There are a lot of reasons. First, I like to play with my kids, such as wrestling on the floor with them. Second, we also have teens who do not drive yet, and I am always driving them places. On a Saturday, I might be in and out of the house 10 times -- swimming lessons, field hockey practice, friends house, etc. I'd have to put the gun away every time I ran out of the house. Third, my wife is very uncomfortable with guns. This is all new to both of us. I bought a shotgun in December and a handgun in February. She is one of those people who thinks a gun can go off all by itself. I pulled my shotgun out of the safe one day. My son wanted to look at it (the curious 5 year old). I said, OK, I have to unload it first. My wife was shocked. "you mean it's loaded!?" I said, "Yes, it's not much good for home defense if it's not loaded."

She gave me "the look" that all men know about.

 

if you are going to be "in and out of the house" 10 times.. then obviously leave the gun in the safe... a holster with retention is intended to retain the gun.. intended to keep the gun from coming out should you end up in a struggle.. or on the ground.. I have rough housed with kids.. with a gun on my hip.. a loaded secured gun is not really a danger to anyone... now I would not wrestle around with kids with a loaded gun just in my pocket.. they are your kids.. so I am certainly not trying to sway you.. you need to do what makes you safe.. but I would just consider how many officers end up on the ground.. struggling.. and their guns do not just magically fly out of the holsters.. and get your wife to the range ASAP.. if she is going to live with guns.. she should definitely understand them.. I brought my fiance out to learn guns as a condition of moving in together.. if you are going to be around them.. you NEED to know how they work.. imo of course..

There are a lot of reasons. First, I like to play with my kids, such as wrestling on the floor with them. Second, we also have teens who do not drive yet, and I am always driving them places. On a Saturday, I might be in and out of the house 10 times -- swimming lessons, field hockey practice, friends house, etc. I'd have to put the gun away every time I ran out of the house. Third, my wife is very uncomfortable with guns. This is all new to both of us. I bought a shotgun in December and a handgun in February. She is one of those people who thinks a gun can go off all by itself. I pulled my shotgun out of the safe one day. My son wanted to look at it (the curious 5 year old). I said, OK, I have to unload it first. My wife was shocked. "you mean it's loaded!?" I said, "Yes, it's not much good for home defense if it's not loaded."

She gave me "the look" that all men know about.

 

Get a 22LR rifle and pistol and take you wife and the kids shooting, or if you are new, at least have you and the wife take a class together. No matter what you do, make sure every one in the house understands that firearms are to be respected and not to be scared of them. Let the kids know, they are not toys, they are not to touch them (they shouldn't be able to get to them anyway) but never touch them with out you, if they have a question, ask any time and you will show them. Teach everyone in the house the 4 rules of gun handling and never ever deviate from them.