Best quick-access storage options for home with young kids?

[CHLSteve]

Along with getting my CHL and carry gun, I've found myself in the new situation of what to do with a loaded gun in the evenings. My handguns are normally locked up with a cable lock, which of course is about as useful as a 2lb rock if you were to actually need the gun in a hurry. Carrying everyday leads to the hassle of constantly loading and unloading the gun to lock it up, not to mention being sent out for milk at 10:00 PM!

So, my question is what are some of the best ways to deal with this? I figure a nightstand safe would give me quick access to a fully loaded gun, yet make it inaccessible to my children.

Secondly, thinking along the lines of a nightstand safe, what do you guys like in that arena? Keyed lock or combination? Biometric? I don't know if the Bio safes are really worth anything or not. I also figured I could keep a nightsafe with the key in the lock at night--attached to my car keys. When I get up and leave the house, the keys have to come out and go with me, but they would be in the right place at night if needed.

[Excaliber]

Along with getting my CHL and carry gun, I've found myself in the new situation of what to do with a loaded gun in the evenings. My handguns are normally locked up with a cable lock, which of course is about as useful as a 2lb rock if you were to actually need the gun in a hurry. Carrying everyday leads to the hassle of constantly loading and unloading the gun to lock it up, not to mention being sent out for milk at 10:00 PM!

So, my question is what are some of the best ways to deal with this? I figure a nightstand safe would give me quick access to a fully loaded gun, yet make it inaccessible to my children.

Secondly, thinking along the lines of a nightstand safe, what do you guys like in that arena? Keyed lock or combination? Biometric? I don't know if the Bio safes are really worth anything or not. I also figured I could keep a nightsafe with the key in the lock at night--attached to my car keys. When I get up and leave the house, the keys have to come out and go with me, but they would be in the right place at night if needed.

In view of the fact that if you have to open your nightstand safe in an emergency, your are likely to be in a hurry and trembling some, I would prioritize the preferred mechanisms this way:

1. Biometric Warning - they're not cheap.
2. Combination
3. Key

With biometrics you can't accidentally leave the "key" accessible to someone else. Same with a combination unit unless you do something like posting a sticky note next to the safe.

If a combination unit is chosen, it should be one that either lights up or has some other means of allowing you to open it reliably in the dark.

The unit should also be securely bolted down so someone can't walk off with the whole box with the gun inside.

[NcongruNt]

I have had good experience with the GunVault 1000 mini safe as a lockbox for my van. It is quickly accessible, and allows you to choose how complicated you want your entry combo to be. Rather than numbers, it uses a combination of finger-pushes that can be done easily in the dark. It can be mounted in a number of places, and would make a good bedside safe, IMO.

http://www.gunvault.com/minisafe.nxg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kd5zex]

I have a six year old, a four year old and a 2 month old. I don't worry about the two month old right now, she pretty much stays put. My carry pistol is on my belt until I go to bed where it then sits on the nightstand (holstered). If there is a situation where I am awake and not carrying I place it in one of those cheap green "Stack-On" cabinets with the keyed lock on the door which is in our bedroom.

There are other important aspects to my technique but I am sure you are aware of them and probably don't want to hear about our sleeping habits or child raisin' techniques.

[CHLSteve]

My carry pistol is on my belt until I go to bed where it then sits on the nightstand (holstered).

...probably don't want to hear about our sleeping habits or child raisin' techniques.

I did that once, took off in a hurry while running late, and then had to call my wife and wake her early in the morning asking her to lock the gun I left sitting in the nightstand.

If you've got any interesting child rasin' tactics, I'm all ears. I figured I'd put this out there to see what works, as I think keeping your gun accessible, yet secure is the most important thing. I constantly go over the gun safty rules with my son too.

[CopOnce]

I constantly go over the gun safty rules with my son too.

You hit the nail on the head...Teaching your children is most important!

As a police officer, I always had my weapon with me even off duty. When I went to sleep,it was there next to the bed. I have never forgotten in all my years that I had my handgun there. My kids are into their 40's and they still talk about how the old man taught them about the do's and don't's of his handguns, or any handgun for that matter. My Son has a permit to carry as do I, and I'm very proud when I see him handle that weapon like I taught him so many years ago.

[srothstein]

Well, my first advice is child raising. Instead of child proofing your gun storage, gun proof your children. I took mine shooting with me from a very early age. I let them shoot and even gave them their own rifles on their tenth birthday. All of this helps to remove the mystique of guns from their interest.Then I emphasized respect for the property of others. They had to ask permission to touch anything of mine, including guns, computers, tools, etc. I also respected their property the same way, such as asking if I could play their video games. It seems to have worked for me, with all seven children.

Of course, I do not know how old your children are or where in the raising stage you are with them. So, my second piece of advice may also not work. This is a great idea for very young children. There is a trigger lock on the market (I don't remember the name, sorry) that is just a spring loaded cover for the trigger guard. The spring is heavy and cannot be opened by a young child but an adult could get it to work in a hurry with no key or other fine movements you might not be able to perform under pressure. The downfall of this is that a child gets a lot stronger than most adults realize at a lot earlier age. By the time they are seven or eight (I think) they would be able to figure out how to get the leverage to remove the lock. So this will work with very young children and with all kids when in combination with my first suggestion.

Other than that, I agree that a biometric is probably the easiest to open under stress. A key would be second in my opinion and your idea of the key on your car key ring so you cannot leave without it is also very good.

[kd5zex]

If you've got any interesting child rasin' tactics, I'm all ears. I figured I'd put this out there to see what works, as I think keeping your gun accessible, yet secure is the most important thing. I constantly go over the gun safty rules with my son too.

Probably not interesting but here goes.

You are right about talking about the rules. With my kidos there is little to no mystique to firearms for them. If they ask, we get them out and talk about them while going over the rules. They do have a good time trying to "make" me and when they do we talk about keeping our "family secret". I would say its important to include the little ones and not try to hide firearms from them.

Ultimately, you know your children best and have to do what you feel is safest.

If you decide to go with a safe type of device I recommend one with a simple fingertip combination mechanism. Like this

On being late; If I take nothing else away from parenting it will be not worrying about being late. Once you are late, you're late. A few seconds or even a few minutes is not going to matter. I think it has been this practice that has slowed my hair loss...

all seven children

Wow!

[GrayHawk]

I agree with everyone else as far as teaching your children first and foremost. My children were very young and knew not to touch dad's guns. That being said, we all know kids will be kids and don't always remember or follow the rules. Some type of gun safe would be best, but in the heat of the moment you might be hard pressed to actually get into it. My worry about a nightstand gun when I had kids at home, was a late night or early early morning encouter, not with an intruder, but with one of my young kids. More than once they would leave their bed and wander around the house or wander into our bedroom. I have been startled more than once by a child standing at the side of the bed, eye level to me, just staring at me or reaching up and touching my face while I was asleep. I kept my gun on the top shelf of the bedroom closet, well out of reach of everyone. The gun was unloaded. I kept the magazine (if automatic) or a speedloader (if revolver) on the nightstand. If I needed the weapon, I would have to grap the mag, actually get up and get the gun in the closet and load it. By that time (which only takes seconds) I was awake and able to identify any threat. I was more than willing to take the extra steps than have a tragedy occur. Now today, with grandkids, I still maintain this same habit even though their overnight stays are few. Now if you forget something in the morning on the way to work, its only a loaded clip or speedloader, not near as dangerous as a loaded gun. And honestly, we all prepare for intruders, but actually what are the real odds? If I have kids, I'll be prepared, bet on the odds, and keep my kids safe.

[Purplehood]

It's not my kids that I would be worrying about, it is their buddies.

Can anyone link the "finger-push" combo lock they were talking about?

[RPBrown]

I agree with everyone else as far as teaching your children first and foremost. My children were very young and knew not to touch dad's guns. That being said, we all know kids will be kids and don't always remember or follow the rules. Some type of gun safe would be best, but in the heat of the moment you might be hard pressed to actually get into it. My worry about a nightstand gun when I had kids at home, was a late night or early early morning encouter, not with an intruder, but with one of my young kids. More than once they would leave their bed and wander around the house or wander into our bedroom. I have been startled more than once by a child standing at the side of the bed, eye level to me, just staring at me or reaching up and touching my face while I was asleep. I kept my gun on the top shelf of the bedroom closet, well out of reach of everyone. The gun was unloaded. I kept the magazine (if automatic) or a speedloader (if revolver) on the nightstand. If I needed the weapon, I would have to grap the mag, actually get up and get the gun in the closet and load it. By that time (which only takes seconds) I was awake and able to identify any threat. I was more than willing to take the extra steps than have a tragedy occur. Now today, with grandkids, I still maintain this same habit even though their overnight stays are few. Now if you forget something in the morning on the way to work, its only a loaded clip or speedloader, not near as dangerous as a loaded gun. And honestly, we all prepare for intruders, but actually what are the real odds? If I have kids, I'll be prepared, bet on the odds, and keep my kids safe.

First, a biometric lock or electronic combination would be best (in that order). I have both now but the first was an electronic combination with a combiation I could easily find with my fingers in the dark.

Teaching the little ones is the best but not always fool proof. Hence the safe requirement. I too have little grandkids. Theay are taught from the time they can crawl not to touch.

However, if the kids get close enough to touch your face or be staring into your eyes to wake you up, its already too late. If this were intruders, your dead or injured.

I leave my weapon on the nightstand now unless the grandkids are there.

[Supercat]

When around the house, my carry gun is on me at all times. "If I have pants on there is a 100% chance I'm armed"

I have 4 children but do not "Lock" my carry gun when I am in bed. I mounted a shelf well out of there reach to which I attached (with Screws) a composite holster with the finger release where I stow it while I'm sleeping.

All of my children have been trained since they were very young on firearms safety, not that that is a lock.

I have a small house so locking in down (Trigger Lock or Safe) is not reasonable, buy the time I could bring it to bear they could have been in, attacked and back out.

[Excaliber]

It's not my kids that I would be worrying about, it is their buddies.

Can anyone link the "finger-push" combo lock they were talking about?

Ncongrunt provided it in an earlier post. Here it is again:

Gunvault

[CHLSteve]

As some others have mentioned, it's not my kids that I'm worried about as much as his friends. I know what my son knows, and I am confident he would make the right decision when faced with finding an unlocked firearm--at my house or anywhere else for that matter. However, he's 8, and I remember the mischief I got into when I was a boy. I have to leave the possibility of him "just being a curious kid" on the table. For that reason, I feel it is prudent for me to keep my guns locked up.

The Bio is the way I'll probably go, and there's no trouble getting that was past the wife. I was hoping someone here would have some experience or a recommendation on a particular model to get (or avoid!).

[Excaliber]

As some others have mentioned, it's not my kids that I'm worried about as much as his friends. I know what my son knows, and I am confident he would make the right decision when faced with finding an unlocked firearm--at my house or anywhere else for that matter. However, he's 8, and I remember the mischief I got into when I was a boy. I have to leave the possibility of him "just being a curious kid" on the table. For that reason, I feel it is prudent for me to keep my guns locked up.

The Bio is the way I'll probably go, and there's no trouble getting that was past the wife. I was hoping someone here would have some experience or a recommendation on a particular model to get (or avoid!).

A caution on the biometric safes:

While looking into things for this thread, I've come across a lot of posts on other forums that document repeated failures of the biometric reader device on gun boxes and manufacturers failing to honor or even respond to warranty claims. This issue affects products of both domestic and Asian manufacture.

At this point I would have to recommend staying away from the biometrics and going with the finger combination locking system of the type offered by Gunvault. WalMart has them for close to the hundred dollar mark.