Storing A Gun Safely In The Home

There are two types of home gun storage, each with benefits and limitations. Long-term gun storage involves the extended storage of firearms in a device offering a high degree of protection from theft and sometimes fire and moisture, but often at the expense of delayed access to the firearm. A gun safe is typically used for permanent firearm storage; its size and weight prevent easy theft, and its enclosed environment affords the best possible protection from fire damage, high humidity and so forth.

Temporary or quick-access gun storage methods do not provide the same degree of protection as long-term storage methods, but allow easier gun availability when necessary. Some temporary gun storage methods are as simple as putting a gun in an unlocked kitchen or nightstand drawer. However, such measures do not prevent unauthorized persons from accessing the gun when the gun owner is not in the room. As a general rule, you should avoid sooting a gun (loaded or otherwise) in an unlocked drawer, cabinet, etc. when you are not physically present in the home. Even you are physically present, gun storage in unlocked areas may note be appropriate if you have children, relatives, friends or others around. You must balance the need for quick access against the need for safety. Greater security can be achieved by using a biometric-equipped lockbox located by the bed or in the office, basement or TV room.

A few gun safes attempt to provide the best of both worlds by offering, in addition to the heavily-locked main firearm compartment, an auxiliary easy-access compartment containing a single pistol. Access to the auxiliary compartment is by a fingerpad that can be worked quickly (alternatively Bluetooth or RFID technology) even in the dark. This combination long-term and easy-access storage device can work well if the gun safe is placed in the bedroom or other location in which fast access is most likely needed. When situated in a relatively inaccessible part of a home, however, the benefit of such a device is greatly diminished.