Own It. Respect It. Secure It. — For the Holidays and Every day

I’m taking a cue from the NSSF’s Project ChildSafe this Christmas to remind all of us to secure our firearms – especially if you are going to be having holiday guests. http://www.projectchildsafe.org/


It’s that time of year again. The time when you have housefuls of people, and the food and alcohol are flowing. You’ve made your list of shopping and guests,  and you’ve checked it twice. But do you REALLY know who is naughty and nice?

This time of year it is especially important to make sure that your firearms are properly secured. This is even more essential if you usually don’t have children in your household. If you aren’t used to the concept of “child-proofing”, some safety precautions may slip through the cracks. Children and snooping relatives are resourceful, and cannot be trusted to make good decisions. Maybe not even your co-workers – do you REALLY know if that other guy from the cubicle farm has a felony record or not? Your cousin’s kids may not be the only ones with sticky fingers.

It’s not good enough to just have a “hiding place” for your firearms. Children climb on top of refrigerators, rummage through drawers and go through coat pockets in closets. So can your nosy great-aunt Sally. It is safe to assume that NO unlocked place in your home is secure when you are busy with 30 guests and the children are only semi-supervised. Even otherwise responsible adults make bad decisions when the eggnog is spiked and the bravado is getting deep. Just don’t give anyone the opportunity. Lock up your firearms.

And don’t forget your carry purse. I can’t tell you how many times Poison Control has been called and the PICU has admitted children who have gotten into Grandma’s meds in her purse. How easy then, for a carry purse to be similarly ravaged if left unattended for even a moment.

Here is a sampling of the various methods for securing firearms available in the LateBloomer Household.

                                                   Cable lock

                                           Padlocks on cases

                                        Quick access safe

                                             Small safe

                         Large safe

Secure firearm storage doesn’t have to be expensive or inconvenient. There are many good options out there. What it does take is forethought and planning.

Have a Safe and Joyous Holiday Season – whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Festivus, all -of-the-above,  or you just plain enjoy lights and food! Be Safe and Have Fun!