question is WHY??? What would be the point of strapping a gun to your back at a crowded event and not being prepared to use it if necessary? If the whole point of being able to carry a gun out in public is for protection, what's the point of an unloaded gun? Because he can. 'Merica.

 

[kimblebee]

Chances are, if you wake up when the person is already on you then its too late to reach for a gun, locked up or not. Having something for self defense, under lock, is really for those times when you hear something go bump in the night, when nothing is supposed to be bumping! There are also biometric safes which open quickly that you can leave at your bedside. In my situation, I don't have children at home so I would feel safe having a gun unlocked and quickly accessible.

People have guns for different reason. Some say defense, some just to target shoot, others to hunt. I have long guns in the basement that are stored, unloaded, with a trigger lock. If these were intended for self defense then I'd have to ask the person breaking in if they'd like some coffee and to give me 10 mins and I'll be right back!

And honestly, there are people who have a pistol locked in a safe that just haven't a clue! Chances are these people will get themselves killed if they tried to use the darn thing.

Thank you for this answer. It really does answer my questions without being rah rah guns.

 

[CPanther95]

The Dallas police released a picture of an armed man who was thought to be the shooter. He was completely innocent, as I'm sure everyone is aware of. I read a statement from a relative or friend of his the next day that said the gun that he was carrying in that picture wasn't even loaded. I don't know if that statement proved to be true or false, but if true my question is WHY??? What would be the point of strapping a gun to your back at a crowded event and not being prepared to use it if necessary? If the whole point of being able to carry a gun out in public is for protection, what's the point of an unloaded gun? Because he can. 'Merica.

That's a case of symbolism over substance. Clearly he wasn't carrying it for protection.

Could be he just didn't want to leave it in his car with so many people around.

 

[LisaR]

That's a case of symbolism over substance. Clearly he wasn't carrying it for protection.

Could be he just didn't want to leave it in his car with so many people around.

I'm going with symbolism because the easy solution would have been to leave it at home if he was concerned about it being in his car. Another one of those sentences I must have missed in the 2nd amendment: "And to allow all people to carry their guns anywhere just as an act of symbolism in this great country of ours."

 

[CPanther95]

I'm going with symbolism because the easy solution would have been to leave it at home if he was concerned about it being in his car. Another one of those sentences I must have missed in the 2nd amendment: "And to allow all people to carry their guns anywhere just as an act of symbolism in this great country of ours."

The 2nd Amendment says he has the right to bear arms - if he chooses not to load it, that's on him.

Just like the 4th Amendment gives us the right to not be illegally searched, but if you're dumb enough to hang a kilo of cocaine in a Zip-loc bag around your neck in full view - you're not going to get the advantage of it.

For some, the pursuit of happiness is the freedom of not having to think too much.

 

[LisaR]

The 2nd Amendment says he has the right to bear arms - if he chooses not to load it, that's on him.

Just like the 4th Amendment gives us the right to not be illegally searched, but if you're dumb enough to hang a kilo of cocaine in a Zip-loc bag around your neck in full view - you're not going to get the advantage of it.

For some, the pursuit of happiness is the freedom of not having to think too much.

We all have our own interpretation of the meaning of the right to bear arms and that's an argument that gets us nowhere so I'll drop it.

I will agree that he was not doing anything illegal by carrying an unloaded weapon on his back. So proud of my country.

 

[okeydokey]

If you look at the number of children in the US who are easily able to pick up a gun sitting on their kitchen table, in a bedroom, by the front door, or in the console of their car and proceed to shoot themselves, their parent, sibling, cousin, friend, grandparent, or neighbor, you'll realize that there are plenty of people who do not keep their guns locked up or, in many cases, even hidden.

Kids get into locked gun safes too. My coworker has a friend that lost his 18 year old son to suicide with the Dad's gun, that was locked away. Unless you carry the key 24/7 your kids have access to your guns.

 

[CPanther95]

Kids get into locked gun safes too. My coworker has a friend that lost his 18 year old son to suicide with the Dad's gun, that was locked away. Unless you carry the key 24/7 your kids have access to your guns.

That's why it's important to teach them gun safety. There are many things in the house that could be deadly if a child has access and doesn't know how to safely handle or has been effectively taught to avoid.

Of course there's not a whole lot you can do about an 18 year old that wants to commit suicide unless you get him help - or lock him up instead of the guns.