>>When I have kids, my guns and ammo won't be locked. They will be in their cases in an off-limit area, and if they show an interest in them they will be educated.
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>Is that legal where you live? I'd expect it to be child endangerment at least.
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>Also, does that mean you'll never allow your kids to have their friends in the house?
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>I'm raising all this as a serious issue. Kids do stupid things. That's why we go out of our way to protect them, so that the stupid things they do don't kill them or ruin their lives.
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>Having unlocked guns, even if they're off-limits, seems to me highly risky.
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>Tamar

I went through childhood in the same environment. I knew my dad's guns were off limits. My wife went through the same situation, although her's was a bit more extreme. Her dad kept a loaded shotgun behind his bedroom door.

Now that I think about it, I will probably get a case with a lock on it simply for storage, and if there is a lock on it I will use it. I don't have kids now but when I do I'm sure I will soften quite a bit. When they are old enough, I will buy them a gun and it will be their responsibility to handle it, clean it, store it, and be responsible for it.