By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
twesterm on 08 March 2010
Edit Thread
FreeTalkLive said:
twesterm said:
FreeTalkLive said:
twesterm said:

God I hope they don't blame this on games and not on the dumb-shit stepfather that left a loaded gun where a three year old could get a hold of it.

There's absolutely no excuse for that and I hope they charge him for manslaughter.

It's perfectly fine to own guns, but:

  1. You should be taught in gun safety
  2. Don't fucking leave it loaded
  3. Leave it locked somewhere so that only the people who you want can have access to it

Rule #1 makes sense.

Though, leaving a gun loaded isn't usually a bad thing.  Also, leaving a gun locked up isn't usually needed, nor is it always a good thing.

What?

Don't get me wrong, I live in Texas and grew up on a farm so I'm all about guns but I'm sorry, you absolutely do not leave a loaded gun lying around and you don't leave it in a place where others can get a hold of it.  Violating both of those is just incredibly irresponsible and that's exactly how accidents like this happen.

You should never leave even an unloaded gun where a three year old can pick it up and if you're not using the gun it should be locked up somewhere where only specific people have access to it.  Gun safes are cheap these days and they are quick to get into if you have the access and do an excellent job of keeping the wrong people out.

 

It seems as though we are talking around each other :)

You said, "Don't fucking leave it loaded"

I replied, "leaving a gun loaded isn't usually a bad thing"

Neither one of us mentioned about leaving a gun loaded and leaving it lying around together (well, you just did in your latest post).  I don't recommend that either.  But an adult leaving a gun loaded in their bedroom in the closet up high.  Or taking it out and putting it in their night stand at night, well, that isn't bad parenting or bad in any way. 

I don't recommend using a gun safe, at least at night.  It seems like a very bad idea.  But it is up to you.  I would never use one, especially in a place like TN (one of the most dangerous states in the US).

A gun shouldn't be left out loaded unless a sober adult in right next to the gun or at least someone with good gun safety practice.

I've been mentioning don't leave a loaded gun laying around since my first post. 

But even leaving one stowed away high up in a closet is a bad idea.  It works when you have a three year old but not-so-much with a 10 year old who snoops.  I mean how many of us when we were young didn't snoop through the house?  No matter how well you hide your weapon, a kid who isn't supposed to find it is potentially going to find it. 

What would be your excuse if your kid found your hidden gun and shot himself?  What would be your excuse if a kids friend found your hidden gun and shot somebody?  Sure, both of them aren't supposed to be snooping, but we know they do.  You could justify yourself by saying you thought you had it properly hidden but someone still came out shot which is on your concious since you didn't do everything you could do.

And again, safes are as quick as you need them to be.  They aren't any slower than keeping one stowed away in a closet and are infinite amounts safer than keeping it sitting on your nightstand (which is just  a terrible idea).

Both of your cases, leaving a gun up high or leaving it on the nightstand, just both open you up for huge amounts of trouble.  Having a gun in a finger print safe allows you to control exactly who has access and they are quick.  With something like that you do not have to hide the gun in some funny place, you can leave it in your nightstand or under your bed and still be safe while not worrying about unauthorized access.

Not being able to find or afford something like a small fingerprint safe is just bullshit.  If you can afford a gun, you can afford that safe because, again, it's just irresponsible not to have one.