"Safest" Handgun In The Presence Of A Child?

A

Ala Dan

Member in memoriam
Greeting's All,

As a follow up to RAE's thread, "? for Glock owner's/user's" ;
let's discuss the "safest" of all semi-auto's, that are left unattended in the presence of children. The one that sticks in
my ole' noggin is the Beretta's, model 92's and/or 96's. Another
one that comes to mine would be the 1911 style, single-action
.45's. Even the Walther PPK has an external safety; when
properly used should prevent a child from accidentally firing
it. Can you name me a few more?

My favorite, the very fine Sig-Sauer semi-auto's don't have
an external safety; but do incorporate a total of three (3)
passive safeties.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, Life Member N.R.A.
 
CZ's are safe (DA trigger operation on most models PLUS a SA frame type safety on most models), HK's are safe (DA trigger plus frame mounted safety), Rugers are safe (very heavy DA trigger, slide safety on some models). S&W and Browning are also very safe (both have a magazine disconnect device--which I don't like BTW). These are the first to come to mind besides the previously mentioned Berettas and 1911's (also very safe).
 
The safest semi-auto handgun left unattended around children (or untrained adults) would be one with the magazine removed and the chamber empty with no unsecured ammo available.

-Mk.IV
 
When I got into handguns, my son was about 2 and was getting into EVERYTHING. Anyway, I ended up getting a HK P7M8. I figured he could pull the trigger or sqeeze the cocker not both. Plus, I taught him if he ever wanted to play with Dad's guns, just ask and we'd play with them together. Wonderful thing that sqeeze cocker, seemed like the perfect beginner's 9mm. ;)
 
what you use guns instead of toys? thats why the government
made us all buy those damned trigger locks.safest gun? no gun.
unless your training a child to shoot and then what age.I just got
this scene of some kid sucking on a barrel like a pacifer.
 
Well, the safest handgun in the presence of a child is one that is unloaded, on safe, and locked IN a safe.

Realistically, a loaded gun in a quick release safe under your bed for defensive purposes.

But I will play along with your question and say the HK USP, or any gun with a key lock. If I put my USP on safe and locked the grip lock, I doubt a small child would figure out that the grip lock was even there, or how to unlock it (assuming the key was somewhere else).

Of course, the only safe handgun when a child is around is the one I first described.
 
Having two small kids, I think you have to start with education, reminders and more education on firearms safety. Then you have to keep your firearms locked up with empty magazines and empty chambers (and I am talking steel safe not trigger locks) with the ammo locked up separately. The one firearm kept out for emergency purposes is a moderately customized 1911 with Magsafe ammo, in a level 3 retention holster mounted to the wall above the door frame inside the closet. Even with a footstool on a chair I have another couple years before they can reach it. But at the same time I teach my children discipline and respect for firearms, and am confident that they understand.

mlk18
 
There are several new guns with built in locks. The Steyr M and S series pistols and the Taurus Millennium pistols come to mind.
 
No firearm should be left unattended around children. If you can't handle keeping the two apart, give one up.
 
Well, I always kept a .45 M1911A1 mag loaded, chamber empty. But then I had two girls. I know it is possible for a child to rack the slide on a 1911 type (they put the bottom front of the slide against something solid and push) but I was not too worried my children would figure it out.

It is the old discussion on safety one way vs. security another. A gun unloaded and locked in a safe is definitely child proof. But it is useless in the role for which the gun was intended.

Trigger locks are a good idea, but again, not always that easy to remove if needed, and kids may well find the key. Some police insist that trigger locks are easy and quick to remove, but I note that no police force requires them on their carry handguns, so it's do as I say, not do as I do.

Jim
 
Assuming the question was meant for at least a seim-ready pistol (versus the pistol in one safe, the ammo in another, etc.), I would probably opt for a traditional DA/SA auto with the safety on and maybe the magazine out would work for small children (toddlers).

It would require purtting the magazine in the butt with enough force to seat, racking the slide, disengaging the safety, overcoming a rather heavy DA trigger (or handcocking).

Training and familiarity with firearms are the best prevention for older children. I was raised with three sibling in house where the guns were all loaded, all the time (mostly long guns), and it worked.
 
I had a thread a while back asking about good places to stash guns around the house so they are ready to be used defensively but still unavailible to kids.

The best piece of advice I took from that thread came from Gunslinger. He asked rhetorically where we kept our bleech, our kitchen knives, medicine, etc. etc.

A gun is a tool like the others. All can be dangerous. You don't leave asprin laying around and assume that the child proof cap will stop your 1 year old. It is up to you as a responsible parent to have your tools ready to be used but still secure from you kids. And then when they are old enough to understand, educate them. Just like you would teach them not to run with scissors or stick things into the electrical outlets.
 
What Weshoot2 said.

No gun is ever left unattended, even "hidden" when there will be children around. Not having kids myself, I have a little more freedom as to where they're left around the house on a daily basis.

But, when the nieces and nephews come over, they all go into a case and get stored in the trunk of the car. No exceptions.

I think that given time, and a natural curiosity, any child will find a way to make a semi-auto go off. Why would anyone ever take that risk?

"Honey, the folks on TFL said it was probably okay to leave the (Insert Brand Name Here) around the kids." I don't think so.
 
"Even the Walther PPK has an external safety; when
properly used should prevent a child from accidentally firing
it. "

Any safety is pretty easy for a kid to manipulate...I hope no one on this thrread thinks a loaded gun with a thumb safety is remotely safe to leave around a child.....a thread like this is dangerous to put it in anyone's mind that we may have some kindof foolproof gun tht a kid can't operate.....they are pretty ingeneous litttle devils when left to there own......
 
Cap Gun. :D

I wouldn't dare leave anything else.

We can say all we want about what weapon would be the safest around kids, but I venture no one would want to prove their point by using their child for a test subject.

My children know gun safety. They don't fear my weapons, but respect them and they know that they do not touch them without permission. Regardless, I keep them in my safe.


Good Shooting
RED
 
My first reply is to teach the children gun safety as soon as they can stand. Teach them to fire a gun at about a year of age and let them shoot watermellons and such at close range to get the reality of the damage to be done and explain that is what it does to people and kills them, etc. Then continue training and familiarization until the guns, stoves, knives, electrical cords, matches, window glass, forks, cloths dryers, cats, dogs, cars, doors, letter openers, soaps, bleaches, plastic bags, etc. that can hurt or even kill them are all just part of a familiar environment for which they are safely trained to handle.

There are a lot more than guns in the house that the children need to be trained about. Even buttons, coins, and buckets of water take lives. There is no need to separte out guns as the only dangerous thing in the home -- nor to separate them out as more dangerous.

Then, all that being written, and I do this myself, a pump shotgun with the chamber empty and a long tube full -- by the bed and ready to go loaded with #7, 8, or 9 shot. The combination of the safer and more effective shotgun is a start and then with kids in the other rooms, the shot to lessen wall penetration is another requirment in my house and we have an OLD house with thick real plaster and lath walls.

FWIW $.02

Jody
 
I would have to say if your not interested in a lockable gun, than I would consiter a .45. with the slide lock on, I think that combined with the grip saftey it would be a challange though not impossible.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top