imported post
I've stared at this question all evening. This is something with which I struggle. The balance of the safety of my family with, well, the safety of my family.
When I carry, I am very aware of where my side arm is at all times. I will never leave a sidearm unattended in a bad place. If the side arm is not on my person, then it is secure.
In addition, I was raised in a household that would, in today's world, be in violation of State laws. There were, not just loaded, but chambered firearms within my reach as far back as I can remember. The difference? I listened to my father. Even looking at those firearms the wrong way would get me the beating of a lifetime. But it seems even that is not legal today.
My problem? I have a very clever three year old. This child can figure out most any feat of engineering, or so it seems. The only successful manner to keep this little guy safe is exploiting his physical disadvantages.
I am human, and as such, I am subject to err. Safeties are mechanical devices subject to failure. There is no trust involved - this is fact. What I do know is that there is no way my son could action the slide on an auto loader. So in the very very small chance my son ever got possession of a firearm, the probability of him discharging it before being noticed with a firearm or me noticing my firearm is missing is even smaller. It's all probabilities and risks.
I will reiterate that I do not rely on this physical disadvantage to keep my child safe from firearms, and as I have mentioned, if the side arm is not on my person, it is secure. Obviously, I don't play with my son with a firearm on my person.
Like I said - this is not about trust to me. I trust myself with a firearm and I am well adept at firearm safety. Realizing that I am subject to err is not a lack of trust or lack of ability to handle a firearm. Realizing safeties are mechanical man made devices subject to failure is not a lack of trust or ability.
I am 41 years old. I am not in a profession that would require me to carry a chambered weapon. I am your typical homeowner, father, pencil pushing employee who knows the responsibility of protecting himself and his family. In my lifetime, I have never had to draw a weapon in defense (hope that trend continues). It would seem that (using Pareto's Law) 80% of the situations in which I would find myself having to draw would allow me ample time to action a slide. The remaining 20% is a risk I have to accept.
However, I am not one of these egomaniacs who is stuck on themselves and their opinions. If someone can shed some light on carrying and reducing the risk to my family. I'm open to it.
But until I can figure out how to prevent humans from error, mechanical devices from failure and three year olds from curiosity, I will have to action the slide before I can discharge my firearm.