Whether you just acquired your first gun or you’ve been a gun owner for some time, you may wonder what’s the best way to store your firearm.
The answer to this question will depend on your budget and unique situation.
For example, if you have kids at home, you may want to keep your gun stored extra securely. Children are naturally curious and like to explore. Unfortunately, this can sometimes lead them to your gun, which could result in a tragic accident.
According to Everytown.org, every year, nearly 350 children under the age of 18 unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else. And yet, 39% of parents wrongly believe children don’t know where their gun is stored.
Even if you don’t have kids at home, it’s smart to keep your gun secure from physical damage, guests, and potential thieves.
So here are five ways you can keep your firearms safe at home:
- Trigger lock
A trigger lock is a simple device that can help prevent your gun from accidentally firing. Most guns come with a trigger lock when you buy them.
A trigger lock could be a trigger shoe clamp that prevents the trigger from being manipulated. It could also be a cable lock that prevents the gun’s action from closing. On some guns, you could even use an ordinary padlock as a trigger lock.
Trigger locks are the least expensive gun security solution. However, they don’t protect your gun from physical damage or theft.
- Gun case
Gun cases come in many sizes. They are primarily intended to help you transport your gun and keep it protected from the elements.
Many gun cases can also be locked, but that doesn’t prevent thieves from stealing the entire gun case and breaking into it with the right tools. This is especially true if the gun case is made of fabric and not a hard shell.
- Gun safe
A gun safe is the most secure form of gun protection because it protects against physical damage, thieves, and accidental firing.
For one, gun safes are made of heavy-duty steel that can withstand fires, floods, and other disasters. Gun safes also weigh anywhere from 200 to 2,000 lbs and are extremely difficult for thieves to carry away. And finally, gun safes have mechanical locks to keep unauthorized users from opening them.
Due to their large size, gun safes are ideal if you have a large gun collection or many gun accessories.
When buying a gun safe, consider the safe’s size, steel thickness, fire rating, and other features.
- Gun cabinet
Gun cabinets are much lighter and cheaper than gun safes. They can help keep your guns safe from children, but they offer less protection against thieves.
Gun cabinets also aren’t great for protecting your guns against natural disasters like floods and fires.
However, if you’re on a tight budget, a gun cabinet can be a great option.
- Strongbox
A gun strongbox is a heavy-duty case that offers a good amount of physical protection and security while also being highly portable. In that sense, it’s a great compromise between a gun case and a gun safe.
Gun strongboxes are easily carried in a car or even on a plane (as checked baggage).
They are also highly secure and usually come with a keylock, keypad lock, fingerprint scanner, or some other biometric reading device to open it.
Final tips
Unfortunately, even the best gun storage options can fail. No gun storage solution is 100% secure. So you should still adhere to best practices when it comes to gun safety.
For example, in addition to having a secure place to store your gun, you should:
- Unload all ammunition before storing your gun.
- Keep ammunition in a separate locked safe.
- Put a different lock on each gun.
- Check your guns every time you take them out of storage and put them back in.
- Talk to your children about gun safety early and often
- Keep your gun and ammunition in a dry and cool place
- Anchor gun safes so they don’t fall over.
If you can do all that, the chances of a gun accident happening will be significantly reduced.
Image Source: BigStockPhoto.com (Licensed)
Related Categories: Guns, Reviews
