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I'm real big about "lasering"- pointing your gun at something. If you don't want it dead, don't point your gun at it. even when your cleaning or inspecting your weapon.

think of what's beyond the walls/ target, when I handle my gun, I face the west wall of my apt because if faces outside and there's never any people over there. Another good practice is to set your vest against a wall and point your gun at it while unloading, loading, cleaning, disassembling.

lastly, don't screw around with a gun... use common sense and stay safe

Make sure that you have settled in your own mind that you will discharge your firearm when necessary.  Clear all religous blocks to discharging the firearm, know your rules on the proper application of Deadly Physical Force.  This all has to be done, before you make that commitment to clear leather and come on target, thinking about it at the time you are on target is too late

STAY ALERT, STAY SAFE,STAY ALIVE!

please please please...if the weapon is not under your IMMEDIATE control...ie, holstered on your person or in your HANDS.... make absolutely certain, ESPECIALLY with children in the home...that NO unauthorized person can access & discharge it. Use safes, trigger locks, alarms...ANYTHING....

Not only am I personally dealing with the consequences of failing this...there's another list member here, who's spouse is LEO and while they are emotionally suffering similarly, it was a split-second while his back was turned after having just cleaned the weapon that his child picked up the loaded gun and attempted to make the frame mounted light work and instead fatally shot himself in the head...the LEO thought the child was out of the room. 

It could have just as easily fatally shot the LEO or his spouse....

All of my firearms stay locked inside a safe (except the one in my immediate control) and only my wife and I possess the combination.

Up to this date I haven't figuered out what a good and safe/secure (hiding) place would be. I have a curious 2 1/2 years old. For protection I put peppersprays all over the place (out of reach) and cell.phone. I can't clean the weapon around the toddler or take it out of the case. . . ever. Does anyone have suggestions for safe and secure hiding places ? (Being in an appartment, I can't make any changes, not even allowed to put up a door-chain for added security)

mar10inla says ...

Up to this date I haven't figuered out what a good and safe/secure (hiding) place would be. I have a curious 2 1/2 years old. For protection I put peppersprays all over the place (out of reach) and cell.phone. I can't clean the weapon around the toddler or take it out of the case. . . ever. Does anyone have suggestions for safe and secure hiding places ? (Being in an appartment, I can't make any changes, not even allowed to put up a door-chain for added security)

First and foremost, my deepest sympthy for the PL folks who have suffered recent events.

That said, when my two boys were old enough to understand "NO", I began to teach them about guns, just as my dad did with me.           The best way to start ANYONE not familier with firearms is to REMOVE the curiousity, this helps reduce the urge to "play with it" and TEACH respect for it, this helps them feel and become responsible.                                                                                                                                               From the time they were 5, I unloaded pistols, revolvers, shotguns and rifles and using one gun at a time, sat down with them and tell them how it worked, came apart and put it together again. They would look, hold and ask all the questions they wanted. When they did something unsafe, I would correct it and explain how/what to do to be safe. They had been shooting since they were 8 yrs old. Even at that age, safe gun handling was getting close to second nature. 

I grew up and still belive to this day a unloaded firearm that is locked away is useless for self defence. If you don't belive me, have a friend come through your front door when your "relaxing" and chase you to where you have your unloaded, locked up firearm you plan to use to protect yourself/loved ones. Then have your friend time you as you unlock, load and "defend" your life/home. By all means, DO NOT leave a firearm loaded and laying around. There are safes with push button finger tabs that you can access in the dark in seconds. HOWEVER the harder you try to hide or keep a child away from a firearm, they will try harder to get to it to see what the big deal is about, this is when the accidents CAN happen.

I am not bashing or blaming anyone for the tragic events in their lives. I have lost loved ones and close friends to gun fire, suicide and drunk driving the last thing anyone wants is to be "Monday morning quaterbacked" after a devestating loss. I am offering a suggestion on how others may want to CONSIDER a way of trying to prevent one of their own. Remove the curiousity. Teach respect at an early age.    

Mongo004... that's a real good point; being familiar and reducing the urge to want to explore. Even when I got my first gun I was very curious and wanted to look at/play with it, but after I've learned a lot about it and played with it  now it's just a limb to my body it seems.