What is your take?

[huskies1]

Gun lovers and gun haters always argue the safety of having guns in the home. What is your take? Can you safely have guns in your home when you have children? How can you ever be sure that there will not be an accident even if you are safe and try to teach your kids? Thoughts everyone.

[sarahsmom06]

I believe guns in the wrong hands can always be dangerous. And I also think that no matter how careful you are there can be dangers when you have both guns and children in your home.

[crazedwalrus]

The problem is that people feel the need to protect everyone else, whether they want to be protected or not. Guns have been in homes for hundreds of years. I don't think this was ever a leading cause of death, or even close.

I grew up with guns in my house. When I lived in a less restrictive state, I even had a concealed carry permit. My brother and I never even had any close calls because we respected our Dad and believed him when he told us they were dangerous. Here's the key: When we were old enough to be curious about them, he took us out and taught us about them.

First and foremost, he taught us gun safety. Only after we understood that did we get to hold and fire the weapon. Nothing brings home the dangerous aspect faster than the recoil of a weapon, the noise, the destruction caused a split second later....

Kids get in trouble when they're curious and it's not sated in a responsible way. It's a parent's responsibility to responsibly satisfy that curiosity in a way that teaches a valuable lesson in the process.