A state legislator here is proposing a law that requires gun owners to keep their guns in a gun safe and ammunition in another locked storage space.

I've got a problem with that.

Where I live, it takes about 45 minutes for any sort of law enforcement to come when summoned. The state trooper I spoke with, a friend of mine since childhood, said that I should be prepared to handle things myself, given my remote location. So, I keep my handgun by my bed, Israeli carry. This shotgun I keep for varmints is also similarly disposed in the living room.

We have no children at home and when someone comes over, I unload and put the guns away.

That ought to be enough. Reasonable precautions. To me, a gun I have to go get from a safe and then go to the separate lockbox for ammo in order to meet an emergency is useless and this proposed law essentially means relying on harsh language to control a problem. It trades my security for someone feeling good about "being tough on guns".

This state has a real problem when it comes to gun owners.