I have a Ruger P-89 9mm that is my SD house gun. I currently keep it up high in my closet unloaded, but withaloaded clip in the extraclip holderin my holster. I also have a 3 year old boy (who is a toy gun nut) and a ten year old. I'm debating what is best and safest for my family. I have heard that a gun in the house is of no use in a high pressure home inavsion situation if its not loaded and easily accesible from bed (like a nightstand). At the same time I have young children to protect. I don't want my neligence to be the cause of a tragedy. I do take them shooting and teach them gun safety. I try to satisfy their natural curiosity by exposing them to guns and shooting safely and often. Howver I'm still reluctant to keep a loaded firearm within reach (visible or not) of especially my 3 yr. old. What are some of your opinions on this dillemma?

Check out this pistol safe it may be what you are looking for: http://doskosport.com/Catalog.plx?ID=38 Good luck.

Nathan, I agree with Handloader! There are many good things on the market today, that will give you quick access to your gun, and peace of mind for the family too!
My kids are grown, but its easy to remember just how fast they could get into something, in a seconds time!
I just would not feel good about easy access, with children around!

Handloader, Cabelas has a new one out that I just saw in the newest shooters catalog that looks just like the one you posted but instead of a combination it uses your finger print. I think that would be easier to do in the dark and if you are half asleep. Only problem is its double ($300) the price of the one you posted.

Mossy33oak:

I have seen it in the Cabelas catalog, and your right itshould work out well in the dark,but a little pricey. Good luck.

Gun Safe, Handgun Safe, Gun Wall Safe

I raised three kids and never locked up any of my guns. By the time they got old enough or big enough to pick up a gun, They knew better. I would think though that if you have more peace of mind locking them up, then go for it. An unloaded gun is pretty usless however when or if you need it NOW!!!!

But James your small percentage doesn't make it the rule. For me, I was a gun nut. From age 6, all I wanted to do was shoot. I needed to be protected from myself. Every child is different. When I was a kid, the thought of stealing dads gun to go to to school to blast someone wasn't even in my head. Now with the help of media, it becomes a possibility for a youngster.

For me, I would definately lock them up. Thats the main reason I got a safe. My ex and I were planning for children. Never happened thanks goodness. Anyway, I would rather live with a home invasion on my conscience rather than living with the fact I contributed to my childs life.

I am all for home defense. 110% I say go the extra mile even though it may cost you a few bucksand get the finger print vault. Better yet, a noisy alert dog is even better and my dog has woken me several times when kids were outside messing around. This would give me time to enter my safe.

I grew up in a household with 6 of us kids running all over. My dad never locked up a gun in his life, not even to this day. But, sadly times have changed, and you just don't know who your kids may drag home. It only takes one time for something to go wrong, so today if i had small kids, i'd have to figure out a way to keep them away from the guns in the house.

I do have to say, i never liked kids pointing play guns at each other. I've always tried to start them out right from the beginning, telling them NOT to point guns at anything you wouldn't want to kill, not even play guns!! I believe the younger that's drilled into them, the better.

Drilling Man

Well, at this point, I doubt that the 3-year old can rack the slide on a 9mm yet, and you can make the 10-year old keep his paws off the gun, so a loaded magazine in the pistol is OK as long as you leave the chamber empty, WHEN YOU ARE AT HOME AND CAN ENSURE THE 10-YEAR-OLD IS NOT DEMONSTRATING THE GUN TO HIS BUDDIES WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE!! A pistol kept in CONDITION 3 is OK as a home defense arm. Keep it locked up when you are not at home.

If you have any doubts about the ten-year old, get a M1911A1 type and install at least a 24 pound Wolff recoil spring in it. He cannot load that!!