Home Defense with Kids?

[applesofgold]

I believe strongly I should purchase a shotgun for home defense.

The issue I'm concerned about is that I have small children at home ages 6 and under.

I was told that a shotgun would be best because small kids this age wouldn't have the strength to cock a shotgun, thereby rendering it safer than other guns to have in the home.

Is this true? What do you guys recommend when it comes to owning a gun with kids in the picture?

Personally, so far, I've been really drawn to the Mossberg 500 Pursuader/Cruiser.

It's not like we live in the country where we can go shooting and get the kids exposed to gun safety. And I'm a newbie at this, so I want to be sure it's as safe as possible.

Suggestions?

[GlockMeister]

Not necessarily. Kids can be very inventive. Even to the point of working together. I suggest maybe getting a revolver in .357mag.. A S&W 686, Ruger SP101 or GP100 or similar. You can shoot .38 and .38+P also. Smaller so you can keep it up out of reach or even in a lock box. Your call, but that's my honest opinion on the shotgun. It's great for home defense, but kids can and will still try if it's accessible. That's why I suggested a revolver. You can keep it hidden in many more places. No matter what you get, the best is to just keep it out of their reach and prevent them even having or getting access to it, no matter what it is...Good luck.

[elmer fudd]

i would put it up high so they couldnt get to it as easy like the top of your shelf then you could just reach up and grab it thats one suggestion & it will probobly be pump wouldnt it make sure you keep it on saftey and have the whole whole thing full but dont have one in the chamber then they probobly wouldnt be smart enough to take off safty push in the one button to make it slide to put a shell in the chamber then you shouldnt have a problem

[andrew cochran]

+1 to what elmer just said. I would go with a shotgun. But just go over and explain that that's "daddy's gun" and you don't ever go and touch it with out permission. That will help a lot.

[Texan4life]

I have a 13 year old boy, an eight year old girl and a 4 year old boy and I was facing the same problem. My house is old and does not have walk in closets so I hung the shotgun directly over the door along with a XD45 and four full mags on a belt. If you open the closet to look in it you could not even tell they are there unless you walk inside it and turn around and look up.

I grew up in a house full of guns, and yes they were all loaded at all times. My father believed, and I likewise, that a home defense gun unloaded in a safe is not practical for quick defense of ones family. When I was old enough to know better (about 12) he showed their locations to me and told me they were loaded and the only way I was to touch them was if my life was in danger, because if it wasn't it surely would be when he found out. We never had a problem when I was growing up and I haven't had one yet. Don't get me wrong, I do have a gun safe and I keep a lot of firearms in it, but until I can find a safer method with just as fast an acquisition time, I will continue to train the children that are old enough, and keep the guns out of reach of the smaller ones.

[TXplt]

+1 to what GlockMeister said. Kids are very inventive, and can mechanically figure out how to do most anything. They'll be able to figure out how to work a shotgun if it isn't secure. Firearm needs to be secure at all times (either by carrying it or under your direct supervision or by locking it) until children can be safely trained in its handling and demonstrate proficiency. Only you as a parent can figure out the point at which this happens. Putting it up on a shelf doesn't do this.

We use a Taurus Judge 3" bbl handgun (.410/.45 colt) for home defense and secure it in a fast access safe. Fast access safes are quite reasonably priced, and can hold 1 or several handguns. This keeps it at the ready if need be, and also keeps safely away from children.

Welcome and enjoy the site !!!

[Mike Franklin]

Never ever under any circumstances believe that your kids won't find your gun. Hiding it and making it a forbidden fruit can guarantee that they'll mess with it.
Show it to'm, let'm handle it and take them shooting when you can.
As soon as my kids could make a fist they got to shoot a gun. I let'm know about the danger and let'm see what a gun can do. And yep, their friends got the same treatment. Be a responsible owner and teach'm about the gun.
Every child related shooting that I know of was as a result of a kid getting out the hidden/forbidden gun while no one was around.
For 34 years loaded guns have set around my house. I've never had a kid get in trouble with gun.

[tonystewartfan]

I would rather have a semi-auto pistol for home protection, especially when you have young kids at home. I think it is a lot easier to cock a revolver than a semi-auto. This is only my opinion.

[nathangdad]

pump shotguns. I would have it stored above their reach in a secure
(locked) storage. You can build your own storage.

Practice with your shotgun. Also, practice quick opening of your secure storage.

[iflylow74]

I would stick with either a revolver or a shotgun. One thing I used to do when my son was little was to keep the revolver unloaded but have a quick loader nearby. That way I could load it quickly in an emergency but it would be hard for a little one to figure out how to operate it. Of course they were keep well out of reach. Another thing I did with my son was to tell him he could see my guns anytime he wanted as long as he asked me and I was the one showing him. That takes all the mystery away and also, they wont risk getting in trouble for playing with them alone when all they have to do is ask dad and they get to see it as much as they want. Just my 2 cents but it worked with my youngun!

[JMcDonald]

If I were you Id get a semi-auto handgun. Most kids can't cock it... hell, they are notorious for being too tough for some women! My dad bought one specifically because I wasn't able to cock it when I was little.

However, realistically the best thing you can do is educate them. My dad often showed me the gun and even let me hold it, and told me strait out what they do and how dangerous they can be, and told me stories and scenarios of how kids have been / can be killed by messing with their parent's guns. I never once even thought about trying to go play with it, even though I knew I could just get a stool and get it.

Don't shelter them from it. Sheltering and lack of education is what already causes all the rest of society's problems. Hell, you might even get them into shooting (get them a plinkster or a Crickett and cut the stock shorter).

*edit*

I didn't read anything before my post until now, and apparently a few others touched on the same subject.

[Seven©]

Originally Posted by nathangdad

pump shotguns. I would have it stored above their reach.

The only gun I keep loaded and unlocked is a pump shotgun. It hangs over the top inside of my bedroom door. Upside down with the muzzle pointing left. I'm right handed. Chamber clear, 4 in the tube, stored with the fore grip back ready to chamber a round.

You can only go so far with safety and still be ready for an emergency. A padlocked gun in a closet with the bullets stored in another closet isn't gonna help when seconds count.

I have a 7yo. daughter. I bought her a .22 and teach her about guns and safety. I took the "curiosity" factor out.

[RockB]

Originally Posted by Mike Franklin

Never ever under any circumstances believe that your kids won't find your gun. Hiding it and making it a forbidden fruit can guarantee that they'll mess with it.

I knew where my dad's guns were and did some pretty stupid stuff when I was a kid. But he never showed them to me and they were forbidden fruit.

Whenever my boys ask to see or touch my guns I let them (after they are cleared). Hopefully this openness will keep them from doing the same stupid stuff I did.

I do keep the loaded HD weapon in a GunVault 1000 (Gunvault GV1000 Mini Handgun Safe store your pistol).

[Seven©]

Originally Posted by JMcDonald

Don't shelter them from it. Sheltering and lack of education is what already causes all the rest of society's problems. Hell, you might even get them into shooting (get them a plinkster or a Crickett and cut the stock shorter).

You beat me to it. And stated it better.

Teach kids about guns.

My kid and her Crickett...

[applesofgold]

Great advice about being open with your kids. I know the way my kids are, they are smart enough and we are close enough that the best method is letting them be a part of the process and not making it forbidden fruit.

Now I just have to narrow the type of gun down ... another reason I thought shotgun instead of revolver or handguns is that it's harder to miss with a shotgun, plus the psychological factor of someone hearing me cock a 12 guage is a nice fear tactic.

Plus shotguns I hear won't go through drywall and hit my kids in the next room if I miss.

Please keep the advice coming if you have. It's an important topic.

* Also thanks for the advice Seven of where and how to keep it. Pure poetry.

[lunchbox99]

good topic I have a loaded 9mm, loaded shotgun, and strippers handy for a sks locked in my key pad safe by my bed. I will teach my daugher to shoot when she is older(18 months now). But I figure I can grab one and give the wife the other if something did happen. I agree with teaching children about firearms like everyone ^

[JMcDonald]

Originally Posted by lunchbox99

I will teach my daugher to shoot when she is older(18 months now).

What!? You are already late! Haha jp jp.

BTW, a shotgun is DEFINATELY easier to rack than a handgun. When I was little (like 8) I had a pump BB gun, and the only way for me to pump it was if I put the butt on the ground and used both hands to pump it. It wouldn't take a kid long to figure out how to do this with a shotgun. And hell, that would put their heads right above the muzzle while doing so... (shudders).

One more thing to think about is that shotguns are insanely out indoors (talking temporary or permanent partial hearing loss). You might not be so worried about yourself, but firing a shotgun in your house would at the very least terrify the kids (not that they shouldn't be scared, but you don't want them to think the Devil is thundering through your house lol), or if they were in the same room as the fight (such as being held hostage or if the BG breaks in to one of their rooms) will much more easily damage their sensitive ears.

Thank you, Seven .

One more idea. Get a gun safe. Keep the guns locked in there until the evening when the kids start settling down (maybe when it starts to get dark), then get the gun(s) out and just put it by your night stand. Leave your keys in the safe lock so you always remember to put it back in the morning (you can't leave until you get your keys from the safe, which obviously reminds you to lock up the gun). Then the only way they could get to your gun would be if they snuck in your room at night. And, of course, it would be in the best position to defend your home should you need it in the most likely situations.

I don't have kids, but this is the regiment I use. You never know when a curious roommate is going to get too curious. At the same time, you never know when someone might break in and steal your guns.

[.22guy]

Originally Posted by applesofgold

Now I just have to narrow the type of gun down ... another reason I thought shotgun instead of revolver or handguns is that it's harder to miss with a shotgun, plus the psychological factor of someone hearing me cock a 12 guage is a nice fear tactic.

Plus shotguns I hear won't go through drywall and hit my kids in the next room if I miss.

I'm going to number my thoughts on this, just so I can keep it straight in my head, not to be a know-it-all.

1. I think you are on the right track. A 18-20 inch barrelled Mossberg 500 series or Remington 870 should serve you quite well, but you need to practice. Don't buy that crap about not needing to aim a shotgun, firing from the hip or anything like that. You still need to at least point the thing in the general direction of the intruder.

2. Racking the shotgun to scare away the intruder is totally over-rated. Will it scare away a punk 17 year old kid who is just trying to steal your TV to get beer money? Yeah, it probably will. Will it scare away someone on meth or PCP who is wants money, no matter the cost? I doubt it. People like that simply do not think like you or me. If I was in an area and heard someone racking a shotgun in a way I perceived to menacing, I would run like hell. But I'm not a drugged up lunatic. Then there is always the fact that you are giving hints as to your location, and the other person just might fire first. You are familar with the layout of your house, don't give the other person any clues. If they are there, open up on them and don't stop until you are sure the threat is negated.

3. You have to be careful with shotgun shots going through walls and hitting your kids. It depends on the kind of ammo you use. If you use buckshot to effectively stop the aggressor, there is a good chance it will penetrate several walls. Just something to think about.

4. Make sure you are clear on what to do after a shooting. Call 911, if you haven't already done that, and make no statements to the police other than your identifying information and that you thought your life was in danger, without a lawyer. Remember, anything you say can and will be used against you in a criminal (or civil) trial. Some people will say that's lame, it's cut-and-dry, some guy breaks into your house, you fear for your life/the lives of your family, you shoot the bad guy, dead bad guy. Right? Well, it doesn't always work that way.

I hope this helps.

[.22guy]

Please read this links carefully. One is about how much buckshot will open up at 12 feet, 20 yards and 45 yards. As you can see, you must aim at 12 feet.

The other is about the ammo penetrating drywall. Lots of good information there, click NEXT near the bottom to read the whole article.

The Box O' Truth #20 - Buckshot Patterns - Page 1

[.22guy]

The Box O' Truth #3 - The Shotgun Meets the Box O' Truth - Page 2