Toddlers are curious creatures, especially when it comes to handguns. Many have died just because they have gotten their hands on them. The bulk of the responsibility lies on the parents. So if you intend to bring a gun into your home with toddlers around, here are a few things that you need to do to keep it out of little hands.
Lock It Up
Lock up your guns. Yes, you have them there for protection. But the truth is it’s less likely that you’ll use them to shoot an intruder than that your toddler will get their hands on them. The safest means is to lock up the gun and place it in a very high place. Make sure that the key is in a different place from the gun. Do not leave it in the lock.
Keep It Unloaded
Take your gun safety course so that you know when your gun is unloaded. Never load your gun unless you intend to use it. In that case, take your gun to the shooting range first and then load it. Keep your bullets separated from your gun. Always be aware of whether or not a round is chambered. If it is and you are keeping it that way, please rethink your plans. Some guns are very sensitive and may go off without any interaction.
Keep the Safety On
The safety is designed for a specific reason, to prevent your gun from inadvertently discharging. Safety is always a big issue around toddlers. If that safety isn’t on and your toddler gets a hold of that gun, there will be trouble. The safety is the very last chance you have to prevent a tragedy in your family.
Put It Up High
The trick with keeping things out of a toddler’s reach is to keep it up high in an area that they can’t climb to. Drawers, shelves, couches, nightstands, and other things are all potential ladders for toddlers. Just putting your gun high on a shelf isn’t going to work well. You also have to make sure that they have no way to access the area.
Teach Your Toddler Gun Safety
Gun safety for toddlers is pretty simple. Any parent can easily teach these principles. Stop, don’t touch, and tell a grownup are the basics. Reinforce these ideas on a consistent basis so that toddlers remember the safety rules.
If you have a gun in your home and you have toddlers, you have to shoulder all the responsibility for that gun. But that gun will not offer any protection — only tragedy — if your toddler gets a hold of it.
I cringe at the thought of guns being in the house at all when there are children in the home. Young or teens, I just think it’s never a good idea.
I will own one probably some time for self-protection but only after the kids are out of the house.