It’s been a busy day over at HuffPo. Josh Horowitz of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence is apparently an expert on gun use for self-defense. So much so that he is apparently disturbed the justices take a skeptical view of his ilk dictating on the topic to others:
A quick look at the NRA’s Gun Safety Rules webpage reveals just how far out of the mainstream these justices are. One of the NRA’s “fundamental” rules for safe gun handling is “ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.” The NRA also tells gun owners to always “store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons,” noting that “dozens of gun storage devices, as well as locking devices that attach directly to the gun, are available.” In a “Parents Guide to Gun Safety,” the NRA also points out the potential dangers to children, stating “a parent must, in every case, assess the exposure of the firearm and absolutely ensure that it is inaccessible to a child.”
Except that trigger locks are probably the worst way to ensure this. Few argue that firearms need to be kept away from young hands, but different solutions are optimal depending on the situation. This is a matter that ought to be left up to the individual, and not dictated by the state.
in my NRA instructors class 2 weeks ago, this was brought up… the general agreement was that a gun laying on a night stand or inside a nightstand as a defensive home gun was considered “in use” … that the NRA guidelines are most specifically stressing that guns that are being STORED should be stored unloaded and away from “unauthorized” persons… an unauthorized person would include anyone not trustworthy with a gun, including many adults and children…
On the subject of trigger locks: If Walter Dellinger can, in a home invasion scenario — or, hell, even in a completely non-stressful environment — make a trigger-locked gun ready to fire in a mere three seconds, then he is the second coming of Houdini, and should give up his law practice to embark on a global tour where he can reap untold millions demonstrating his remarkable skill at prestidigitation.
Horowitz whines: “[Scalia and Roberts] seemed to be implying that trigger locks eliminate the possibility of a firearm being used for self-defense.”
And they were absolutely correct to do so.
And why should empty nesters have to abide by the same storage requirements of those with children?
I keep all of my guns locked when I am not home for several reasons. I don’t want them easily stolen. Also, I have a teenage daughter which means lots of teenage boys around and I they aren’t all trained. When I’m home I see no reason to lock things up.