An honest question about striker-fire and young kids

My thoughts.

Glocks are my preferred handgun, but I use the same procedure with any handgun. If a round is chambered and the gun is on my person in a holster it is perfectly safe. At any other time there is no round in the chamber on any of my semi's but there is usually a loaded magazine in the gun. I don't keep the chambers loaded on revolvers either unless I'm in control of them.

My kids are grown now, but I have three grand kids ages 3-8. I've always felt a revolver was easy enough for any kid to figure out if the chambers are loaded. And while I always made every effort to keep the guns and kids separate. But I felt that by the time they were strong enough to work the slide and chamber a round in one of the semi's. they were old enough to know better. My oldest grandchild at age 8 can't do it. But she has been around guns enough to know and understand the consequences.

In the event that a handgun is needed quickly in the home it is FASTER to pick up a handgun and chamber a round than it is to remove the gun from a holster that you aren't wearing and get it into play even if a round is chambered.
 
Home invasion robberies are on the rise. You NEED one chambered AND the gun on your hip at home as well as when you're out. The chances of attack are essentially identical in the home or out and about.
Click to expand...

If that's what you need, I'm not going to argue with you. I don't live your life, and you don't live mine. I do take exception to the last line, as I do not believe the odds are essentially equal in home or out and about, for everyone.

Sure, for some folks, the odds are like that. For others, vastly different. I think that there is a big difference in the level of risk, depending on where you live, because of the "society" you live in.

There's more than just a little bit of difference between living several miles from even a small town, where there may be 100 people in a 5 mile radius and living inner city where they may be 100 people in your apartment building, and a dozen or more such buildings within a 5 mile radius.

Home invasions do happen in the rural areas too. It NOT something to be ignored. It may be much less likely, but they do happen.

And that brings us back around to kids and guns. Tragedies out number the triumphs, is what we all hear, but is that the actual reality? Personally I think every household that has children and guns, where NO ONE ever gets shot to be a "triumph", but that kind of thing isn't news. You never see a report, let alone a headline that says "300 million guns in America shot no one last year" or anything like that. Its just not newsworthy.

While the details have faded a bit in my memory, I recall not too many years ago hearing about a young girl (12, maybe 14) home alone, who foiled a home invasion, and drove off a pair of thugs (men with criminal histories), by shooting (at least) one of them with a shotgun.

The fact that the "kid" had a gun, prevented a burglary, and very possibly prevented a rape, kidnapping and likely a murder.

She knew there was a loaded gun in the house. She knew where it was. She knew it wasn't locked up. She got to it, and most importantly, SHE KNEW HOW TO USE IT!

That didn't stay in the news very long. It went away as a news item as soon as they had some dope head gang banger leave an illegally possessed, loaded gun under the mattress where his girl friend's preschooler found it and shot her baby brother...and sadly they didn't have to wait long for such a news item to happen.
 
Had a friend of mine a cop said drop a glock run like hell...those type guns I believe dangerous that's why you see cops shooting thereselves trigger is way too light that's why I like a gun with a heavy pull less accidents and if you have kids keep gun unloaded and a gun lock or safe..cop around here left his gun out unfortunately a kid got it killed his self
 
A pistol with an external affirmative safety is safer, albeit not absolutely safe. There are other options, already mentioned:

- Get a holster with good retention, such as a strap or a lock.
- Carry Condition 3.
- Train you kids in safe gun handling at an early age (6 and 4 might be too young for handling, but general safety -- eg, see a gun don't touch and tell an adult -- can be taught to most all ages; kids need to know a gun can be deadly).

As I recall, most childhood deaths involve car accidents (make sure the buckle up appropriately), pedestrian accidents (teach them how to cross the street safely), and drowning (teach them how to swim). Teaching yourself to carry a gun safely and kids how to act around guns is, in comparison, relatively simple.
 
racedawg said:
Had a friend of mine a cop said drop a glock run like hell...those type guns I believe dangerous that's why you see cops shooting thereselves trigger is way too light that's why I like a gun with a heavy pull less accidents and if you have kids keep gun unloaded and a gun lock or safe..cop around here left his gun out unfortunately a kid got it killed his self
Click to expand...


I don't think were you to drop a pistol and have it discharge that you could outrun the bullet. That said, Glocks are relatively drop safe. The reason for the negligent discharges with police is often related to departments switching pistols with different manuals of arms and/or a lack of training. Let's not forgot too that part of the reason we here about it in relation to Glocks so much is the prevalence in the law enforcement community.
 
Unfortunately I don't have the ability to lock my bedroom door, or else I would, and eliminate this "risk" all together.
Click to expand...
Installing a key lock door knob can be a bit of a hassle the first time through, but it takes very minimal tools and skill level to accomplish. Keyed trigger locks can also be installed in the morning and removed when you return home quite easily.

OTOH:
I keep my cordless circular saw in my garage with battery installed. No one seems to think that is crazy.
Small 10" chain saw also.
A kid could walk up to my 2 HP lathe or table saw and turn either on.
I wish I could find a young kid who could start my cord start gas chipper. I'd pay a few bucks each time not to be bothered with it :)

I try to purchase holsters that will easily retain the firearm while I am inverted. Kydex with a button is my preference. Also for knives(mostly limited to dive knives). Of course, my preferred IWB holster does not ave that feature, but s far more comfortable. In your shoes I might go with a less comfortable or OWB holster. I really think the key here is holster, not gun.
 
Last edited:
Home invasion robberies are on the rise.
Click to expand...

How do you know? The FBI does not keep statistics on home invasions to my knowledge.

If someone breaks into your home while you're not there, that's a burglary, a nonviolent property crime. If they break in while you are there that's a home invasion, but the crime is categorized by what specific violent crime is committed -- robbery, murder, rape, or assault.

I'm speculating, but my guess is most violent crime victims are not at home when they are victimized, as it is easier for a criminal to prey upon those who are out and about. Also, a number of violent crimes at home do not involved forced entry; thus, they cannot be regarded as home invasions.
 
All my firearms are in a safe, except the one I carry. At 80 years of age, with a bright, fit, 71-year-old Wife, my Glock 19 is loaded, always. With a round chambered.

It is in my pocket now, I left the bedroom with it, it will go back on my bedside table when I return (mostly 6 hours is all I sleep at one go) Grandkids arrive! No round chambered, till they go. But my pistol is in the holster also.

I carry a lock back knife, it is sharp as a razor, that stays clipped inside my pants pocket. Also not something to be left accessible to children.

In living in Florida, we have freedoms that were not available in Canada.
We do not abuse those freedoms, we wish to keep them.

Even more important, Grand Kids will not be in danger in our home, as much as we can prevent accidents, of any nature.
 
brit said:
I carry a lock back knife, it is sharp as a razor, that stays clipped inside my pants pocket. Also not something to be left accessible to children.
Click to expand...

Do you also lock up all of your kitchen knives, or do you just ensure that the edges are dull and they don't have a point?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by brit
I carry a lock back knife, it is sharp as a razor, that stays clipped inside my pants pocket. Also not something to be left accessible to children.
Do you also lock up all of your kitchen knives, or do you just ensure that the edges are dull and they don't have a point?
Click to expand...
Yes actually, when they were small and grabby, we had the kidproof latches on all access cabinet or drawer doors. ;)

This thread seems to have gotten hostile for no clear reason.
 
Home invasion robberies are on the rise. You NEED one chambered AND the gun on your hip at home as well as when you're out. The chances of attack are essentially identical in the home or out and about.
Click to expand...

There are way too many variables to make this claim. I live in a gated neighborhood and there is no way the chances of home invasion are the same in my neighborhood as they are when I walk around in the city nearby that has gangs, tons of crime, etc. I am not saying it cant happen but the chances are definitely not the same.

Installing a key lock door knob can be a bit of a hassle the first time through, but it takes very minimal tools and skill level to accomplish
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I have done. I have a closet in my office that is locked with a key. All of my guns are inside it. All of the ammo is locked with combo locks inside this closet except my for my home defense and carry guns. I actually just bought another lock for my office door and am just going to start locking that door as well when I leave and the only key will be on my keychain with me at all times.
 
I'll skip the multitude of ways a kid could get hurt with a gun, along with all of the hypothetical nuances regarding the tactical disadvantages of carrying a gun with a safety.
Splitting all those hairs is a waste of time.

Kids are very quick and eager to help... if one lands on the ground they will probably beat you to it.
Worse yet, it might not even be your kid.

If your concerned with a kid getting ahold of it - and everyone with kids and friends around should be - then go with a semi-auto with a safety that'll give you a few extra seconds.
 
we do need better firearm intelligence testing at sells.
Click to expand...

Appeasement of the electorate with pseudo-fixes.

I have met very intelligent people who had almost no common sense when it came to practical matters. The two may often go hand in hand, but not always....

It would make more sense for there to be public awareness campaigns.
 
45 Auto.

I have been a member here since January 29, 2005, and I have never insulted any one yet, and I do not need your rudeness, I doubt if any one else does either.
 
45 Auto.

I have been a member here since January 29, 2005, and I have never insulted any one yet, and I do not need your rudeness, I doubt if any one else does either.
Click to expand...

Would you have that cocked and locked or Isreali carry Brit? The wife still goes with chamber empty. I figured thats better than nothing, and the other option would be nice (and maybe a baseball bat adjustment as I had mentioned it one too many times)
 
Last edited:
Quote:
45 Auto.

I have been a member here since January 29, 2005, and I have never insulted any one yet, and I do not need your rudeness, I doubt if any one else does either.

Zinc.

Would you have that cocked and locked or Isreali carry Brit? The wife still goes with chamber empty. I figured thats better than nothing, and the other option would be nice (and maybe a baseball bat adjustment as I had mentioned it one too many times)

The gun in purse, with all the Lady Junk? If I could get my Wife to carry, she thinks the G43 9mm, better with chamber empty (Little kid proof!) in the cart, in Publix.

I have watched Israeli El Al staff draw/ready/and fire multiple shots, real well done (not for me though) 15 in the mag, one in the chamber for this old guy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top