NSALR: Firearms in the house

rodiggity79 · February 2009

I live in Orlando and crime has been out of control lately... A lady at work was robbed and had her life threatened two weeks ago, my dad's neighborhood had two breakins the past month. It's getting ridiculous. I guess with tough economic times, criminals are getting aggressive and more plentiful.

So dh and I have decided to get a gun... and shooting lessons so I'll know what the heck I'm doing. At first I was dead set against it...especially with a new baby in the house who will be walking and crawling next year. But dh is always working/traveling during the football season and I'm home alone a lot. If someone were to break in, I'd rather have protection than not.

Just wondering how many of you ladies own guns. If so, where do you keep it at night? Is it loaded and ready? Sorry if this is personal... just wanted to get some suggestions. Thx

shannonk03 · February 2009

My husband has several guns which are all kept in a locked safe in our bedroom, one is loaded and ready to use-you have to punch in a 10 digit code to unlock the safe so I feel totally safe with the guns in the house.

ashs · February 2009

Personally, I am completely against having guns in the house. That being said, DH is a police officer so it's not really an option. He has a giant safe that is bolted to the floor in one of the closets and it has a combination lock that I don't even know the combination too. I personally would not use a gun, I'm not comfortable with them being anywhere near me.

jnealet · February 2009

I live in the middle of Baltimore City, which has a high crime rate. My house has been broken into once in the almost 5 years that we've lived there, my neighbors have been broken into, we've had gangs of kids beating people randomly on the streets and a rapist last summer.

I've never, EVER thought about buying a gun. And I never will have one in my house. I would worry about my child finding it and doing damamge to themselves or others more then I worry about a stranger harming me in my house. I think it gives a false sense of security - if there was someone in my house, I wouldn't be able to get to a locked gun in time for anything.

I think you should get an alarm system. Much, much safer for everyone.

ashs · February 2009

Oh and I will add that none of his guns are loaded when they are in the house.

ValerianOddity · February 2009

A loaded gun in a house with a child seems like a recipe for disaster to me. I am not comfortable with the thought of having guns in my house... but I should also mention that I have a somewhat irrational fear of them, so my perspective is somewhat clouded by that.

Something to consider: A gun is only as effective as your willingness to use it. Could you shoot someone? If you answer no, you probaby don't need a gun in the house.

Have you thought about getting a big dog?

rodiggity79 · February 2009

Thanks for the responses ladies... I value everyone's opinion and should have known it might start a you should/shouldn't get one.

It's a personal choice that dh and I have put a lot of thought into. I was raised with guns in the home... my dad is ex-military and thought it was a necessity. Maybe that's why I'm more willing to get one.

Just looking for some advice from girls who own a firearm.

mh2t · February 2009

Definitely a controversial topic. I have shot a gun once in my life and don't think I could do it again. That said, I have no problems with someone owning a gun for protection, as long as they are responsible and want it for the "right" reasons. Since you grew up with one in your house (and being that your dad was in the military), I bet you already know a lot of good gun safety tips. I think gun ownership is probably a lot less common among our demographic then our parents'; hence the negative responses here. This post is pretty useless; I just wanted to lend support.

honeybeee · February 2009

My DH hunts so we have several big guns, and we also have a couple of handguns. I have my own and know how to use it. I keep it by my bed, loaded, but I don't have a bullet chambered. We'll probably take the hunting guns to the IL's once we have a baby, and put the handguns up or in a small gun safe, and change things up as baby grows into a toddler, etc.

honeybeee · February 2009

honeybeee:
My DH hunts so we have several big guns, and we also have a couple of handguns. I have my own and know how to use it. I keep it by my bed, loaded, but I don't have a bullet chambered. We'll probably take the hunting guns to the IL's once we have a baby, and put the handguns up or in a small gun safe, and change things up as baby grows into a toddler, etc.

My dad is military and my husband grew up hunting, and we were all taught gun safety growing up. I think if you plan to have guns in the home you have to take the necessary safety precautions as well as teach gun safety to your children.

FinallyCs_girl · February 2009

Just wanted to say that I totally understand - I grew up in O'do, and my parents still live there. Last month, they were robbed in the middle of the night (pretty blatently, might I say). Thankfully, my dad (who travels 5 days out of the week) was there, but it did raise some obvious concern for my mom who is usually home alone with just the dog. They have a gun that my dad keeps under the bed, and now my mom is being taught how to fire it. (They lock it away when we visit, obviously, because of our DD, though.)

Just wanted to offer up the suggestion, too, of an activated alarm system with bright motion detector lights around the perimeter of the house. The sherrif's officer who investigated my parents' break-in said that the bright lights coupled with an alarm system are pretty good deterrents. But again, not so much comfort when you're a female home alone.

I just wanted to offer some support to you, as well. I think the key is that you and your DH have had some serious discussions, have experience with guns AND you're going about the process in a thoughtful, intelligent way with your safety and that of your childs', as well, in mind. GL!!

farmwife · February 2009

We own a few guns. DH hunts and both of us enjoy target shooting (not that we get a chance to do it often). The guns are never, ever loaded when in the house. The bullets are kept on a different level of the house from the guns. Right now, they're not locked up, but I would like to get a gun safe before DC is very mobile. Our children will all learn gun safety and learn a healthy respect for guns. I guess our situation is different, as our guns are not for protection but my theory is even if you pulled out an unloaded gun (b/c really, how would they know?) on an intruder, it would be likely to scare the intruder away and achieve your goal anyway without having the danger of a loaded gun in the house.

allison_hope · February 2009

My husband owns quite a few guns and has them all in a safe in his closet. I don't think any are loaded, but I've never opened it so wouldn't know for sure. They have small safes that you can bolt onto the outside of your safe (or other location) for quick access which he may get, but isn't a top priority.

I'm not a fan of guns or having guns in the house, but I think it's mainly because I wasn't raised around guns. If you're educated about safety about it then I'm sure everything will be fine.

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