Is unlocked ammo a safety concern for children?

[BamBam-31]

My neighbor came over to my house with his wife and two year old boy. We were all hanging out in front of my open garage (where I keep all my reloading gear), while his kid and mine were playing. Then his boy walks into my garage and picks up a loaded Glock mag. No guns, mind you. All guns are locked up. Just a loaded mag. The wife looked pretty spooked, even though her husband owns guns as well.

Question: Is loaded ammo a safety concern for children? I think not, which is why you'll probably find assorted loose rounds in and around my work benches, partially loaded mags, etc. I also have a bookshelf full of boxes and boxes of factory ammo, all of it readily accessible. Sure, loose rounds might be a choking hazard, but so are a plethora of other gadgets and gizmos in the garage, from screws, to washers, to hex nuts, etc. And I haven't even mentioned the poisonous everyday household chemicals on the shelves, yet.

I'm beginning to think I need to at least keep all the ammo and mags in ammo cans, however, simply because the sight of them spooks neighbors and visitors alike. I resent having to do so, however, because I feel loaded ammo in and of itself is not dangerous, especially when it's in a magazine.

So, what do you think? Should I keep all ammo and mags out of sight? Should I lock it all up? Or should I simply keep my garage as is?

[proudamerican831]

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[BamBam-31]

Hmm. Good points.

So, do you lock up all your ammo?

[proudamerican831]

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[BamBam-31]

Well, it's kinda hard to hide the Dillons in my garage (not to mention the components, dies, toolheads, etc.).

I can keep the guns out of sight and locked up--question is, does the loaded ammo need to be as well? I can't help but wonder: If loaded ammo is such a potential and immediate danger, why is it often stored out in the open and within reach of children at stores (Turners, Wallyworld, etc.)? I know plenty of gun owners that simply store boxes of ammo on shelves, in cabinets, and in ammo cans--all unlocked. Is that an inherently unsafe practice w/ young children around? (I'm talking about 2-4 yr. olds.)

Anyways, I'm not so much concerned about my kids. I don't let them play in the garage (too many tools, chemicals, etc.), and they're not the type to hammer away at bullets, either. When they're old enough, I'll show them whatever they want, whenever they want, with a good bit of gun safety to boot. It's more the occasional visitors that I'm worried about. They're the variable.

[11011500a]

I would say keep your garage door closed put it up high or lock it up. Strange kids strange things can happen. All it takes is a stupid accident, kid takes a shell to school, chews on a lead round nose, anything.

[Edge]

My take is that if there is any doubt about safety when it comes to small children, err on the side of caution.

A bullet and a lighter could make a deadly combination.

[AlexBreya]

I'd say its not unsafe. I have ammo locked in the safe, but thats only because if fire safety, and so no one robs my sacred ammo. .22LRs dont really go off from throwing them anymore, besides, there is no way in hell a 2 year old would figure out that it could go off by hitting it. Seriously, what is a 2 year old gonna do with a load mag, and no gun? NOTHING!

[cousinkix1953]

It's not hard to build a reloading bench into a huge cabinet in the garage. You could put doors on the front, lock them and hide your Dillon press and reloading supplies. Ammo cam be stored in surplus ammo cans on the extra shelves. If somebody's curious little brat breaks into something like this; maybe their parents didn't teach them any manners...

[Two Shots]

My nephew threw about 5rds of 22's in the firelpace (was in use) at my cousins house and they did pop, they had been out shooting and his son (8+yrs old) pocketed a few rounds. He did it "Only Once" after my cousin had a Father-Son talk.

And yes I lock all reloading powder,primers and loaded ammo in a 1/8'' thick steel cabinet.
I have always had a steel container that I could lock ammo in, One of those rules my dad had and I just continue to do so. My family hunted and shot on most weekends, us kids had safety drummed into us and how owning firearms is a big responsibility.

[Barney Gumble]

Well, it's kinda hard to hide the Dillons in my garage (not to mention the components, dies, toolheads, etc.).

No it's not, put a towel or sheet over them.

[tcrpe]

Hmm. Good points.

So, do you lock up all your ammo?

Absolutely, except, of course, for the ammo that's loaded into my HD pistols.

Don't underestimate the creativity of curious children.

On the rare occasion that little ones are at my house, I pre-secure the weapons.

[SCMA-1]

My ammo isn't locked up but all of it is secured (out of plain sight) when children are over. It's just not worth the chance that a child may happen upon a round or two and take it to do who knows what. This constitutes falling into the wrong hands; children are naturally inquisitive and it does happen. I err on the side of caution when it comes to our children; they are our future and I will do everything possible to keep them safe.

And yes, even my mounted reloading machines are all covered up making it difficult for casual observers to determine what I have the short periods of time my garage door is open.

SCMA-1

[SCMA-1]

No it's not, put a towel or sheet over them.

Pillow cases work great for covering reloading presses.

[97F1504RAD]

I knew two boys that were throwing 22 bullets on the ground to hear them pop. One of my friends told me that when he was a kid he super glued a bullet to the end of his bb gun and shot it. He was smart enough not to do it again. Boys love to smash things, little cars, rocks, why not bullets? And if you take the bullets apart you can make home made fire crackers. Honestly, I don't think leaving live rounds laying around loose is a good idea. Can you imagine what would happen if a kid picks up one of your bullets and brings it to school to show his friends? "Son, where did you get this bullet?" "Well Officer, I picked it up at Mr BamBam's house, he has them laying all over the place".

Hmm. Good points.

So, do you lock up all your ammo?

I agree

And yes I keep all my ammo locked up. I no longer have small children but I have always kept the ammo locked up as well as the firearms themselves.