As usual I got into an argument today, but a sensible one.
The debate was over whether or not a defensive gun should be simply stowed out in the open, or have some kind of immediate access prevention device.
Now what I mean by stowed out in the open is that it's just sitting in a drawer or perhaps hidden on top shelf or on a pin under a desk ready to go. There's nothing preventing anyone from simply grabbing the firearm and using it.
What I consider an immediate access prevention device is something like a "gun safe" (more properly a residential security container) or a microvault or even a cable lock... basically something that renders the gun not immediately operable. Trigger locks don't count because they just suck.
The argument against me was that in a crisis there is no time to open a safe or undo a lock.
I said yes I agree with you completely, but I do not own the property I live on. There could be someone in my place of residence right now, namely a maintenance worker. I will not put an immediately accessible gun in the hands of someone whose name I don't even know.
Besides I've actually practiced. I can, in the dark, get out of bed and have my glasses, light, and gun all ready to go in 3 seconds. That seems reasonable, especially considering I don't really need the light as I sleep with a light on. So really I can skip that part so long as there's not a power failure.
Now of course when I'm actually present I have my arm present. I normally set it down right here on the desk actually when I type this nonsense. There's a new XD40 in immediate reach. And sometimes I fall asleep and leave a gun sitting on my desk. But I'm still there, not 4 feet from it.
But otherwise, I put it in a vault or lock it in a car or whatever. My goal is not to prevent theft as that is a futile goal without a reinforced room with a vault door, it's simply to keep honest people honest and to be able to stand in court and say "Your Honor I kept the weapon secured."
I don't have any doubts about what I'm going to do if I need to do it. I have a designated place to keep the house gun, and it is the house gun. I ignore the microvault's instructions and keep it loaded and ready to go. I fail to see how I don't have instant access to it.
But according to my debate opponent, I'm going to die horribly no matter what because I keep my arsenal under a layer of access prevention.
Anyway I've rambled on, but the point is that I am protecting myself from liability issues and not enabling a bad situation with my practices. The fact is if someone wants to steal my .357 and commit suicide with it, I can't stop them if they go to the Home Depot and rent power tools to break down my door and cut open my safe. But at least then it's clearly their choice. No one can argue I supplied a weapon to an incompetent person.
Now if I was a little higher on the totem pole of life and lived in a different space, I probably wouldn't have the same problems to contend with. But I can't see myself ever just leaving a gun sitting out there in the open ready to go where any fool can get his mitts on it.
Unless I am right there within arm's reach to immediately supervise them, I do not leave unsecured guns laying about. Never have and never will. The only time I might consider it was if I was expecting a bear attack.
That's not to say that's correct for everyone in every situation per se as there are always exceptions. But when you can have a layer of protection and not give up any capability to respond immediately to a threat, I see no reason you shouldn't lock it up.
I may be a little biased though. A few years ago my grandmother's neighbor stole a .38 from another apartment and killed herself with it. I know it wasn't the guy's fault an old woman stole his gun and shot herself with it, but the courts may not always see it that way, especially in civil court. And I'll be honest: I'm such a chump I'd feel guilty if that was my gun and I didn't try to do something to keep that from happening.
The debate was over whether or not a defensive gun should be simply stowed out in the open, or have some kind of immediate access prevention device.
Now what I mean by stowed out in the open is that it's just sitting in a drawer or perhaps hidden on top shelf or on a pin under a desk ready to go. There's nothing preventing anyone from simply grabbing the firearm and using it.
What I consider an immediate access prevention device is something like a "gun safe" (more properly a residential security container) or a microvault or even a cable lock... basically something that renders the gun not immediately operable. Trigger locks don't count because they just suck.
The argument against me was that in a crisis there is no time to open a safe or undo a lock.
I said yes I agree with you completely, but I do not own the property I live on. There could be someone in my place of residence right now, namely a maintenance worker. I will not put an immediately accessible gun in the hands of someone whose name I don't even know.
Besides I've actually practiced. I can, in the dark, get out of bed and have my glasses, light, and gun all ready to go in 3 seconds. That seems reasonable, especially considering I don't really need the light as I sleep with a light on. So really I can skip that part so long as there's not a power failure.
Now of course when I'm actually present I have my arm present. I normally set it down right here on the desk actually when I type this nonsense. There's a new XD40 in immediate reach. And sometimes I fall asleep and leave a gun sitting on my desk. But I'm still there, not 4 feet from it.
But otherwise, I put it in a vault or lock it in a car or whatever. My goal is not to prevent theft as that is a futile goal without a reinforced room with a vault door, it's simply to keep honest people honest and to be able to stand in court and say "Your Honor I kept the weapon secured."
I don't have any doubts about what I'm going to do if I need to do it. I have a designated place to keep the house gun, and it is the house gun. I ignore the microvault's instructions and keep it loaded and ready to go. I fail to see how I don't have instant access to it.
But according to my debate opponent, I'm going to die horribly no matter what because I keep my arsenal under a layer of access prevention.
Anyway I've rambled on, but the point is that I am protecting myself from liability issues and not enabling a bad situation with my practices. The fact is if someone wants to steal my .357 and commit suicide with it, I can't stop them if they go to the Home Depot and rent power tools to break down my door and cut open my safe. But at least then it's clearly their choice. No one can argue I supplied a weapon to an incompetent person.
Now if I was a little higher on the totem pole of life and lived in a different space, I probably wouldn't have the same problems to contend with. But I can't see myself ever just leaving a gun sitting out there in the open ready to go where any fool can get his mitts on it.
Unless I am right there within arm's reach to immediately supervise them, I do not leave unsecured guns laying about. Never have and never will. The only time I might consider it was if I was expecting a bear attack.
That's not to say that's correct for everyone in every situation per se as there are always exceptions. But when you can have a layer of protection and not give up any capability to respond immediately to a threat, I see no reason you shouldn't lock it up.
I may be a little biased though. A few years ago my grandmother's neighbor stole a .38 from another apartment and killed herself with it. I know it wasn't the guy's fault an old woman stole his gun and shot herself with it, but the courts may not always see it that way, especially in civil court. And I'll be honest: I'm such a chump I'd feel guilty if that was my gun and I didn't try to do something to keep that from happening.
