{"id":56820,"date":"2016-05-26T11:18:14","date_gmt":"2016-05-26T15:18:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=56820"},"modified":"2016-05-26T11:18:14","modified_gmt":"2023-08-19T13:09:48","slug":"kids-guns-storage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/kids-guns-storage\/","title":{"rendered":"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_57135\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57135\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-57135\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dillen2-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"If kids can see it, they will try to get it. Keep your firearms locked and them safe! \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dillen2-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dillen2-113x150.jpg 113w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dillen2.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-57135\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">If kids can see it, they will try to get it. Keep your firearms locked up and safe!<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Introduction:<\/h2>\n<p>The\u00a0Kids and Guns series began with a look at\u00a0guns as part of our American heritage and how the views that our children\u00a0hold are\u00a0influenced by the role that guns play in their lives. \u00a0 Part of setting the stage for that role is safety. In this piece, we are going to discuss safe storage of firearms.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m going to tell you some of what I do, but I&#8217;m not going to tell you everything\u00a0because you\u00a0need\u00a0to choose what is right for you and your family. And, while storing guns safely must always be a priority, storing guns when you have children in the house can be much different than storing guns when you don&#8217;t. Your kids are different than my kids, and from your neighbor&#8217;s kids. We need to understand that we can&#8217;t take a\u00a0cookie-cutter approach\u00a0to keeping\u00a0our\u00a0families and guns safe.<\/p>\n<h2>The Series<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/kids-guns-series-introduction\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"kids-guns-storage\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\">The Basics<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Storage<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/kids-and-guns-teach-your-children-well\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"kids-guns-storage\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\">Teaching<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/kids-and-guns-rimfire-fun\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"kids-guns-storage\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\">Rimfire<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/kids-and-guns-take-your-children-hunting\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"kids-guns-storage\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\">Hunting<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/kids-and-guns-four-reasons-to-start-competitive-shooting\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"kids-guns-storage\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\">Competitive Shooting<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Shotguns<\/li>\n<li>Pistols<\/li>\n<li>Revolvers<\/li>\n<li>Older kids<\/li>\n<li>Tactical Kids<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_56949\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-56949\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\" class=\"wp-image-56949 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/hear-no-see-no-speak-no-1024x225.jpg\" alt=\"Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. Sometimes gun owners can be reluctant to talk about how they store guns.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/hear-no-see-no-speak-no-1024x225.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/hear-no-see-no-speak-no-150x33.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/hear-no-see-no-speak-no-400x88.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/hear-no-see-no-speak-no-768x169.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/hear-no-see-no-speak-no.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-56949\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. Sometimes gun owners can be reluctant to talk about how they store guns.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Talking About Storage<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some people take a \u201cdon\u2019t ask, don\u2019t tell\u201d approach to gun storage. Talking about where you store your guns with your friends is different than talking about where you store your guns with the public. There are two sides to be considered in the cost\/benefit evaluation of securing firearms: on the one hand, if it\u2019s locked, you cannot access it as quickly when you need it; on the flip side, if it\u2019s locked those who don\u2019t need it can\u2019t get it. We have to find a middle ground, some place between pegs over the fireplace mantel and a\u00a0biometric\u00a0security system. We have to plan to secure our firearms from Houdini-like toddlers, yet still have them readily available when needed. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But HOW do you store your guns when you have kids?\u00a0This\u00a0is going to depend on your kids, your lifestyle, and your family and friends. If you live in a neighborhood, like a good friend of mine, and there&#8217;s a chance that you might come home from work\u00a0to find\u00a0a neighborhood girl eating a hotdog\u00a0in your kitchen &#8212; and nobody else in your house &#8212; then\u00a0you\u2019re going to want to very securely lock up your firearms! If you live with teenagers who compete in\u00a0shooting sports and practice with guns on a daily basis, your needs are going to be very\u00a0different. There\u2019s no \u201cone size fits all\u201d when it comes to guns, whether it carrying them, shooting them or storing them! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Step 1 &#8211; Assess<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What do you have?\u00a0Why do you have it? I might use a gun to compete, but not to hunt. You might use a gun to keep livestock\u00a0safe from predators. Someone else might need a gun because their job requires it (LEO &amp; military). \u00a0Based on the utility of the firearms you have, you can then decide where and how to store them. \u00a0In all these situations, we should consider what happens if someone who shouldn&#8217;t have access to our guns suddenly and without permission gains access to them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How many layers do you need? \u00a0By layers, I mean things like a safe, a trigger lock, or a separate lock box for ammo (maybe you have some really smart kids who want to investigate everything). \u00a0Do you own a business and need to conceal your safe? \u00a0You want to store your guns and ammo separate from each other, especially with kids around, but what&#8217;s the best way for YOU to do that? \u00a0You have to do some\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrafamily.org\/articles\/2016\/4\/14\/6-ways-to-safely-store-your-firearms\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"kids-guns-storage\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\">research<\/a>\u00a0and fairly assess your situation and the children in your house. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Step 2 &#8211; Research<\/b><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_57136\" style=\"width: 348px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57136\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\" class=\"wp-image-57136 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/andrew-safe-1.jpg\" alt=\"Little people sometimes call for BIG effort when it comes to keeping them safe. \" width=\"338\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/andrew-safe-1.jpg 338w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/andrew-safe-1-85x150.jpg 85w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/andrew-safe-1-169x300.jpg 169w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-57136\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Little people sometimes call for BIG effort when it comes to keeping them safe.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>One\u00a0place to start your assessment is\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectchildsafe.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"kids-guns-storage\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\">Project Childsafe<\/a>. They have many helpful links, including links to various types of safes and locks as well as links to firearms safety <a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectchildsafe.org\/news-events\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"kids-guns-storage\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\">seminars<\/a> at accessible locations like your local Bass Pro Shop and other venues where you\u00a0and your kids can learn together. \u00a0Even\u00a0handling guns to store them requires a basic understanding of the <a href=\"https:\/\/training.nra.org\/nra-gun-safety-rules.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"kids-guns-storage\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\">rules of firearms safety.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The\u00a0NRA&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/eddieeagle.nra.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"kids-guns-storage\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\">Eddie Eagle<\/a> program isn&#8217;t gun safety training per se\u00a0or a firearms storage guideline, but it provides insight you should\u00a0consider. \u00a0It\u00a0is geared toward\u00a0awareness. \u00a0Its target audience is\u00a0the youngest crowd, the kids who don&#8217;t understand the implications of the word &#8220;firearm&#8221;\u00a0because they&#8217;re not old enough. The goal of the program\u00a0is to instill a sense that the object they\u2019ve encountered is something they should tell an adult about right away. They should do this not out of fear, but to inform\u00a0the big people that the little people can see it, because if they see it, they can probably get it. While one\u00a0particular child may have no intention of laying hands on it, some other little person might. The goal of Eddie Eagle is to teach youngsters, as the slogan goes, &#8220;Stop. Don&#8217;t touch. \u00a0Leave the area. Tell an adult.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>In addition to knowing what kids can see, we should also have a clear idea of how well they understand firearms. \u00a0If you shoot infrequently\u00a0or only have a firearm for home defense, your kids might not have ever handled a gun, and that&#8217;s a much different scenario than kids of parents who shoot or hunt often. \u00a0For a parent of toddlers, understanding what they know about guns\u00a0might mean any guns not in a big safe are in lock boxes. \u00a0For a parent of teens that do competitive shooting, this might mean they have access to specific firearms as well as parameters set on where they can dry fire and where ammunition is kept. \u00a0For parents with a neighborhood gaggle of kids coming and going through their home, this might mean guns are kept in a completely separate area of the house that kids cannot access.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Step 3 &#8211; Shop Around <\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Now that\u00a0you\u2019ve assessed your needs, and established some of the things you need to take into account, \u00a0you should shop around. Don\u2019t just rush out and buy something in haste. Guns are not going to wander off, like a goat looking for brass to eat. \u00a0Check out your friend\u2019s safes by asking them (if they are comfortable discussing this) how many guns they have and where they keep them. (This is not a joke, so make sure they\u2019re good friends or they might not be so forthcoming.) \u00a0You\u2019ll often see some innovative things like safe doors placed into reinforced walls, or inexpensive safes bolted to the studs of a closet from inside the safe. You might get to see safes with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/championsafe.com\/features\/interior-options\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"kids-guns-storage\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">door pockets<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cannonsafe.com\/options-accessories\/pistol-holster.html\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"kids-guns-storage\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">adjustable shelves,<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> configurable <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/GunClub-Hanger-Original-Handgun-Hangers\/dp\/B00AWHLTYM\/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1462389748&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=gun+safe+rack\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"kids-guns-storage\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">racks<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, or even old, old safes that were never intended for guns, but were cheap and built like a bunker.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_57138\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57138\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-57138\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/paper-safe-400x265.jpg\" alt=\"An old safe, not initially intended for guns, but it works great. \" width=\"400\" height=\"265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/paper-safe-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/paper-safe-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/paper-safe.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-57138\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An old safe, not initially intended for guns, but it works great.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Maybe you want to build a safe room! \u00a0There are plenty of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunssavelife.com\/?p=16443\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"kids-guns-storage\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\">articles<\/a> that lay out considerations\u00a0like moisture, size ,etc. \u00a0 I&#8217;ve seen garage safe rooms with a safe door and reinforced walls, basement safe rooms with extra concrete and locking doors. \u00a0If you have a walk-in closet with a door that your gun safe can fit through, you could fit a\u00a0solid core door with\u00a0a deadbolt, reinforce the door\u00a0frame, and have a safe room pretty simply.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You might need a small, single gun safe or lock box that you can access quickly. One option parents with small children who don&#8217;t need a big safe often use are\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunvault.com\/speedvault-biometric-svb500.html \" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"kids-guns-storage\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\">speed vaults<\/a>. \u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0If I have a curious toddler who investigates everything, I can\u2019t leave a gun in a place I can get to fast, because there is a chance they can get it also. \u00a0A speed vault is a great option for gun owners who only own a single weapon or want fast access to one for self-defense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Shopping for a safe can be fun too &#8211; once you&#8217;ve considered all the safety and legal ramifications that come with owning guns, then you can focus on the cool safes and storage solutions.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_57134\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57134\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-57134\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dillen-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Competitive shooter, Dillen Easley says that, &quot;With 3 children (ages 3, 5, and 7), accidents are unacceptable, especially when completely avoidable. We have set a room aside for competition gear, reloading equipment, and safe storage of firearms. That room remains locked at all times, and the firearms safe has it's own locking system as well. Part of protecting our rights is realizing our responsibilities and taking them seriously. Our home defense firearms are kept secure, and out of reach, in similar areas in the house.&quot; \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dillen-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dillen-113x150.jpg 113w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dillen.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-57134\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DillenEasley3Gun\/?fref=ts\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"kids-guns-storage\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\">Competitive shooter, Dillen Easley<\/a> says that, &#8220;With my three children (ages 3, 5, and 7), accidents are unacceptable, especially when completely avoidable. We have set a room aside for competition gear, reloading equipment, and safe storage of firearms. That room remains locked at all times, and the firearms safe has its own locking system as well. Part of protecting our rights is realizing our responsibilities and taking them seriously. Our home defense firearms are kept secure, and out of reach, in similar areas in the house.&#8221;<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Step 4 &#8211; Implement the Plan<\/h2>\n<p>Once you decide what you want to buy and you\u00a0have\u00a0it, use it right! \u00a0Don&#8217;t leave guns out that belong\u00a0inside, don&#8217;t leave the key on top of the safe, don&#8217;t tape the code to the door of safe. \u00a0Put these things where you or other adults will be able to access them, but not the children! \u00a0And practice getting into your safe. \u00a0Can you\u00a0get in\u00a0without light? \u00a0Can your spouse do it?<\/p>\n<p>One plan I like for families with toddlers is putting things out of sight and out of mind. \u00a0Fellow competitive shooter, Dillen Easley, not only locks his guns up, but his ammo and reloading equipment as well. An entire locked room is part of their family&#8217;s plan, because he recognizes that his children&#8217;s lives are too precious\u00a0and that a plan for storage keeps them safe.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">My favorite safe is the one made up of an invisible substance: knowledge. \u00a0Knowledge of where MY gun is secured, what condition it\u2019s in (chamber empty but mag inserted, etc.), knowledge of\u00a0what I have to do to\u00a0access it, and who else knows about it. \u00a0The best thing you can do for yourself and your kids is to share the knowledge. So get a plan, learn it, and use it. \u00a0We use a combination of safes, plans, and rules. \u00a0I personally think that the rules and sticking to them are the most important part of storing your firearms!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Step 5 &#8211; Monitor Effectiveness<\/h2>\n<p>Once I have implemented my plan and I&#8217;ve lived with it for a while, I should\u00a0monitor\u00a0its effectiveness. \u00a0Are the measures I&#8217;m taking necessary and working? \u00a0If my kids are young and curious, I probably don&#8217;t want to bring them into this activity. \u00a0I might watch them when I&#8217;m going into the safe and see if they know how to work it, or simply ensure they are not around to observe when I am accessing it. \u00a0I might check if they&#8217;ve somehow used their genius child brain to crack the safe&#8217;s access code on the keypad. \u00a0If my kids are older, I should talk with them, I should ask if this has kept our firearms safe when their friends are visiting. \u00a0Do they actually know how to access the guns?<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the children, what about your spouse? \u00a0I know many husbands joke about not wanting their wives to know how many guns they have, but your spouse SHOULD know the access code or where a key is, and be able to use the home-defense firearms. \u00a0 This step might make us realize that we need to take our spouse to the range\u00a0so they can\u00a0take an active role in storing firearms. \u00a0Every adult should know where and how to access the guns the family owns, as well as how to put them away safely.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_57142\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57142\" title=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-57142\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/safe-cabinet-400x261.jpg\" alt=\"Safes come in all shapes and sizes, but using one is the most important part of owning a gun safe.\" width=\"400\" height=\"261\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/safe-cabinet-400x261.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/safe-cabinet-150x98.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/safe-cabinet.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-57142\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Safes come in all shapes and sizes, but using one is the most important part of owning a gun safe.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The\u00a0best thing we\u00a0can to do to keep kids and our guns safe is to teach them. Teach them safe firearms handling, to be aware of their surroundings and who they are with, and to put their guns away when they\u2019re not at home.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0We\u00a0need to stay\u00a0aware of the fast-changing skills of children. \u00a0Because honestly, once you have kids, everything is dangerous. They\u2019re inching you toward your grave, one gray hair at a time. Don\u2019t give them any wiggle room when it comes to firearms. Lock up what they shouldn\u2019t have, train them not to touch, and once they\u2019re older and can begin internalizing the safety rules, you will need to reassess how you store guns. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On a side note, I\u2019m writing this while on the road traveling, my husband at work in his patrol car. \u00a0My 16 and 11-year old children are at home. \u00a0I know their understanding of safety and their skill in handling firearms. My mind is at peace that they are safe with the guns. The new tree swing is another concern!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;m going to tell you some of what I do, but I&#8217;m not going to tell you everything because you need to choose what is right for you and your family. And storing guns when you have children in the house is much different than storing guns when you don&#8217;t.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":54862,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,491],"tags":[132,578,624],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-56820","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gunsamerica-authors","8":"category-becky-yackley","9":"tag-buzz","10":"tag-kids-and-guns","11":"tag-safes"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I&#039;m going to tell you some of what I do, but I&#039;m not going to tell you everything because you need to choose what is right for you and your family.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/kids-guns-storage\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Kids and Guns: Important Tips for Safe Storage\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I&#039;m going to tell you some of what I do, but I&#039;m not going to tell you everything because you need to choose what is right for you and your family. 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