He is more worried about a child who can move around the house but can barely communicate. They can't understand right or wrong. I am in the same boat so I see where he is coming from.
He, and you need to worry about a lot more than guns! In fact, I would put guns quite a way down on the list of worries.
If it is your first time, welcome to the joys of parenthood. If you're working on #2, or later, you already know what I'm talking about.
Every remotely dangerous or hazardous thing in your house MUST be secured in some fashion, childproofing the house. Guns, knives, tools, household cleaners, etc., and don't forget electrical outlets!!
I heard some where that Chimps and toddlers are pretty close, mentally. SO, assume that if Tarzan's Cheetah could do it, so can your kids. They get EVERYWHERE and they touch, smell and taste EVERYTHING! Really!
We all think we can keep an eye on the kids, all the time. We can't. What a child can do in a few seconds, without even knowing what they are doing, is simply amazing. (every parent reading this is nodding right now!
)
After doing things like making sure we had good latches on cabinets and drawers, made sure we had a stove with the controls at the
back of the stovetop, capped the outlets not in use etc., we felt better when the houseapes were out of direct line of sight. But we also put a cute little bell on one shoe. Hearing the jingle was a welcome sound. When the jingle
stopped, it was time to see what they were getting into!!!!
A simple cheap hasp and padlock, something you could break with your bare hands in an emergency will keep a toddler out of anything they shouldn't be into. When they are big enough to defeat that level of security, they are big enough to understand why they shouldn't.
here's another tip, think about where and how you customarily put your keys! Trust me, given half a chance, they will find the dish or peg, or purse, where you keep your keys. And after they find your keys, odds are real good, you won't. That goes for all valuables small enough for them to lift and carry. Cell phones would be in that group, too. And some of the little darlings are really fascinated with things going in the toilet, so, prepare yourself accordingly.