[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Jeff OTMG

No flaming from me at all. You bring up a good point. The only way to carry concealed is to carry on your person. If it is not with you, it needs to be locked up.

People who carry guns do so at the cost of being inconvenienced, but put up with it for the added safety. One of the biggest problems we have is with female carriers. They cannot carry in a purse unless the purse is attached to them so they can't set it down. Guys have issues using the bathroom in a public stall with a belt holster. I live in an area that gets hot in the summer. I would love to be able to go to the pool or beach, take off my shirt, and get in the water. This is not an option for me unless I have someone go with me so I can use 'off body carry', I use a SCUBA dry box to conceal the gun at the pool, lake, or beach. Even the lightest gun I own still weighs 12 oz and creates an obvious drag in a nylon swimsuit.

Securing at home for child safety is very important. When I was growing up my father's handgun came off his belt in the holster, still loaded, and was placed on top of his dresser. This was an every evening occurrance and when it came off Friday it was there until he went back to work on Monday. This was the way the FBI taught agents home gun safety. Take the mystery out of it, treat it as though it were an kitchen range. I like the idea, but it requires a great deal of work on the part of the gun owner. I did it with my son and it worked beautifully, but you have to be totally committed.

Now there is an easy way out. Isn't that what everyone is looking for? All guns are sold with a lock to disable the firearm. Gun owners I know who have multiple firearms own a safe or vault to store them which is a good option. Obviously those methods are not accessible, but they are not intended to be. Around the house I carry on my person. When I go to sleep at night it goes on the nightstand, but I have it with me when watching TV, eating dinner, working on a motorcycle in the garage, or doing laundry. It is with me. The gun is secure and it is accessible.

If firearms are in a home with children I highly recommend the NRA Eddie the Eagle program of gun safety. It has proven to be very effective for young children.

The problem with the idea of teachers conceal carrying is that the more likely occurence than them saving a room full of children from a lone gunman would be that their gun would be used to accidentally or intentionally injur a child in their care. It happens to the most well meaning gun owners in their own homes, but having this happen in a classroom would start a firestorm that would eclipse anything you've seen before. Also, parents have the right NOT to leave their children in the care of someone with a gun. It's dangerous. Accidents do happen. More often than gunmen break into schools.