The slide would have to pulled back, thus chambering the round, and then the safety taken off for the gun to pose a danger.

IMHO, it's ridiculous to keep the rounds and gun separated as said.

If a situation should arise when it's needed, you might be out of luck... and time. I'd hate to run to one room to get the weapon, then possibly another to search for its ammunition. Just as bad is to be standing there trying to load the weapon under stress of knowing that an intruder could be ready to enter the room you're in.

I keep my .22 rifle with ammunition in the magazine, and am confident and responsible enough to say there's almost the zero chance of me hurting myself or someone else (accidentally) with it.

It was last year during school when my eyes were opened after my crimimal justice teacher/gun afficionado said that having a loaded (technically not, however) weapon in a house poses no danger with responsible owners, and to say otherwise can be a broad generalization.

People that have been killed because they didn't think the gun was loaded probably did not check the weapon and were inexperienced with safe handling, and quite bluntly... were asking for it, perhaps. Excluding children of course, but that's not the case in this situation.

But you're right... very rare freak accidents do occur. But if you're doing what you're supposed to, even that chance drops dramatically.

You always treat each one you pick up as if it were loaded, and I'm willing to wager that's where the majority of accidental gun shot (both self-inflicted and by others) victims went wrong.

But of course, that's just my .22.

As for giving handguns for Christmas gifts not being the season spirit... this would not be the first time I've seen it happen within the family. Wow... I can't think of anybody around here that would raise an eyebrow over it. forums

And a gift is a gift, is you ask me.

<font color="#cd6600" size="1">[ August 03, 2006 10:12 PM: Message edited by: Dajistano ]</font>