First off, it is surprising how many families own guns. Parents wanting to protect their children from home invasion and thieves will acquire a firearm. The problem is how one store a weapon so that the kids do not get it, but it also needs to be handy in case of an emergency situation. Some people will attempt to just hide the weapon but this often fails as kids are very curious and will get into even the best of hiding places. Also, by hiding the weapon, it can be difficult to locate the firearm when one is under severe pressure in an emergency situation. By having your handgun in a gun safe, kids and unwanted lookers will not be able to get at it. Unless they know the combination or have the right key, all they will have is a large metal box and will quickly tire and move on.