Can a handgun be safely kept for defense?

April W

Actually... keeping a handgun in the house seems to be a better way of getting yourself shot... think about it. If someone breaks into your home and you have a gun, then they'll be more likely to shoot you. If you don't have a gun, then they'd be more likely to just take your stuff and try to get the heck out of there. Most of the time, burglaries don't happen when you're at home. Keeping a gun around might just invite those that know you have one to try coming to steal it.

I am all for the rights to own guns . . . but I think that people get this false sense of security with them. Perhaps part of the reason why I'm not all for gun ownership is that I personally knew a teenager who took out his parent's gun and accidently shot his brother who was in the other room--he didn't realize the gun had one bullet in it. He was showing the gun to a friend while the parents were gone.... and not only did the parents lose the one son to death, but they lost the other son to juvenile detention for a long time.

A better idea--keep the phone next to you and know how to dial "9-1-1"... THAT might save your butt.

Canadamama2

Yep, therein lies the rub. I think the conclusion is fairly obvious.

Abby

FACT. people are more often killed with their own weapons around the house than harmed by a burglars weapon. I do not think that a gun with bullets is a good idea in any occasion... too big of a risk in the house... I believe that if it is completely necessary, you can have a gun UNLOADED for show, and that should be enough to scare the creep away....

Nicholesta

It depends on your household. If you have no children then I don't see why you can't safely keep a handgun. If you have children then the best precaution is to educate your children on how to safely handle and fire it. Warn them clearly and insistently about the danger of the gun and that it should never be handled without you present. Keep the ammunition locked away.
Of course it will take half a minute longer to have a loaded weapon but the truth is keeping a dog to warn you of intruders is a better plan then sleeping with a gun. Less danger of accidentally shooting a family member up at night using the bathroom.

Jenny J

My advice qould be to sleep next to a baseball bat.

General Leo

You keep it loaded and in a place where no one can reach it but you. They make boxes that you push a couple buttons and its open and ready to go, but not a lot of people can figure it out.

Yes, A handgun sure can be safely kept for defense in the home.

Jana

I keep a starter pistol in my bedside table.... It's the type used to start races (swimming, running, etc.). It looks like a normal hand gun, but the damage it inflicts is minimal. It would look intimidating and cause enough pain to buy me a little time, but even if a child held it right against their face and pulled the trigger, it wouldn't kill them.

Best of both worlds in a way.

Kiran T

Yes, Can be kept for personal safety but do not forget to switch on the safety locks!!! You can find with good specification and locks from firearms manufacturers!
Keep them reachable to you not to the children that's already safe!
If concerned on break ins? Good luck to you! no one does it to your house and god bless you!

bobbo342

Abby - According to who...usually when someone says FACT they back it up with a source. That argument that you gave is a common myth used by gun grabbers.....You guys forget to to separate the legal gun owners who are trained properly and the illegal gun owners who are not. If you have a gun and keep it for show in the hopes it scares someone away...and they start shooting....well it did not do its job. You know how many police keep their sidearms loaded and ready to go. The fact is these accidents happen a lot less then people think. And do not give me the police have training crap because most of the gun owners out there are more trained with firearms than they are.

It is simple. Every second counts if someone breaks into your home. You keep your handgun and full mag in a gun safe. An easy or quick open safe by the bed is the best as it is secure from unauthorized people getting a hold of it and still easy and fast for you to open the safe and load the gun. The key though is training of the owner, and then any home with a gun in it and children. Teach them.....train them. At the age of 4 and 5 show them not to go near one of these. Teach them to get an adult. At 6 and 7, show them how they work and shoot. teach them not to go near it without a trained adult with them. Of course keep in mind their maturity level and make sure they know what firearms can do. One guy I know told this grandson what a handgun can do by shooting a watermelon and telling him that is what can happen to someone if they or someone uses a gun carelessly.

Ultimately kids our curious and if you satisfy their curiosity about guns, if you teach them what to do they will listen especially when you show them the watermelon example.

robert p

consider the alternative:
how safe is your family if an armed attacker comes into your home
you believe it is to dangerous to have a gun in your home around your family
Could you assume the attacker is less dangerous to your family if you have no gun?
Keep the gun in a safe place kids can't access.

jamesfentress44

It is in the teaching of the ones around you not to bother the
gun. It is a vital part of your home's defense and you of all people better know how to use it and know how to see to it that others in the home respect the gun enough to leave it alone. Don't be a school teacher type when it comes to guns,
be a military type instructor into the methods of gun safety
and use. You may not be home and the wife needs to do the protecting...my wife can light a kitchen match at fifty paces
using our rifle....then put the fire out with the next shot, don't
believe it? Try kicking her door while I'm gone and see!
Guns don't kill people, ignorant people with guns can kill people! Be gun smart and all will prosper from it!

CV59StormVet

When I was growing up, my Dad had guns in the house. Long guns mostly, but a few pistols too. He kept them locked in a gun cabinet in his study, which was actually part of the master bedroom. I knew where the key was, and yes, the temptation was always there for me. But my Father taught me about guns at a very early age. He took me to the range with him and allowed me to fire them under his close supervision. He also taught me what could happen if a gun went off "accidentally". I didn't "play" with my Fathers guns for several reasons. First, because they were HIS and He taught me to respect other people's property. Second, because I knew what could happen if the gun misfired. And third, because if my Dad had caught me doing so I wouldn't have been able to sit down for a year, not to mention having to endure the disappointment in his eyes every time he looked at me.

A handgun is a tool, ...a dangerous one, yes, but a tool nonetheless; not really different from a hammer. If you operate a handgun recklessly someone is going to get hurt. Swing a hammer with disregard for the safety of others around you and someone will get hurt as well. It all boils down to keeping the weapon in a safe but accessible place and teaching those in your household that they are not in any way shape or form a toy.

littlebittagold

good point, but thats not really a question.

Tsunami

yes you are right but i knew at a n early age not to use this gun for stuffand i knew wher eit was also and i didn't play with it but som many kids play with guns and stuff i dont' kno wwhat to say but if you have guy and they find it can be used against you. take care.

Dont get Infected

best way to keep your family safe is to have the gun in a secure spot such as the safe. if its in the safe and only you and your spouse knows the combo then you could keep it loaded but i wouldnt recomment haveing a bullet in the chamber unless you are ready to shoot. they also have trigger locks so you could leave your gun unloaded and atleast have it alittle

The Big Box

A gun is a danger even to it's owner...

Basically, you should not own a handgun without extensive training, and it's always bad to keep one in the same house as kids no matter how well out of their reach you think it might be.

I do not, and do not plan to ever own a gun. Other then hunting, there is no reason anybody should need to own one. It's better to be robbed and be alive then to try and defend your house and be dead. Let the police handle it, it's their job.

Bob M

well i would think that you should have a few guns in well placed easy to find locations around your house, but they should have their safeties on and be locked up in coded locks, NO KEYS.

jared v [[i has a bucket]]

Keep it under your matress. And yes they have the"safety lock" on them so that it doesn't go off.

d_manStuff

Keep the gun in one place and keep the magazine (which holds the bullets) in another place. That way you have to know where both are in order for anything to happen.

Inferno22

It is pretty much useless if policies say that you must kept it stowed away AND unloaded. By the time you as a law abiding citizen get to it in self defense, the non-law abiding criminals would likely have attacked you with a weapon before you could respond. I think handguns should be an option for self defense. It may be your only lifeline in certain situations

lastsaneperson

i keep mine loaded with the safety on but i live with only responsible adults

Kubota Oh

An unloaded gun is useless. You'll probably get shot trying to get to the bullets. Use a trigger lock like the other guy said and PRACTICE shooting it. You and any other adult in the house.

Bart

well keep it loaded but put it in a safe or something so kids cant get to it.

William F

They make trigger locks.

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