I am thinking of getting both a handgun and shotgun for “home defense” (whether from burglars, rioters or the O-stapo).
Any recommendations for a “newbie”?
Also, any “safety” recommendations as mine is a home with 5 y/o and 2 y/o boys? Obviously locking them away would solve the problem but that hardly helps in an emergency.
Locking the firearms away, not the boys (although I suppose either would work . . .)
:)
First, become a member of NRA if you’re not already. Order some Eddie Eagle materials and begin now to teach them what to do if they find a gun.
Stop!
Don’t Touch!
Leave the Area!
Tell and Adult!
Over 25 million kids have been through the course and many have reported finding guns and doing the right thing.
After that, begin to introduce your kids to guns by allowing them to look at them under your supervision.
Teach them the safety rules.
As they get just a little older 6 or so, take them BB gun shooting. Then introduce them to a .22.
Join a Cub Scout Pack. They teach at scout camps BB and archery, impressing safety every step of the way. Our council has a BB league that shoots for score with prizes and plenty of safe fun. We had one family who was anti-gun but still had their son do BB League cause they felt he needed to know safe operation of a gun. The lessons learned with BB guns translate directly into safe handling of any firearm.
Keep the guns unloaded and the ammo in a separate location, preferably accessible only to you.
I feel it’s better to gun proof your kids than to kid proof your guns.