handgun safe advice ?

HGM · Mar 11, 2006

( An unloaded firearm is as useful as a chainsaw without gas. It is a paper weight. It is not the object that is dangerous, it is the hand of the user.

For the gentleman from Europe; hoplophobia is a curable condition /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
)

I totally agree about the loaded weapon theory.. I have said many times that an unloaded gun is just another hammer.. While I have no reason to believe that I wouldnt have the presense of mind to rack one into the chamber when needed, I rather the element of surprise(no noise).. Granted, some will say that the noise is a sufficient deterent and you may never have to shoot,, but if someone is in my house uninvited, threatening my family, they will not be walking out.. Some animals dont have the ability to learn, I wont give them a second chance.. When I bought my first handgun(Ruger P-90), I was searching for the modle with a saftey.. The store didnt have that modle, all he carried was the decocker model.. He asked me why I wanted a saftey.. I quickly responded(duh) because its safer.... He laughed, then asked me if I had ever carried a revolver..The answer was yes, as I had hunted with the .41Mag that my grandfather gave me, on my hip for a few years.. He then made the point, have you ever had an accident or missfire with it? "Well, no" I said... Anyhow, after he made his point that with the hammer down it was no less safe than a revolver, I took my new P-90DC home and of course to the range... All guns are loaded untill you check and know for sure they are not.. This is in the same way that you dont start a truck(or tractor) without the clutch depressed.. Safety is in the training.. I have nothing but respect for someone who prefers to have their guns unloaded unless they need them.. I have grown up in a rough neighborhood and prefer that the tool to be ready to use when I need it.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Whatever works best for the individual, but they must practice and enjoy the sport of shooting.. I doubt any of us actually spent the money just to have a killing device.

Clever term, I have never heard it before... But in all fairness to Gunnar, I dont think that fits him too well.. It seems that in Norway, the shooting sport isnt a big attraction..

scesnick · Mar 11, 2006

This is a great conversation but I still would like to know if anyone has seen that kind of picture frame safe with some kind of Simplex lock ( quick action lock)
It seems that I should explain why i want this particular type of safe so here goes:
I live 3 miles back in the mountains on 76 acres and i work alot of 12 hour shifts at night and we always have the local 4 wheeler crew riding through my property at all hours of the night. While most times they are my buddies riding through in the day, at night i usually do not know them and the wife gets a little nervous when this happens and i am not home. ( for good reason).
I need the picture style so my little girls can not reach it but the wife can just jump up out of bed and grap it in the dark.
I would like to have some type of simple finger lock for a little added child safety.

Had a guy last saturday at 3:00am cruise into my house, past 4 "No trespassing signs" with his girlfriend. Luckily I just happened to be awake and i chased his butt down in my Rhino ( armed with my AR-15 ) and I verbally abused that jackass. Don't mind if you cruise through just not at 3:00am.

1948berg · Mar 11, 2006

Shooting is a very popular sport in Norway, It is the way we deal with guns that is different.
http://www.dfs.no/annonse/engelsk.pdf

RoyJackson · Mar 11, 2006

( For the gentleman from Europe; hoplophobia is a curable condition

To be honest, I did not get that one, but I guess its not very flattering? )

"hoplophobia" is a phobia against guns. It seems to affect people in positions of "leadership" not only in Europe, but in other continents as well.

As Gunnar pointed out, common folks (in Europe as well as the USA) don't seem to share that phobia to any extent. I'm sure his comment about tossing the handgun in the well was regretted and regrettable.

JoeR · Mar 11, 2006

There are some excellent high power rifle shooters from Norway. I understand that Norway has some great 600M+ rifle ranges. They get some serious practice. In order for me to shoot 600M, I have to use a reduced size target at 300M since there are not many 600M ranges here.

Overall, I don't think Norway has as many home invasions or the level of poverty that we do in the U.S. You probably have a better sense of security, whereare, we have too many criminals and a slow response from law enforcement, especially, in rural areas where my local law enforcement takes over 20 minutes to respond. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif What is funny, is that the politicians that want to ban guns, are the same politicians that want to change the law so that convicted felons can vote. They know the convicted felons will vote for them giving them a better chance a getting an elected position.

Joe

Jstpssng · Mar 11, 2006

Soory I can't answer your question, but this and another firearms thread provoke some thoughts. Just my opinion, but anyone who buys a firearm for safety should obtain and maintain professional training just as a law enforceent officer does. I also believe making that same training available would add credibility to the Homeland Security Act... the opinions expressed by me are just that.

I like the way some of you are taking the mystique out of firearms for your children. The younger they are instilled with safe habits, the more ingrained they'll be throughout their lives. I never fired a gun until I was 15; but my grandfather was a fanatical hunter and taught my mother well; if she ever caught me pointing my toy cap pistol at a person I would lose it, permanently. 4 decades later I still cringe when I see someone waving a gun around... especially when some bozo in a gun shop is pointing weapons at the door and everything else in sight with no regard to other customers. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

RedRocker · Mar 13, 2006

( Drop it in the well. )

That's no good, hard to access, not good for the ammo and will rust the moving parts you need to work.

dmccarty · Mar 13, 2006

scesncik,

This is what I bought from Cabella's.

Gun Safe.

It does use batteries but there is a key to access if needed. The key pad is NOT lighted but I can access my code by feel anyway. You set the access number. Fro $60 it works and is alot cheaper than some other models I have seen.

Later,
Dan

63DH8 · Mar 13, 2006

What I did was, when she was six years old, I gave my daughter a capgun and told her it's not a toy, but a training device. When she showed she was responsable enough, I'll get her a real one. I told her that she needed to learn respect as well as responsability. I told her I had to ask her permission to touch her gun and she had to ask if she can touch my firearms. I taught her firearms safety as well as sent her through a firearms safety course. She had to clean her capgun at least once a month, and three days in a row after using her capgun. She very soon got very tired of "playing" with her firearms and hardly ever touched them.

Ten years later, she has her own 900lb fireproof gunsafe and her own collection of firearms. She enjoys collecting military firearms as well as building her own firearms. She built a Barbie PINK 10.22 from a bare reciever.

My recomendations is to get your wife into a firearms safety course if she wants a firearm. As for the kids, teach them respect for firearms and safe handling. ie: assume ALL firearms are loaded even if you KNOW they are empty. Always check to maks sure the firearm is unloaded, then treat it as if it is loaded. Also, don't touch 'cause it ain't yours unless you ask first. Give them something that you can show mutual respect to that is theirs, and teach through example.

For YOU, never give your kids the opportunity to have to exercise gun safety on their own. Keep the darned things locked up or on you when the kids are alone around the firearms. But remember, if you need it, you're going to need it NOW, not the minute that it takes to unlock your safe.

Remember, you and your family can make only one mistake. It can be the last mistake for that person. There is no excuse for not being safe.

fishman · Mar 13, 2006

I purchased a Gunvault a few years back and it has worked very well. It is battery operated, but I think the deluxe models can be plugged in. Punch in a code you program (easy even in the dark) and the door springs open. I highly recommend this approach. Not only is it safe from the little ones (save the gun lessons for the range, imho), but any criminal sneaking into your bedroom can't access it either.