My Husband Wants a Gun for Home Secerity

I think most people associate to much when it comes to firearms. My husband is military so of course we have some. We have some for collecting, and some for him to go out and use to hunt, or use for sport shooting. We do have 1 for home security and we have 3 small children in our home as well. My husband is very, very good with weapons of all types, since he is a military police officer. We discuss guns and what they can do to people with our children regularly and our two older children have learned how to use a couple of them, with daddy right beside them controlling the weapon and teaching them what to do and showing them what the bullet does to the target so they get a realistic idea of what it could do to a person. I grew up in a home with firearms used for hunting. I therefore was never curious about them and I also enjoy the sport of target shooting. It is sad that TV and pulication of criminals through media makes it look so much more glamorous to young people. I think if you are tought and understand the use and helpfullness a weapon can be when hunting for food and used for protection, not necessarily firing it, which is a common misconception. Anyone who has even hears a shotgun round being chambered would agree. You could also consider taking some self defense classes which could aid you in using your hands and things around you to protect yourself, if need be. I think for your family guns may not be the bast option to protect yourself, however there a numerous other options out there. Talk about it and definetly take a gun safety class with your ENTIRE family if you choose to purchase one. DO NOT forget your children need to be taught how to handle the situation should a gun be present at school or a friends home regarldess if you have one at home.

Tell your husband you want a DOG!!!!! There is no better security system than a dog that barks to protect the family (I'm not recommending an attack dog). Then you can call 911 & let people who are paid to handle guns & security do their job.

Guns in the home that "the kids won't even know about" are a recipe for disaster. The horror stories exist because these things have happened. It happened in the town I grew up in, back in the 70s (before these prosecution-happy days), so no one was charged because they all had to live with the horror & responsibility of killing a young kid/the son's best friend. Trust me, I never had desire to play with a gun after that & have the same feeling you do: I would cry if my husband brought a gun into my home.

Seriously, talk to him about all the benefits of having a dog versus having a gun locked in a hidden case!

-the dog can play w/ your kids

-get a dog that barks if strangers come in the house

-you'll never have to hide the dog away

-you'll never have to fumble with the lock of a gun case & then ammunition while adreniline is coursing thru your veins

-the combo of a barking dog & a baseball bat will provide far more security without the added stress of owning a gun

-In addition, you could make family ventures to the shooting range, RENT firearms for practice; everyone in the family learns firearm safety & proper useage. THEN revisit the idea of a gun in your home.

Buying a gun out of fear means the fear wins. Buying a gun when you're calm & well trained to use it, is sensible.

I hardly think you are crazy or worrying to much if your family just experienced a home invasion. maybe,you need to go to a gun range and learn to use, handle a weapon. Guns are inanimate objects, neither good nor bad. It is the user that determines their effect. If stored safely and in the hands of a safe user, they are safe. If one of the good guys at Virginia tech had one, less kids would have died, how many more would have died at the church in Colorado if the security guard didn't have one? There are tens of millions of American households that safely own a gun. Most gun violence that occurs in America is not occurring in those homes. And in the cases where there where accidents where children used the guns, by definition they were improperly stored. If there is a gunlock on the gun and it is in a gun safe, how can this be terrifying. Those 3 childhood experienced were caused by PEOPLE misusing them. They could have in the absence of the gun scared you with a knife. Would you wish to empty your home of all steak knives. Oh, by the way I'm hardly a "mid-west gun nut". I moved to Seattle from the UK 10 years ago, and we don't own a gun (thinking about getting one now I have a baby)

Dear A.,
I know you've gotten a ton of replies (48 when I checked), but I just remembered something that happened when I was a freshman in college, so I had to write you. I was invited to my girlfriend's house for the weekend. I was in her brother's room talking to him, and I saw a gun lying there. I picked it up and jokingly pointed it at him. He got very serious and asked me to put it down, and I pretended I was going to shoot him. He kept pleading with me to put the gun down, and I still thought he was kidding, so we went back and forth with me holding the gun on him. My finger was on the trigger and I really wanted him to know that he couldn't get away with teasing me. Finally, for some reason I still don't understand, I put the gun down. His hands were shaking so badly as he picked up the gun and showed me that it was fully loaded, and my hands are shaking as I type this. I didn't remember this incident until I read your email, and it was 25 years ago. I almost killed someone, and the thought of how a split second decision decided whether I would have been a murderer, & how many lives would have been shattered is the reason I am writing to you. Please, please, go with your instincts & don't have a gun in your house. You can think your gun is out of reach, (altho how do you ask a thief to wait while you unlock the safe), but if it is accessible to you, it can be found by someone else (my friend's brother was about to clean his gun when I walked in.) A child, a neighbor, the person who broke in and grabs it, anything could happen. I know we live in a violent society. But there are other ways to live besides armed to the teeth. Please, if you haven't watched it, rent Bowling for Columbine, and you and your husband watch it together. It may open his mind and heart to a different reality. I wish you and your family a long and happy life...
A.

okay A., first of all the children should know about it, if not, and for some wierd reason they found it they will play with it, and maybe shoot someone. No good. Second, I can't imagine what your husband is so fearful about that he believes a gun will protect him. If he is sleeping and someone comes into the house and shoots you in your sleep, the gun wont do a thing. If you have the gun in a gun safe, and you are outside or wherever, are you going to have enough time to find the key, get out the gun, and load it before something really horrible happens? probably not. I made my husband get rid of the guns when we got married because there is not a serious point to having them in the house, unless you are hunters....which you can then store the guns in a gun safe off in the garage or somewhere away from the house. Also, if your husband hears you when yyou say that it makes you want to cry just thinking about bringing a gun into the house, he wont force it. He needs to respect you and your feelings and serious aversion to guns.
Good luck, L.

You are right about this being a controversial issue, and I applaud you for openng this discussion. We have several in the house, but LIKE ANY POISONOUS CLEANER or HAZARDOUS LAWN CHEMICAL they are easily out of reach of our curious kiddo. When she gets older, she'll learn how to safey use the dish detergent and the guns and the lawn mower and all the things that could potentially hurt her if used incorrectly.

On another note: Your question isn't about your husband's right as an american to "keep and bear arms," it's about making a decision together. A gun evokes feelings of protection in him, while it evokes feelings of fear in you. Both of you need to respect the other's feelings and find a way to compromise. I was raised around guns, and so was my husband. I personally know people who have been injured or killed by them, and I know people who have protected their families and property with them. Like anything in creation, guns can be used for good or evil.

Your husband wants to use a gun for good. If he takes proper classes and gets the permits and is careful, I believe you should let him offer this additional protection to his family.

Hi A.-

My family owns a gun manufacturing business and I grew up with guns in the house. I am now a parent and also keep guns in the house, for sport and for home protection. I can understand your feelings about it since you had a traumatic past experience as a child with guns, but education is really the key. Keeping a lock on the gun is really important, but I would not hide it from the kids. They should be taught to respect the weapon and to know that it can cause harm if used unsupervised. Dependig on their age, even having your husband take them to a firing range and teaching them basic gun safety would be good. The point is to take the curiousity and "mystery" out of having a gun and the kids will never think anything about it. At least that has been my experience. I hope this helps!

I'm very sorry for the scary situation that's brought this up. I hope everyone is alright now.

The fact of the matter is, most data shows that having a gun in the home does not keep a family safer. Think about it. If the gun is stored properly...no ammo, with a lock, somewhere up high, what are the odds of your husband getting the gun, loading it and using it effectively in an emergency?

If you do get a gun, you should both be trained on its use and for the love of God, make sure it really is locked and stored far, far away from the children.

You are both freaked out by what has happened to your family, which is normal. You would be better served, perhaps, by looking into some self-defense classes (you don't need a lock on a karate chop and the kids are never going to think it's a toy). You might also look into starting a Neighborhood Watch program in your neighborhood...knowing your neighbors and everyone looking out for everyone is a pretty effective safety measure.

Good luck.

I really love guns and so does my husband. We each have one and my 10 year old daughter has her own. We all know how to use them (except my 17 month old) and are not afraid of them. We keep them locked and unloaded with the ammunition stored separately. If we had the funds to purchase a gun safe we would have one. That being said I do not think all the locks in the world would make me feel as comfortable as knowing that everyone in my family knows how to handle a gun. Most accidents happen when someone does not know gun safety. When my little one is older she too will know how to handle a gun. In this case ignorance is not bliss, we all know that children have a way of finding things we don't want them to find. Having a gun in the house with a family that does not know how to handle them is not safe. Please be safe, get training, and don't keep things from your children thinking they won't find out.

A., this must be so tough for you. In my opinion (since you asked), there is nothing rational about having a gun in the same house as a child. The statistics are very clear. The chances of a child being injured or killed by accidental shooting involving a legally-owned firearm are much higher than those of a child being killed or injured by a home intruder. You are right about other parents' misplaced feelings of security. It's just not worth the risk. I am truly sorry for what your family members have gone through. How horrible for them. I strongly feel that we can't let those who would violate our happiness and security win the war. If we all had guns, then we become like those who would hurt us. I wish you luck and peace.

When we were kids, and the opportunity presented itself, we would sneak into my parent's room and search every square inch for Christmas presents. As an adult I had a similar aversion to having a gun in my home just because I know how curious and resourceful kids can be from my own childhood experiences.

Get a big dog instead. It will bark to alert you of any intruders and be a fun companion for your kids as well.

Hi A.,
Wow, what a hard situation for you and your family. I really do not like guns and the idea of having a gun in my house would only make me feel more insecure. That said, many husbands feel a sense of responsibility to protect their family and it sounds like your husbands instincts are kicking in. I would urge him to do some real research first. Look into the accidental shootings and other incidents that took place because a gun was inside the home. Many people, especially women, end up being shot with their own guns because the perpetrators take them away. They enter unarmed and end up with a weapon thanks to the family's "protection." It is hard to say what he is concerned about due to your post, but if it's not protecting yourself from a surprise attack, you can't use a gun for self defense anyway. If you go after someone who has hurt you after the fact, that's another thing all together. I just encourage you to follow your heart, be truthful with your husband and get him to research some of the issues. Get him to slow down, think it through and make a decision after things have cooled down a little. Good luck.
L.

I recommend non-lethal home security measures. Most people are familiar with keychain mace that are common on college campuses. At sports and fisherman's stores, you can also buy bear mace. This looks like a small fire extinguisher and can shoot from 30-50 feet. You can see Police using them against protest groups on You-Tube for riot control. It has higher pepper/mace concentration and can even stop people in the middle of most drug induced states. Many cities prohibit this concentration level of pepper/mace in public areas, so leave it at home (we take ours camping only.) We store mace, near the ceiling out of sight to keep the children from them. If the children do find them, they can cause themselves pain and discomfort, but no lasting harm. Properly secured firearms are not readily available when needed, unsecured firearms are a greater hazard than burglars.

My husband is the same and yes, we do have a gun in the house. Both the gun and munitions are at separate locked cabinets, at separate rooms in the basement and my son never saw it or knew there is one in the house. If you think, if there is a need to use it, he will never be able to put it into use as it will take too long. Well, I never told him that. He thinks that it is his way to protect us. I don't like the idea either but you can't fight everything. Let him bring the gun in the house and just make sure it will be well locked separately and away from children's hands and minds. Make him swear that he will never let the children know that there is one in the house. If they don't know they won't look for it. Good luck!

Hi A.,
This might be a difficult choice being that you have had a traumatic eperience with a gun in your childhood & your husband has been significantly impacted by this home invasion.
Personally, I have home protection as well as a permit to carry a concealed weapon and I feel much better that I do.
My best advice would be for both you and your husband to take weapons handling classes. They will teach you all aspects of how to handle a gun, load a gun, store a gun & even cleaning a gun. I can certainly understand your fear, these classes may help you get over that fear and be more comfortable. If you're trained properly and can comfortably handle your weapon and have a secure location, away from your children's reach that should help you & your husband both. Do not put a weapon in your home until you can use it with confidence, being afraid of it is as dangerous as not having one. I think Your main fear is that your boys may get a hold of it out of curiosity and hurt themselves.
If they are old enough, take them down to the shooting range as well and let them handle the guns too. A trainer can teach them all about gun safety. Target practice is a great way to familiarize all of you and brings on a little competition between you :) We love it and anytime my son can outshoot his dad, he loves to rub it in.
It really is something you both need to agree to, I am for it as long as you have a place to secure it away from the kids & the proper training. Even with training for the boys, you don't want a temptation like that layin around. I know that I feel better knowing that I have a way to defend myself and protect my children in my home.
Good luck, I hope this helps even just a little.

I don't think a gun for home safety is a terrible idea. Of course, my house has been broken into. We keep ours out of reach of our son. There is no way (right now) that he can get to it. As he gets older, we will have to do something else, but at least when my husband is not home, I feel as if I have a little protection. When he is old enough, Clayton will go through a gun safety course and we will tach him to properly use the gun. I think that if he knows about it and is educated, he is far less likely to play with the gun.

I would think that your husband hasn't hear how traumatic this is to you. He needs to hear what you are saying.
Guns create a false sense of security. There is also the chance it would be used against you.We no longer live in the wild wild west wilderness where it was needed against wild animals and outlaws. You already have a security system. There are a lot of things you can do to be safe , here are few: keep exterior lights on at night, trim bushes for hiding places, start a neighborhood watch, install a camera, keep windows and doors locked etc.. I would be more scared to have a gun in the house than not and children have a way of getting into things and finding things. I'd hate to live with the tragedy.
R.

Whether or not to keep guns in your house hold in a very personal decision. We have guns, and a large double lock safe to store them in. Regardless, it is my personal belief that ALL children, whether their parents own guns or not, should be taught about guns and gun safety as soon as they are old enough to be curious and explore. Just because you don't have a gun, or are safe with yours, does not mean that everyone your child comes in contact with is as smart or safe. Your child could be exposed to firearms at others homes, in school, on the street, any where! Children must know about guns and how to handle them properly, and to know never to touch a gun without adult supervision! My boys are 2 and 4 and they know all about guns, and gun safety all ready, yet every time we see a chance to bring it up, we go over it all again, and again, and again.

Hello. My husband grew up in the country, hunting & fishing & guns around the home. I grew up in the city without any of the above. We differ on the subject but I understand his perspective of having guns for safety & sport. I believe the whole household, including children, should be aware of guns and taught to respect them. You can hide it or keep it in a safe place and definately have a locking system. However, I think it is responsible to inform your children and yourselves about gun safety as well as gun use. The lack of knowledge & how to use it can be more dangerous than the gun itself. Good luck with your situation. So sorry that you're in this perdiciment with whatever the invasion situation was. It is important to provide a safe home for your entire family. I would suggest you and your husband take a gun safety course together, it could benefit both of you on many different levels.

get a good watch dog, NOT a gun. please.

Wow - I had no idea there were so many people with guns in their houses! (Makes me realize I need to ask parents about this first before letting my kids go over to play!!!) I never grew up with a gun and felt very safe... My parents taught me that guns give people the opportunity to hurt others, and that's never okay... even if others hurt you first. Yes, it would be tragic if something were to happen to us, but I would never want someone else's blood on my hands. I want my kids to get the same idea, therefore we don't have guns. (My husband is ex-military and was a sharp shooter - even he agrees that guns+kids = danger.) Even if you teach them how to use it responsibly, there's no guarantee that all their friends will have been taught the same things... and we all know how kids like to show off their cool stuff. I don't have a problem with people who hunt - as as long as they keep their guns locked away from their children, or train them in the correct way to use them and only use them during an organized hunt. That's their business, but I'm with you... There's no reason to have guns in the house, period. I like the dog idea, but intruder break-ins are rare... You can't spend your life worrying all the time over things that "might" happen. It's good that you have a security system... we don't even have that. We just pray that God will keep our family safe, and that any interaction with violence will be an opportunity for us demonstrate God's way of peace. Blessings to you, and good luck finding a compromise with your husband.

Hi A.,
I can understand your frustration with the whole thing, however I also see your husbands point of view about having a weapon in the house. We currently have one child, with more in the future (keep your fingers crossed). We have never lost a child, and couldn't even begin to comprehend that thought, but we are very diligent about gun safety in our home. We have it in a lock box, and keep that out of reach of our child as well. As for the having to protect your family, I completly understand the overwhelming feelings to protect yourself, your children, and family as a whole as I went through a bad situation while my husband was traveling on business a few years ago. I too thought it was ridiculous to keep a handgun in the house until I was in that situation and wished for more than just a phone to call for help. After my whole situation, I decided that I would take a gun safety class and actually learn how to use the weapon and how to understand my own fears (about firearms and "Bad Guys") and how to deal with any situation that I may be thrown into. I'm happy that I took that class as I learned a lot about firearms, how to properly handle and store them, when to use them, and when not to use them. My class also included a little bit about self defense techniques to use while using the firearm (flashlight roll-away at night), distance, and marksmanship. Who would have known that I had such a great aim. :)
My suggestion to you is to find a local class and research it, then take it. I believe that you will cause greater harm to pretend that the gun is not there if your husband does bring one into the home. Educate yourself and empower yourself with knowledge even if you never fire the weapon, being smarter about firearms will help you out more than you think. Good luck and stay safe. PM

Our home was broken into by crazy person while we were home. It was 1 am and he managed to break through our front door before the police got here. I would have given anything for husband to have a gun at that moment. The man went through our entire house, broke out windows, etc. He was screaming where are you and looking through all the rooms. We were hiding in a room where the door locked but it was just a bedroom door. We got so lucky because his cell phone rang as he got to that door and it distracted him. Shortly after he picked up the phone and realized I was on with 911 and we were in the house. Thank gawd the police arrived just afterwards. He was arrested but is out on bail pending a trial - it's been over a year. Now we both carry guns and have a shot gun in the house. I don't think it's crazy at all to have guns.

Why not tell your hubby that bc of the home envasion you want to wait to talk about the gun when emotions are low and you are thinking more with your head than with emotions. Good Luck!! My husband had a gun a long time ago and I made him get rid of it bc of the children

i would suggest a couple things to him before getting a gun...a dog that has a good bark (our lab is the sweetest child-loving dog but his bark is vicious sounding and he barks at anyone who has not been to our house before!), a baseball bat under the bed (i know it sounds silly but it can be a good "weapon" and you've never heard of a kid accidentally killing another by showing him a bat!), or consider moving somewhere where crime is low (i know this is costly and time consuming but seriously, if the chances are that high maybe your neighborhood isn't safe).

i would also let him know that RANDOM home invasion robberies are the most rare of robberies. most of them have to do with drugs or people with money. if you do not fit in either of those catagories, it is highly unlikely. maybe he could talk to his local law enforcement so they could also educate him on how random they are.

i'm sorry this happened to your relatives and your husband should be commended for wanting to protect you and your family but a gun is not wise on so many levels.

I didnt read any others comments because I am a firm believer that a house with a gun is not safe, even during a time of crisis. I think to myself what would happen if the person there to do harm on my family or I got the gun away from me and he wasnt armed before but now he would be. I dated a guy back in high school that one had an arensol of guns in his room in a big lock case. I didnt think this was strange at the time because I thought I was in love with him. My mom feared for my safety everytime I was over there, she knew the guns were there but she didnt trust him. She didnt realize he had taught me how to fire a gun/ rifle and how to clean and take care of one and yadda yadda. But once we went our separate ways I realized I was an idiot and my mom was right. Why did a 18 year old guy need 10 long range rifles and 2 handguns...Thats a little bit of my history about being around them so my feelings about this arent from poor experiences or anything and it is not like I know nothing about them. I found out after marrying my husband that his dad is a BIG TIME hunter. That isnt the problem for me he used to own a gun shop out in Renton,Wa. And when it closed he took everything with him that hadnt sold. I was upset, my hub didnt mention this too me before. He also was very matter of factly telling me we would inherit all of the guns when he father passes. I told him that if he didnt sell them off in the estate he would be looking for a new wife! I just dont see the place for a gun in a house with curious kids. Locked up or not kids have ways of finding things they arent suppose too. And if they cant get into it, they will find a way. No matter the age. I can also safely say that any older child who came across a lock box would try and get into it as well but that child may be more compelled to take it to school to show his friends. Education or not i would sit down with you hub and talk it over with him and explain to him your concerns on the matter and let him know that you would prefer not having one in the house. Have you thought about getting a dog? It has been proven that dogs can be more effective sometimes at protecting a family then a fire arm. You should talk to vets and breeders they can inform you on the best guard type dogs, that are still safe to have around children as well.

My husband is in law enforcement & we have several rifles and handguns in our home,but we have always had a safe or a gun cabinet to keep them in...Saftey is a main concern for all...I, was followed(with my daughter, who was at that time in a stroller)one time, the man offered(in spanish) to give me a ride anywhere I needed to go. I just stared at him blankly, he finally asked if I spoke spanish(I do,and he asked that in english)I told him "no" & he left. I have a conceled weapons permit(I wasn't happy about having a handgun). I have taken a firearms saftey course(It's required for hunting,which we all do), our kids have taken it also(we have two),both are now 15 & 18. To this day, they are careful & understand that guns are not toys, we move the key to a place where only myself & my husband know. If you are so uncomfortable talk together about taking a self-defense class. There are alot of options available(as far as level, & style of class). We also have taken, some & my husband gets refreshed in defensive tactics. Saftey of your family & yourselves is paramount, don't get a gun, just because of a few instances & your feeling insecure(I know you said your husband is level headed, so is mine)instances like the ones you describe can leave anyone shaken, & their thoughts running. No one can choose another's path, but make sure you are as educated, about your choice & other options available, as possible.

I think a gun would cause problems. I wouldn't want to think I was the cause of someone losing their life because of me. Just think long and hard before he actually does bring a gun into the house. I lost my dad due to a drunk driver last year. That guy has to live with the thought that he killed someone for the rest of his life.

I don't know if this will help or not. I grew up with a family in which both of my parents were hunters both had many guns. My husband and son both hunt and my son shot his first deer when he was 11. They always go to the shooting ranges to target practice. So obviously we have guns at our house too, in gun safes of course. This is a way of life for us we have two children and even my daughter is considering becomming a hunter herself. I'm not, just because of my own personal issues of not being able to see an animal die although, I like to eat the meat.
Good luck in making this decision for your family!

I am having this same debate with my husband almost daily. And my arguement is the same as some of the other comments you have received, in order to keep the weapon away from our children it would have to be locked and put up, therefore being useless in a break in situation. But if your children are older teaching them about the gun safety and how and when you use it might eleminate that problem.

I wonder if the parents of a child who shot themself or accidently shot another were ever taught about the dangers of a gun & how to use them? Guns are dangerous, obviously, but not teaching your children about guns when you own them is very irresponsible. I was raised around guns (my dad hunts) and was taught at a very early age about guns. Not just "this is a gun & don't touch" because curiousity will get you in trouble. My dad took me target shooting so I wasn't afraid of them or curious about them, but I also learned the dangers of them, how to handle them safely, etc.

Mase? Baseball bat? I wouldn't want to get that close to an intruder.

I have read that having a gun in the home makes each member in your household five(5!) X times more likely to die by gunfire. That is a huge increase.

Here's another option... get a dog to alert you should someone come around (as a bonus the intruder knows he's been noticed) and if your husband still feels the need for a protection device, try a stun gun or taser. My brother-in-law is in law enforcement and he feels that the taser he carries is a good tool for disabling a person.

A.~ I too had those worries about having a gun in my home with my children. My husband was adamant about having one(for home protection). Our children do know that Daddy has a gun and we have taught them all about guns and what they can do. But we don't talk about it otherwise. Kind of out of sight out of mind. When my husband first got the gun, he took me to a shooting range and taught me how to use it. This helped me feel a little more secure about having it in my home. If I know how it works (using the safety and such) it wasn't so bad. I am a stay at home mom and my husband works swing shift, I never know what time he will be home at night, and in the back of my mind I know that if I have to I can protect myself and my 4 children. We also have two pit bull dogs. The nicest dogs you have ever met. But if someone they do not know comes near the house, I know it. When our friends or family come over they don't bark, and even when we are on walks around our neighborhood, they are very protective if someone they do not know gets too close to the children. They also have training available for dogs. Hope every thing works out okay and you find a happy medium.

If your husband insists on getting a gun, then insist on getting a small SAFE TO LOCK IT IN, we have one by the side of our bed that has a keypad you enter the combination on, there are types with key entries, but I prefer the combination, that way your boys CANNOT accidentally get ahold of the gun !! Part of protecting your family is protecting your children from your own weapons!!!

You are right. Insist that it is not OK. Get a dog or a security system. There are so many reasons not to have a gun in a home with children that I don't know where to start.

A monitored security system is the best way, it adds value to your home and it even calls the police for you. Let te police shoot bad guys. If he ends up shooting someone to protect your family, he runs the risk of ruining your lives. It'd be hard to provide and protect while going through the judicial system. Even if it's self defense he'll need an attorney and he'll end up in court. It's not the movies... Based on his plan for storing the gun, he'd be hard pressed to get to it and get it in working condition during an invasion anyway. The chances of one of your kids shooting themselves or someone else is a greater risk I'd bet.

Build your case with facts regarding guns and children. Don't tell him your just terrified, tell him how it puts your own kids in danger. Tho opposite of his intention. My doctors office gave us a gun safety pamphlet when our kids were young. Kids with a gun in their home are something like twice as likely to be accidentally shot than a child without a gun in their home. Unfortunately kids are nosey, sneaky and curious.

Go online and do your research. Sway him with facts. Men are rescuers. He's programmed to protect his family and tell you your fears are unnecessary. Stand strong and tell him that this is a no way!!! Back it up with information you compile from experts. Keep the emotion and your personal childhood experiences out of it. Fact, facts, facts. Men need that.