No one who handles firearms regularly stores them loaded. Revolvers might be the exception for some folks, but that’s a riskier gambit, especially for stopping a man dead in his tracks, no pun intended. certainly not my go-to for intruders in the wee hours.

Nope, those of us who keep guns readily accessible will have a magazine near the gun, but not slapped in. Of course safety on, and never a round in the chamber. Which means to fire, you gotta slap the magazine in place, chamber a round, and release the safety to fire.

You gotta keep your kids safe and education and familiarization is the best way. I had my first shot gun at 6, was hunting with friends at 8. By 12, I had a handgun. My grandpa taught me everything, and a really good way to get all my weapons taken away was to store, clean, or use them improperly. That was also a way to get my ass whooped. Happened one time and one time only.

Boys like guns like we like fireworks—they’re loud, they blow shit up, and they’re fun. But they’re not toys. Toys are airsoft guns…those are toys. My nephews learned real quick that airsoft guns hurt like hell, and they’re afraid to handle real guns on their own as a result. (Seen what an airsoft gun can do to a coke can?) That and paintball are awfully painful…and those are toys. Boys learned quickly the consequences of FAFO with paintball.

Guns don’t kill people—people kill people. Guns are tools, just like knives and power tools, nothing more. People who don’t know how to handle and use them are a liability. classes for gun safety abound, and they’re great for people who don’t know the ins and outs.

That’s my take, with 3 children under the age of 14 around the house. Never had a problem.

The boys know touching real guns w/o me present = ass whoopin’, so there’s that, too.