Why does the key lock on a handgun matter?

I just set mine to the unlocked position, tossed the key into the back of my gun safe, and forgot about it. Why are some gun owners bothered by the thing? Can it spontaneously engage itself?

Only one of my guns has one the others are old. What is the issue with them?

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MrPerditus1 · 61-69, M

Well they can be helpful if you have young children around that like to explore and play with everything they get their hands on, till that phase passes and they learn to listen better. But even that's not a guarantee that some time they won't try to impress a friend or two and do something stupid.

justbob · 61-69, M

@MrPerditus1 When the gun is unloaded and locked in a safe that I have the only key to that really does not matter. But that was NOT my question. My question is WHY do some gun owners object to those locks so much?

MrPerditus1 · 61-69, M

@justbob Ah, my mistake.