"Pediatricians filed a brief supporting the ban."

WTF? Pediatricians? Oh, yes, I can see how they are well qualified as constitutional law scholars and firearms technology and self defense experts to provide meaningful input into this issue. Oh yes, I know - guns are a "public health" issue.

A few years back, I told my wife that if she ever takes one of our kids to a doctor and the doctor asks if we have any guns in the house, her answer is "I don't see how that is any of your business." We have electrical sockets, knives, string, oven cleaner, bleach and duct tape in our house also. All of which can kill you just as dead as a gun. She told me recently that there was actuall one time that a doctor did ask her this question while looking at our younger daughter. She said she told the doc that "yes, my husband has guns, but they're locked up in a safe and it's not a problem" and that was the end of that. I would not have said even that.

The sad thing is that your wife even felt the need to say that the gun is locked, so therefore "everything's OK". That's a compromise position, as far as I'm concerned.

There's evidence that says an unlocked gun (immediately available for home defense) is more beneficial for overall household safety than a locked gun, or, God forbid, no gun at all. If someone breaks into your house right this second, do you have to run upstairs and unlock a safe? Not me. It's 1:30 AM, and my 1911 is 2 feet from my right hand.

Teach your kids about firearms, and impart proper respect for them. Take them shooting. Then, keep a gun within arms reach at all times.