[Sdirector]

You can purchase a finger lock safe, that requires adult length fingers to open a simple combination. These are good for safety, and you can keep a loaded gun in there in condition zero or one. For those who don't know what that is, that is a loaded magazine, one in the chamber (condition one) and hammer back (condition zero). This is a good compromise between safety and keeping the gun safe from those who shouldn't have it.

For some more money, you can purchase a fingerprint safe. These require the fingerprint of the correct person to open. These open very quickly, and only for the right person. Again, you can store the gun inside loaded in condition zero or one, and have quick access to it if needed for defensive purposes.

I would stay away from trigger locks, as they generally just provide a false sense of security.

Funny story... I have a concealed weapons permit, and carried a gun when I was in another business, in which I carried cash and had control of inventory. I generally carried it everywhere I went, unless it was posted as prohibited at the door per state law. One day, I took one of my children to the pediatrician's office for a visit with my wife. The nurse practitioner is asking all of these questions that they ask, and they got around to asking about guns. "Do you have guns?" I should have probably just said no, but I answered truthfully. "Where are they kept?" My answer that I wanted to give was "none of your business," but I was nicer. I think that I said "safely stored." She should have gotten the hint with that, but she persisted. "You need to have them unloaded, locked up, and bullets stored separately... do you do that?" I said again, I have it stored safely. She got the hint, and then moved on.

I told my wife I was going to tell her that it was on me, carried inside the wasteband at the 2;00 position, and was loaded and ready to protect myself or my family if threatened. Therfore, my kids will not get it, but they all have been trained in what to do with a gun (don't touch, treat it as loaded, point muzzle always in a safe direction.) My wife is glad that I didn't say that!

OK, I'll get off my soapbox. With foster children, you need to be aware of the differences in their needs and abilities to handle the thought that guns are in the house, or their possibilities of violent behavior... you don't know them. Use one of the quick locking methods that I mentioned. Keep in mind, that those children are yours to protect as well.

Again, I do not mean to offend, but watching certain foster children can place you in danger of certain violent bio parents as well. Everyone needs to chose the vigilance that they are comfortable with, and that keeps everyone safe.