There is one BIG difference.
When I'm home, my gun is on me or next to me. Always. And I sleep with a gun on my night stand.
If kids were around, the gun would be in a lock box at night, not on my night stand.
If kids were around, "next to me", wouldn't happen either.
So, for me, guns + kids would cause me to behave differently.
Again, I respectfully disagree strongly.
Your actions would comply 100% with the statement of mine that you quoted "if kids were around":
"Keeping guns safe from all people who have no business using them is part of responsible firearm ownership. "
Your actions would then satisfy my quote to a "T". You have taken steps to secure the firearm from unauthorized use, which is precisely my point. There would be no difference, either big or small. If you truly complied with that suggestion, then kids would make no difference. But you are not following that suggestion until children are around.
if that's how you feel you should act, then that's up to you. But if the firearm was truly secured against unauthorized use, then the kids' presence changes nothing. The emphasis here is 'children children children' and I don't really understand it, from a logic viewpoint:
"Quiet" kids sneak into your room and play with your pistol on the nightstand.
"Stealthy" home invaders might do the same thing. I guarantee you that I could sneak up on you while you're asleep. I can buy passable NVGs in the toy department these days, I don't need the classic burglar's bright flashlight
The idea that I suggest is to make sure the weapon is secure from unauthorized use. That means everyone, not just kids. In my opinion, stop worrying about 'The children" and start looking at the whole situation- kids are just one possible age group for people that shouldn't play with your guns. In your example, if I was spending the night in the guestroom, then the pistol would be...out on your nightstand? And I am more trustworthy than a child because....? I'm older? I can fool you while a child can't? I could have a drug problem. I could be mentally imbalanced. I could pop my cork. I could come back later and rob you.
I think it's much more applicable to consider all people as potential violators of gun safety, not just kids
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