What age should I start locking my gun in the safe so the little one can't get to it?

[Adawg38]

I have a 10 month old, she's starting to pull herself up and stand. She should be walking soon. I have all the childproof stuff setup and the baby gate. I lock up the guns in the safe in my closet except my CC. I usually keep it in my dresser drawer at night but sometimes when I come home from carrying it I unload the chamber and put it on the kitchen table until bedtime which is pretty high. My question is to be safe for her when should I start locking it away so she can't get to it?

I am guessing she won't be tall enough to get to most things for a while but I don't know at what age them little ones start snooping around. I probably have a while but I thought about getting a handgun safe and bolting it down to the ledge above my bed and just putting it in there at night.

[blacklabel]

To be safe and to build the proper habit, I either keep my handgun on my person or locked up. This results in me carrying around the house a lot as I'd rather not have my handgun locked up in the event that I need it.

[cstone]

To be safe and to build the proper habit, I either keep my handgun on my person or locked up. This results in me carrying around the house a lot as I'd rather not have my handgun locked up in the event that I need it.

This!

Your house, your call. For me, the first problem was me. I need to build a routine to establish self discipline on properly storing my weapons. The kids are only a secondary issue. They will surprise you in many ways as they are growing up. Often their first steps or first (insert verb) comes before you are prepared and may happen when you are not present.

I pray that no one reading this ever has to go through the horror of having someone injured by their gun because it was not maintained in a safe manner.

Once more; Your house, Your call. You do what you can live with and no one else can tell you what is right or wrong for you.

Be safe.

[Adawg38]

I think you guys nailed it! I'm not good at getting myself into a g habit but easily form bad ones. I should get into the habit and now because I couldn't live with myself later if I thought it was safe and left it out and she still got to it. I think I'll snatch me up a good handgun safe like I said to bolt to the ledge on the wall by the bed to lock up at night. Need to figure out something for the day because I'd hate not to have it accessible to me if needed downstairs in another room but I don't know if it'd be comfortable wearing it all day long.

[cofi]

i have a 2 year old my handgun stays on me at all times and the ar is unchambered(bolt closed) and on safe.....that being said shes been taught to steer a wide course around all the gun stuff anyway

[blacklabel]

Cofi brings up another good point. Teaching your child to treat firearms with respect can start at a very early age.

[Skully]

My stuff is always locked up.

I have a 3 and almost 5 year old that I expose to them all the time; however no free access so to speak. When my oldest turns 5 I will introduce him to a BB gun then a .22. ( as my father did with me)

I also have Foster Kids that by state regs I CANNOT expose them to it. (goofy rule) I do not let them see it and do so when they are not around or I go to my man cave (the garage).

[JM Ver. 2.0]

My stuff is always locked up.

I have a 3 and almost 5 year old that I expose to them all the time; however no free access so to speak. When my oldest turns 5 I will introduce him to a BB gun then a .22. ( as my father did with me)

I also have Foster Kids that by state regs I CANNOT expose them to it. (goofy rule) I do not let them see it and do so when they are not around or I go to my man cave (the garage).

That's kind of a stupid rule...

[Skully]

That's kind of a stupid rule...

Yes it is, one of the foster boys, he is 18 is in scouts and they were going to do target shooting and his troop was looking for an NRA instructor, his social worker told him Adams county and the state frowns on that he was not allowed to go to it.

I was asked to keep my stuff hidden from them as well.

My boys, I grill them each time I am working on my stuff of what it is and what is safe. I remember the best respect for them when I was young was when my dad took me shooting to watch. After hearing the noise and what they did I was somewhat scared, then learned to respect them as a tool and what they can do.

Kids are smart and can get in to everything...............even at 1 year old, basically as soon as they can walk and figure out where the cool stuff is at.

[SideShow Bob]

You should have started good firearms habits when you first bought your handgun.
Before you had a child did you leave your handgun unsecured when you were not at home, merely hiding it by tucking it under your banana hammocks in the undies drawer ?